Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat <i>Melomys Cervinipes</i>
Animals can respond physiologically, such as by adjusting glucocorticoid hormone concentrations, to sudden environmental challenges. These physiological changes can then affect behavioural and cognitive responses. While the relationships between adrenocortical activity and behaviour and cognition ar...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/1/82 |
| _version_ | 1797499701061222400 |
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| author | Misha K. Rowell Rachel M. Santymire Tasmin L. Rymer |
| author_facet | Misha K. Rowell Rachel M. Santymire Tasmin L. Rymer |
| author_sort | Misha K. Rowell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Animals can respond physiologically, such as by adjusting glucocorticoid hormone concentrations, to sudden environmental challenges. These physiological changes can then affect behavioural and cognitive responses. While the relationships between adrenocortical activity and behaviour and cognition are well documented, results are equivocal, suggesting species-specific responses. We investigated whether adrenocortical activity, measured using corticosterone metabolite concentration, was related to problem solving in an Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (<i>Melomys cervinipes</i>). Mosaic-tailed rats live in complex environments that are prone to disturbance, suggesting a potential need to solve novel problems, and have been found to show relationships between physiology and other behaviours. We measured problem solving using five food-baited puzzles (matchbox and cylinder in the home cage, and activity board with pillars to push, tiles to slide and levers to lift in an open field), and an escape-motivated obstruction task in a light/dark box. Faecal samples were collected from individuals during routine cage cleaning. Adrenocortical activity was evaluated non-invasively by measuring faecal corticosterone metabolites using an enzyme immunoassay, which was biochemically and biologically validated. Despite varying over time, adrenocortical activity was not significantly related to problem solving success or time spent interacting for any task. However, as adrenocortical activity is reflective of multiple physiological processes, including stress and metabolism, future studies should consider how other measures of physiology are also linked to problem solving. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:51:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5a628df8ba624aabacb91a30136b81bb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:51:12Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-5a628df8ba624aabacb91a30136b81bb2023-11-23T11:05:27ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-12-011218210.3390/ani12010082Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat <i>Melomys Cervinipes</i>Misha K. Rowell0Rachel M. Santymire1Tasmin L. Rymer2College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, AustraliaBiology Department, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30103, USACollege of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, P.O. Box 6811, Cairns, QLD 4870, AustraliaAnimals can respond physiologically, such as by adjusting glucocorticoid hormone concentrations, to sudden environmental challenges. These physiological changes can then affect behavioural and cognitive responses. While the relationships between adrenocortical activity and behaviour and cognition are well documented, results are equivocal, suggesting species-specific responses. We investigated whether adrenocortical activity, measured using corticosterone metabolite concentration, was related to problem solving in an Australian rodent, the fawn-footed mosaic-tailed rat (<i>Melomys cervinipes</i>). Mosaic-tailed rats live in complex environments that are prone to disturbance, suggesting a potential need to solve novel problems, and have been found to show relationships between physiology and other behaviours. We measured problem solving using five food-baited puzzles (matchbox and cylinder in the home cage, and activity board with pillars to push, tiles to slide and levers to lift in an open field), and an escape-motivated obstruction task in a light/dark box. Faecal samples were collected from individuals during routine cage cleaning. Adrenocortical activity was evaluated non-invasively by measuring faecal corticosterone metabolites using an enzyme immunoassay, which was biochemically and biologically validated. Despite varying over time, adrenocortical activity was not significantly related to problem solving success or time spent interacting for any task. However, as adrenocortical activity is reflective of multiple physiological processes, including stress and metabolism, future studies should consider how other measures of physiology are also linked to problem solving.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/1/82adrenocortical activityglucocorticoidsinnovationphysiologyrodenttask complexity |
| spellingShingle | Misha K. Rowell Rachel M. Santymire Tasmin L. Rymer Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat <i>Melomys Cervinipes</i> Animals adrenocortical activity glucocorticoids innovation physiology rodent task complexity |
| title | Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat <i>Melomys Cervinipes</i> |
| title_full | Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat <i>Melomys Cervinipes</i> |
| title_fullStr | Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat <i>Melomys Cervinipes</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat <i>Melomys Cervinipes</i> |
| title_short | Corticosterone Metabolite Concentration Is Not Related to Problem Solving in the Fawn-Footed Mosaic-Tailed Rat <i>Melomys Cervinipes</i> |
| title_sort | corticosterone metabolite concentration is not related to problem solving in the fawn footed mosaic tailed rat i melomys cervinipes i |
| topic | adrenocortical activity glucocorticoids innovation physiology rodent task complexity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/1/82 |
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