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Ethological scars? Exposure to multiple negative events over a lifespan may predict abnormal repetitive behaviour in
Georgia Mason1, Kristine Coleman2, Brenda McCowan3
1Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Abstract:
We tested the hypothesis that, in rhesus macaques used in biomedical research, the performance of abnormal repetitive behaviours (ARBs; e.g. pacing, hair-plucking, eye-poking) reflects the cumulative burden of negative experiences. For 240 macaques living in two facilities, we did this by cataloguing, weighting and summing exposure to 12 types of negative events or practices (two current, 10 past), over animals' entire lifespans. We then assessed their aggregated impact on current behaviour. When all recorded forms of ARB were pooled into one measure, the hypothesis was strongly supported at one facility: pooled ARB increased with lifetime negative experience scores in a dose-response type manner, and reflected combined effects of both current and past negative experience scores. At the other facility, current negative experience scores had little apparent impact on pooled ARB; however, past negative experience scores were still highly predictive. This novel approach, inspired by psychological research on humans, adds to growing evidence that ARBs can reflect the cumulative impact of the number and severity of negative experiences (both past and present). We hope that it encourages similar studies of farm, zoo, pet and equine populations to investigate other animals' ARBs, perhaps yielding new indicators of overall quality of life.
Insights
Abnormal repetitive behaviours (ARBs) in rhesus macaques are linked to cumulative negative experiences throughout their lives. This study suggests ARBs may indicate an animal's overall quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Primatology
- Animal welfare science
Background:
- Abnormal repetitive behaviours (ARBs) are frequently observed in non-human primates.
- The underlying causes of ARBs, particularly the cumulative impact of negative experiences, require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that ARBs in rhesus macaques reflect the cumulative burden of negative life experiences.
- To assess the relationship between lifetime exposure to negative events and the manifestation of ARBs.
Main Methods:
- Catalogued and weighted 12 types of negative events (current and past) across the lifespans of 240 rhesus macaques.
- Assessed the aggregated impact of these negative experiences on current ARB levels.
- Analyzed the dose-response relationship between negative experience scores and pooled ARB measures.
Main Results:
- A strong positive correlation was found between cumulative lifetime negative experiences and pooled ARBs at one facility.
- Both current and past negative experiences significantly predicted pooled ARBs at one facility.
- Past negative experiences were highly predictive of pooled ARBs at the second facility, though current experiences had less impact.
Conclusions:
- ARBs in rhesus macaques can serve as an indicator of the cumulative impact of negative experiences.
- This research supports the use of ARBs as a potential welfare indicator across various animal populations.
- Further studies on farm, zoo, pet, and equine animals are encouraged to explore ARBs as quality of life indicators.
