Habituation of the hiding response to cat odor in rats (Rattus norvegicus).

Dielenberg, Robert A.; McGregor, Iain S.

doi:10.1037/0735-7036.113.4.376

Cited by 105 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Some authors concluded that habituation did not follow repeated presentation of life-threatening stimuli, such as a predator odor [31]. However, other experiments showed responses that did habituate with prolonged exposure [14]. In addition, sensitization to predator odor has been described [18]; a robust increase in defensive responses was recorded after long-term exposure to predator odor.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Defensive responses of Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) to chronic predatory stress

Hegab

Shang

et al. 2014

Physiology & Behavior

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Predator odors are non-intrusive natural stressors of high ethological relevance. The objective of this study was to investigate the processing of a chronic, life-threatening stimulus during repeated prolonged presentation to Brandt's voles. One hundred and twenty voles were tested by repeated presentation of cat feces in a defensive withdrawal apparatus. Voles exposed to feces for short periods showed more avoidance, more concealment in the hide box, less contact time with the odor source, more freezing behavior, less grooming, more jumping, and more vigilant rearing than did non-exposed voles, and those exposed for longer periods. Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone increased significantly when animals were repeatedly exposed to cat feces for short periods. The behavioral and endocrine responses habituated during prolonged presentation of cat feces. ΔfosB mRNA expression level was highest in voles exposed to cat feces for 6 and 12 consecutive days, and subsequently declined in animals exposed to cat feces for 24 days. We therefore conclude that the behavioral and endocrine responses to repeated exposure to cat feces undergo a process of habituation, while ΔfosB changes in the medial hypothalamic region exhibit sensitization. We propose that habituation and sensitization are complementary rather than contradictory processes that occur in the same individual upon repeated presentation of the same stressor.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Defensive responses of Brandt's voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii) to chronic predatory stress

Hegab

Shang

et al. 2014

Physiology & Behavior

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“…Adult rats display a variety of behavioral responses such as withdrawal and immobility (Blanchard & Blanchard, 1989;Dielenberg & McGregor, 1999) that allow them to avoid predation. However, predation is not restricted to adulthood.…”

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confidence: 99%

Developmental changes in responsivity to threat are stimulus‐specific in rats

Wiedenmayer

Barr

2001

Developmental Psychobiology

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During early ontogeny, stimuli that pose a threat to an animal change. Unrelated adult male rats may kill young rats, but infanticide ends around weaning. Predation, on the other hand, may increase during early ontogeny when rats begin to extend their activity range. We investigated the developmental course of two defensive responses, immobility and analgesia, in young rats exposed to an adult male rat or to predator cues. Preweaning 14-day-old rats became immobile and analgesic when exposed to the male and showed immobility but not analgesia when exposed to cat odor. On Day 26, around weaning, the presence of the male rat no longer induced immobility and analgesia whereas cat odor produced higher levels of immobility and analgesia compared to control and male-exposed animals. This developmental change in responsivity may reflect the differences in the risk of being harmed by a male or a cat during different periods of ontogeny.

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“…Likewise, 5 day treatment group showed indifferent results from the non-traumatized control group in our study. It was previously reported that habituation took place on the 5th day in a predator stress model where worn cat collar was used 20 min per day for extinction training (Dielenberg and McGregor, 1999). Similarly in our study this effect is likely to be caused by the nature of predator stress model rather than tolerance.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 44%