LA EMPATÍA EN LOS ROEDORES: EL PAPEL DE LA FAMILIARIDAD EN LA RESPUESTA EMOCIONAL Y LA CONDUCTA DE AYUDA EN RATONES MUS MUSCULUS
Abstract
El propósito de la presente investigación experimental fue analizar la respuesta emocional de un tipo conocido de roedor (ratones mus musculus de laboratorio) así como su conducta de ayuda generada por el confinamiento de un compañero en un dispositivo de restricción de movimiento, bajo la influencia de la familiaridad definida mediante el tiempo de cohabitación en parejas. Diez y seis ratones machos de la cepa Swiss Albinos, ingenuos, con 35 días de edad, fueron divididos en parejas en las que uno de ellos era confinado mientras que el otro permanecía en libertad. El estudio centró su atención en el comportamiento del ratón libre a lo largo de 12 sesiones de medición y bajo la influencia de cuatro valores de cohabitación. Los resultados mostraron en primera instancia, que la constatación del compañero en dificultades genera altos niveles de activación conductual del ratón en libertad, la misma que se reduce significativamente al cabo de la liberación del congénere. Asimismo el estudio mostró que la conducta de ayuda en forma de la apertura de la puerta del dispositivo y medida a través de la latencia en que ésta se realiza, se reduce a medida que avanzan las sesiones, lo que significa que la liberación del compañero fortalece la conducta de apertura del dispositivo. La investigación también sugirió que solo el período de 216 horas de convivencia pudo afectar diferencialmente la respuesta emocional; sin embargo los diferentes valores de la cohabitación no ejercieron influencias significativas en el comportamiento de ayuda. Estos resultados indican que los ratones son capaces de mostrar alguna forma de preocupación emocional empática que despierta el comportamiento de ayudar a la pareja. Finalmente, este artículo discute sobre las connotaciones evolutivas y contextuales de la empatía animal.
The purpose of the present experimental research was to analyze the emotional response of a well know type of rodent (mus musculus laboratory mice), as well as its helping behavior generated by the confinement of a companion in a movement restriction device, under the influence of the familiarity defined by cohabitation time-period. Sixteen male mice of the Swiss Albinos strain, naive, at 35 days of age, were divided into pairs in which one of them was confined while the other remained free. The study focused on the free mouse behavior over 12 measurement sessions and under the influence of four cohabitation values. The results showed in the first instance, that the evidence of a companion in trouble elicits high levels of behavioral activation in the free mouse, emotional state that is significantly reduced after the release of the congener. The study also showed that the helping behavior by opening the door of the device and measured through the latency in which it is performed, is reduced as the sessions progress which means that the release of the partner reinforces the opening behavior. The research also suggested that only the period of 216 hours of cohabitation could differentially affect the emotional response; however, other values of the cohabitation did not exert significant influences on the helping behavior. These results indicate that the mice are able to show some form of empathic emotional concern that awakens the behavior of helping the couple. Finally, this article discusses on the evolutionary and contextual connotations of animal empathy.
The purpose of the present experimental research was to analyze the emotional response of a well know type of rodent (mus musculus laboratory mice), as well as its helping behavior generated by the confinement of a companion in a movement restriction device, under the influence of the familiarity defined by cohabitation time-period. Sixteen male mice of the Swiss Albinos strain, naive, at 35 days of age, were divided into pairs in which one of them was confined while the other remained free. The study focused on the free mouse behavior over 12 measurement sessions and under the influence of four cohabitation values. The results showed in the first instance, that the evidence of a companion in trouble elicits high levels of behavioral activation in the free mouse, emotional state that is significantly reduced after the release of the congener. The study also showed that the helping behavior by opening the door of the device and measured through the latency in which it is performed, is reduced as the sessions progress which means that the release of the partner reinforces the opening behavior. The research also suggested that only the period of 216 hours of cohabitation could differentially affect the emotional response; however, other values of the cohabitation did not exert significant influences on the helping behavior. These results indicate that the mice are able to show some form of empathic emotional concern that awakens the behavior of helping the couple. Finally, this article discusses on the evolutionary and contextual connotations of animal empathy.
Description
Vol. 17, No. 1