Abstract
As has been hypothesized more than 20 years ago, data derived from Electroencephalography (EEG) measurements can be used to distinguish between behavioral states associated with animal welfare. In our current study we found a high degree of correlation between the modulation index of phase related amplitude changes in the EEG of horses (n = 6 measurements with three different horses, mare and gelding) and their facial expression, measured by the use of the horse grimace scale. Furthermore, the pattern of phase amplitude coupling (PAC) was significantly different between a rest condition and a stress condition in horses. This pilot study paves the way for a possible use of EEG derived PAC as an objective tool for the assessment of animal welfare. Beyond that, the method might be useful to assess welfare aspects in the clinical setting for human patients, as for example in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Highlights
Is Electroencephalography (EEG) a useful tool to assess welfare in horses? Animal welfare and animal well-being is part of controversial discussions
Several authors proposed EEG as promising tool, but it is necessary to show that EEG is significantly correlated with behavioral data and to determine how to best analyze relatively complex skin derived EEG data to assess subtle changes. We addressed these questions by combining a well-established technique for pain and stress assessment, the horse grimace scale (HGS) (Dalla Costa et al, 2014, 2018), with telemetric EEG recordings as a promising novel tool for the measurement of objective data related to animal welfare and signs of stress (Senko et al, 2017; Hohlbaum et al, 2017; Häger et al, 2017)
We hypothesized that the HGS as well as the phase amplitude coupling (PAC) are significantly different in the horses in accordance to the different conditions and that there is an association between HGS and PAC, which means the EEG could be an objective tool for the assessment of animal welfare
Summary
Animal welfare and animal well-being is part of controversial discussions This happens in different contexts, be it socio-political or ethical discourses, factory farming and food production, animals in private husbandry, animal-assisted therapy, zoos, wildlife or animal experiments. They all have in common that both forming and exchange of opinions are often based on emotions rather than on scientific findings. The commencement of Directive 63/2010/EU enforced efforts concerning animal welfare on a national and European level and specified personal and institutional prerequisites. People working in this field have to prove their expertise and have to be continuously
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