Neonatal tactile stimulation reverses the effect of neonatal isolation on open-field and anxiety-like behavior, and pain sensitivity in male and female adult Sprague–Dawley rats

Imanaka, Akihiro; Morinobu, Shigeru; Toki, Shigeru; Yamamoto, Sadaki; Matsuki, Akira; Kozuru, Toshiro; Yamawaki, Shigeto

doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2007.07.039

Cited by 65 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 37 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Indicating that early tactile stimulation impacts the developing brain, as adults NI voles had significantly fewer oxytocinergic neurons in the PVN, while voles receiving NTS showed comparable numbers to controls. A similar study on rats, but with NI for 1 hour per day on PNDs 1-9 and NTS consisting of gently handling dorsally from head to tail for 5 minutes per day, reported that, in comparison to NIs, NTS rats showed increased exploratory behaviour in an open field test, reduced anxiety in an elevated plus maze, increased HWL on a hot plate test and in females, reduced freezing time in a contextual fear conditioning test (Imanaka et al, 2008). Muhammad et al (2011) also found NTS, in the form of stroking with a soft feather duster while huddled together with another pup on a warming pad at 34ºC for 15 minutes, 3 times per day on PNDs 2-21, led to NTS female rats, as juveniles, displaying less anxiety behaviour on the elevated plus maze and males showing decreased play fighting behaviour compared to controls who underwent maternal separation but received no tactile stimulation.…”

Section: Cutaneous Stimulation Induces Oxytocin Releasementioning

confidence: 94%

“…In specific support of the developmental significance of touch, a number of studies have shown neonatal tactile stimulation (NTS) can prevent the negative behavioural effects seen in adulthood following neonatal isolation (NI) (Imanaka et al, 2008;Muhammad et al, 2011;Wei et al, 2013). For example, in a study of male mandarin voles conducted by Wei et al (2013), NTS consisted of 15 minutes of soft brush stroking dorsally from head to tail during 3 hours of NI per day on PNDs 1-13.…”

Section: Cutaneous Stimulation Induces Oxytocin Releasementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions?

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Low intensity, non-noxious, stimulation of cutaneous somatosensory nerves has been shown to trigger oxytocin release and is associated with increased social motivation, plus reduced physiological and behavioural reactivity to stressors. However, to date, little attention has been paid to the specific nature of the mechanosensory nerves which mediate these effects. In recent years, the neuroscientific study of human skin nerves (microneurography studies on single peripheral nerve fibres) has led to the identification and characterisation of a class of touch sensitive nerve fibres named C-Tactile afferents. Neither itch nor pain receptive, these unmyelinated, low threshold mechanoreceptors, found only in hairy skin, respond optimally to low force/velocity stroking touch. Notably, the speed of stroking which c-tactile afferents fire most strongly to is also that which people perceive to be most pleasant. The social touch hypothesis posits that this system of nerves has evolved in mammals to signal the rewarding value of physical contact in nurturing and social interactions. In support of this hypothesis, in this paper we review the evidence that cutaneous stimulation directly targeted to optimally activate c-tactile afferents reduces physiological arousal, carries a positive affective value and, under healthy conditions, inhibits responses to painful stimuli. These effects mirror those, we also review, which have been reported following endogenous release and exogenous administration of oxytocin. Taken together this evidence suggests c-tactile afferent stimulation may mediate oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions.

show abstract

Section: Cutaneous Stimulation Induces Oxytocin Releasementioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Cutaneous Stimulation Induces Oxytocin Releasementioning

confidence: 99%

C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions?

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The positive effects of such separations may have resulted from increased attention from the mother when the pups were returned. Increased maternal stimulation appears to have a beneficial effect on neural development and can reverse the effects of early-life stressors (Imanaka et al, 2008). Slabbert and Rasa (1993) studied South African Police dog puppies which received equal human attention but were separated from their mothers at either 6 or 12 weeks.…”

Section: Management Of Weaningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Minimizing fear and anxiety in working dogs: A review

Rooney

Clark

Casey

2016

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The causes of fear and anxiety in working dogs are multifactorial and may include inherited characteristics that differ between individuals (e.g. Goddard and Beilharz, 1982; 1984a,b), influences of the environment (Lefebvre et al., 2007), and learned experiences during particular sensitive periods (Appleby et al., 2002) and throughout life. Fear-related behavior compromises performance, leads to significant numbers of dogs failing to complete training (e.g., Murphy, 1995;Batt et al., 2008), early withdrawals from working roles (Caron-Lormier et al., 2016), and can jeopardize dog and handler safety. Hence, amelioration of fear and anxiety is critical to maintain dogs in working roles and to ensure their well-being. Although current methods of selection and training are seemingly effective at producing many dogs which work in a remarkable array of environments, some dogs do not make the grade, and longevity of service is not always maximized. Programs should strive for optimal efficiency and they need to continually analyze the value of each component of their program, seek evidence for its value and explore potential evidence-based improvements. Here we discuss scientific evidence for methods and strategies which may be of value in reducing the risk of fear behaviors developing in the working dog population and suggest potentially valuable techniques and future research to explore the benefit of these approaches. The importance of environmental influences, learning opportunities, and effects of underlying temperament on the outward expression of fear and anxiety should not be underestimated. Identification of characteristics which predict resilience to stress are valuable, both to enable careful breeding for these traits and to develop predictive tests for puppies and procured animals. It is vitally important to rear animals in optimal environments and introduce them to a range of stimuli in a positive, controlled, and gradual way, as these can all help minimize the number of dogs which develop workinhibiting fears. Future research should explore innovative methods to best measure the relative resilience of dogs to stressful events. This could include developing optimal exposure protocols to minimize the development of fear and anxiety, and exploring the influence of social learning and the most effective elements of stimulus presentation.

show abstract

“…On one hand, although the reversibility of structural and functional changes in the brain after early life adverse conditions has not been systematically investigated, recent research in humans is beginning to document the effects of specific interventions in adults to reduce stress and promote mental well-being. 38 On the other hand, although environmental enrichment in puberty has shown positive effects in both animals 41 and humans, 39 the optimal timing and duration and the most effective components of these interventions are not yet well understood. Nonetheless, knowledge is accumulating rapidly, and designing and implementing biologically based interventions is the key to promoting the health of the future generation and not abandoning the current one.…”

Section: Later-life Interventionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Developmental Approach to Child and Adult Health

Conti¹,

Heckman

2013

Pediatrics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pediatricians should consider the costs and benefits of preventing rather than treating childhood diseases. We present an integrated developmental approach to child and adult health that considers the costs and benefits of interventions over the life cycle. We suggest policies to promote child health that are currently outside the boundaries of conventional pediatrics. We discuss current challenges to the field and suggest avenues for future research. Pediatrics 2013;131:S133-S141 AUTHORS:

show abstract

Neonatal tactile stimulation reverses the effect of neonatal isolation on open-field and anxiety-like behavior, and pain sensitivity in male and female adult Sprague–Dawley rats

Cited by 65 publications

References 37 publications

C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions?

C-tactile afferents: Cutaneous mediators of oxytocin release during affiliative tactile interactions?

Minimizing fear and anxiety in working dogs: A review

The Developmental Approach to Child and Adult Health

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About