Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspective
In the field of anxiety research, animal models are used as screening tools in the search for compounds with therapeutic potential and as simulations for research on mechanisms underlying emotional behaviour. However, a solely pharmacological approach to the validation of such tests has resulted in...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica
1997-03-01
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| Series: | Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X1997000300002 |
| _version_ | 1818984358216728576 |
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| author | R.J. Rodgers B.-J. Cao A. Dalvi A. Holmes |
| author_facet | R.J. Rodgers B.-J. Cao A. Dalvi A. Holmes |
| author_sort | R.J. Rodgers |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the field of anxiety research, animal models are used as screening tools in the search for compounds with therapeutic potential and as simulations for research on mechanisms underlying emotional behaviour. However, a solely pharmacological approach to the validation of such tests has resulted in distinct problems with their applicability to systems other than those involving the benzodiazepine/GABAA receptor complex. In this context, recent developments in our understanding of mammalian defensive behaviour have not only prompted the development of new models but also attempts to refine existing ones. The present review focuses on the application of ethological techniques to one of the most widely used animal models of anxiety, the elevated plus-maze paradigm. This fresh approach to an established test has revealed a hitherto unrecognized multidimensionality to plus-maze behaviour and, as it yields comprehensive behavioural profiles, has many advantages over conventional methodology. This assertion is supported by reference to recent work on the effects of diverse manipulations including psychosocial stress, benzodiazepines, GABA receptor ligands, neurosteroids, 5-HT1A receptor ligands, and panicolytic/panicogenic agents. On the basis of this review, it is suggested that other models of anxiety may well benefit from greater attention to behavioural detail |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:17:44Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d0153f486fb42859b25f13f7a3df0e1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0100-879X 1414-431X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T18:17:44Z |
| publishDate | 1997-03-01 |
| publisher | Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d0153f486fb42859b25f13f7a3df0e12022-12-21T19:30:20ZengAssociação Brasileira de Divulgação CientíficaBrazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research0100-879X1414-431X1997-03-0130328910.1590/S0100-879X1997000300002Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspectiveR.J. RodgersB.-J. CaoA. DalviA. HolmesIn the field of anxiety research, animal models are used as screening tools in the search for compounds with therapeutic potential and as simulations for research on mechanisms underlying emotional behaviour. However, a solely pharmacological approach to the validation of such tests has resulted in distinct problems with their applicability to systems other than those involving the benzodiazepine/GABAA receptor complex. In this context, recent developments in our understanding of mammalian defensive behaviour have not only prompted the development of new models but also attempts to refine existing ones. The present review focuses on the application of ethological techniques to one of the most widely used animal models of anxiety, the elevated plus-maze paradigm. This fresh approach to an established test has revealed a hitherto unrecognized multidimensionality to plus-maze behaviour and, as it yields comprehensive behavioural profiles, has many advantages over conventional methodology. This assertion is supported by reference to recent work on the effects of diverse manipulations including psychosocial stress, benzodiazepines, GABA receptor ligands, neurosteroids, 5-HT1A receptor ligands, and panicolytic/panicogenic agents. On the basis of this review, it is suggested that other models of anxiety may well benefit from greater attention to behavioural detailhttp://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X1997000300002animal models of anxietyethologydefencerisk assessmentplus-mazebehavioural profilingpharmacology |
| spellingShingle | R.J. Rodgers B.-J. Cao A. Dalvi A. Holmes Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspective Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research animal models of anxiety ethology defence risk assessment plus-maze behavioural profiling pharmacology |
| title | Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspective |
| title_full | Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspective |
| title_fullStr | Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspective |
| title_short | Animal models of anxiety: an ethological perspective |
| title_sort | animal models of anxiety an ethological perspective |
| topic | animal models of anxiety ethology defence risk assessment plus-maze behavioural profiling pharmacology |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X1997000300002 |
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