Abstract
In humans, there is evidence that sensory processing of novel or threatening stimuli is right hemisphere dominated, especially in people experiencing negative affective states. There is also evidence for similar lateralization in a number of non-human animal species. Here we investigate whether this is also the case in domestic cattle that may experience long-term negative states due to commonly occurring conditions such as lameness. Health and welfare implications associated with pain in lame cows are a major concern in dairy farming. Behavioural tests combining animal behaviour and cognition could make a meaningful contribution to our understanding of disease-related changes in sensory processing in animals, and consequently enhance their welfare. We presented 216 lactating Holstein-Friesian cows with three different unfamiliar objects which were placed either bilaterally (e.g. two yellow party balloons, two black/white checkerboards) or hung centrally (a Kong™) within a familiar area. Cows were individually exposed to the objects on three consecutive days, and their viewing preference/eye use, exploration behaviour/nostril use, and stop position during approach was assessed. Mobility (lameness) was repeatedly scored during the testing period. Overall, a bias to view the right rather than the left object was found at initial presentation of the bilateral objects. More cows also explored the right object rather than the left object with their nose. There was a trend for cows appearing hesitant in approaching the objects by stopping at a distance to them, to then explore the left object rather than the right. In contrast, cows that approached the objects directly had a greater tendency to contact the right object. No significant preference in right or left eye/nostril use was found when cows explored the centrally-located object. We found no relationship between lameness and lateralized behaviour. Nevertheless, observed trends suggesting that lateralized behaviour in response to bilaterally located unfamiliar objects may reflect an immediate affective response are discussed. Further study is needed to understand the impact of long-term affective states on hemispheric dominance and lateralized behaviour.
Highlights
IntroductionReliable measurement of animal affect (emotion) is an important goal in animal welfare research
Reliable measurement of animal affect is an important goal in animal welfare research
Negative affective state has been associated with negative cognitive bias resulting in a greater likelihood of negative appraisal when presented with ambiguous information [4,5]
Summary
Reliable measurement of animal affect (emotion) is an important goal in animal welfare research. It might be possible to gain insights into animals’ perception of situations and emotional reactions by studying lateralized responses. In humans, both hemispheres are involved in emotion processing, the right hemisphere appears to be dominant when negative emotions are experienced [14]. It is hypothesised that right hemispheric activity is dominant in animals in negative affective states and that this is reflected in increased use of the left visual or auditory fields, which project to the contralateral (right) hemisphere in many species, when attending to novelty or threat [8,11,12]. Lateralized motor and sensory function may be a useful indicator of the positivity or negativity of an individual’s affective state across a wide range of animal species
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