EEG based assessment of stress in horses: a pilot study.
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 ( = 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.
© 2020 de Camp et al.
Publication Date: 2020-05-12 PubMed ID: 32435527PubMed Central: PMC7227666DOI: 10.7717/peerj.8629Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article presents a pilot study that examines the potential of using Electroencephalography (EEG) measurements to assess stress levels in horses, suggesting this technique could offer an objective tool for animal welfare assessment.
Research Context
- The researchers reference a hypothesis that was posited over 20 years ago suggesting that Electroencephalography (EEG) data, which measures brain wave activity, could provide insights into behavioral states associated with animal welfare.
- The current study seeks to explore this hypothesis further and determine the accuracy of stress assessment in horses through EEG measurements.
Research Methodology
- The research team conducted EEG measurements on a small sample of horses, including both males and females, obtaining a total of six measurements.
- They investigated the correlation between the modulation index of phase-related amplitude changes in the EEG of horses and their facial expressions. The horse’s facial expressions were measured using the horse grimace scale, a tool traditionally used in assessing pain levels in horses.
Research Findings
- The results indicated a high degree of correlation between the modulation index of EEG measurements and the horse grimace scale readings. This suggests that there is a strong relationship between the EEG’s phase amplitude and the visible expressions of stress (grimacing) in horses.
- Additionally, the study found there to be a significant difference in the phase amplitude coupling (PAC) pattern when the horses were in a state of rest versus a state of stress. This indicates that EEG measurements can potentially distinguish between different behavioral states in horses.
Implications of the Study and Potential Applications
- This study lays the groundwork for using EEG derived PAC as an objective tool in monitoring and assessing animal welfare, particularly in regard to stress levels.
- Although this study was limited to horses, the findings suggest potential for this method to be applied to other animals, thereby contributing to overall improvements in animal welfare assessment and practices.
- The researchers also propose that the method might be useful in human medical settings, such as assessing welfare aspects in neonatal intensive care units, thus expanding the potential applications of the study beyond animal welfare.
Cite This Article
APA
de Camp NV, Ladwig-Wiegard M, Geitner CIE, Bergeler J, Thöne-Reineke C.
(2020).
EEG based assessment of stress in horses: a pilot study.
PeerJ, 8, e8629.
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.8629 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Behavioral Physiology, Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Institute of Animal Welfare, Animal Behavior and Laboratory Animal Science, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- McFadden J. Consciousness: Matter or EMF?. Front Hum Neurosci 2022;16:1024934.
- de Camp NV, Bergeler J. Correlations between EEG and intestinal electrical stimulation.. Transl Neurosci 2022 Jan 1;13(1):440-452.
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