Domestication affects the structure, development and stability of biobehavioural profiles

Abstract

Domestication is an evolutionary process during which the biobehavioural profile (comprising e.g. social and emotional behaviour, cognitive abilities, as well as hormonal stress responses) is substantially reshaped. Using a comparative approach, and focusing mainly on the domestic and wild guinea pig, an established model system for the study of domestication, we review (a) how wild and domestic animals of the same species differ in behaviour, emotion, cognition, and hormonal stress responses, (b) during which phases of life differences in biobehavioural profiles emerge and (c) whether or not animal personalities exist in both the wild and domestic form. Concerning (a), typical changes with domestication include increased courtship, sociopositive and maternal behaviours as well as decreased aggression and attentive behaviour. In addition, domestic animals display more anxiety-like and less risk-taking and exploratory behaviour than the wild form and they show distinctly lower endocrine stress responsiveness. There are no indications, however, that domestic animals have diminished cognitive abilities relative to the wild form. The different biobehavioural profiles of the wild and domestic animals can be regarded as adaptations to the different environmental conditions under which they live, i.e., the natural habitat and artificial man-made housing conditions, respectively. Concerning (b), the comparison of infantile, adolescent and adult wild and domestic guinea pigs shows that the typical biobehavioural profile of the domestic form is already present during early phases of life, that is, during early adolescence and weaning. Thus, differences between the domestic and the wild form can be attributed to genetic alterations resulting from artificial selection, and likely to environmental influences during the pre- and perinatal phase. Interestingly, the frequency of play behaviour does not differ between the domestic and wild form early in life, but is significantly higher in domesticated guinea pigs at later ages. Concerning (c), there is some evidence that personalities occur in both wild and domestic animals. However, there may be differences in which behavioural domains – social and sexual behaviour, emotionality, stress-responsiveness – are consistent over time. These differences are probably due to changing selection pressures during domestication.

Williams syndrome, human self-domestication, and language evolution

“…Typically, domestication entails increased sociopositive behavior, decreased aggression, increased attentive behavior, and more anxiety-like and less risk-taking and exploratory behaviors (Kaiser et al, 2015). That said, enhanced sociability is not expressed evenly across the board in all species.…”

“…Additionally, domestication increases play behavior in animals (Hart, 1985;Himmler et al, 2013;Kaiser et al, 2015). Enhanced play behavior has been hypothesized to contribute to language complexity too (see Langley et al, submitted for detailed discussion).…”

Abnormal features of human self-domestication in bipolar disorder

“…HPA axis dysfunction also appears to factor into the illness progression of BD, as post-dexamethasone cortisol levels—elevated in patients with BD compared to controls overall—positively correlate with total number of mood episodes experienced (Fries et al, 2014). By contrast, in domesticated animals the function of the HPA axis is significantly reduced compared to wild conspecifics, resulting in decreased levels of glutocorticoids, basal plasma ACTH levels, and adrenal response to stress, as well as less pronounced cortisol response to novelties (Naumenko and Belyaev, 1980; Kruska 1988; Kunzl and Sachser, 1999; Trut et al, 2009; Zipser et al, 2014; Kaiser et al, 2015).…”

“…This deficit was thought to reflect the derivation of less reward from social play from the haploinsufficient animals. Domestication is known to increase play behavior in animals (Hart, 1985; Himmler et al, 2013; Kaiser et al, 2015).…”

Insects: The Disregarded Domestication Histories

“…Beginning during the Late Pleistocene with dog domestication [2,3], it has irrevocably impacted human history, demography, and evolution leading to our current civilizations [1,[4][5][6]. Domesticated species play important roles for humans in many aspects of our daily life by providing food, biological control agents, pets, sporting animals, basic materials, and laboratory models [1,7,8]. This considerable importance in our culture, survival, and way of life has always aroused the curiosity of scientists and nonscientists.…”