Facial expression and oxytocin as possible markers of positive emotions in horses.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research investigates how certain behaviours and physiological markers can indicate positive emotions in horses. The study found that horses receiving their preferred form of grooming exhibited more signs of positive emotions and lower basal oxytocin levels, which contradicts previous research but indicates better well-being.
Research Methodology
- The researchers conducted an experiment with two groups of horses. The “Gentle grooming group (G)” comprised 13 horses that were groomed gently in the areas they seemed to appreciate most across 11 sessions. Meanwhile, 14 horses in the “Standard grooming group (S)” were groomed using a fixed method known to cause avoidance reactions in some horses.
- Various physiological factors, such as blood cortisol, oxytocin levels, heart rate and heart rate variability, were monitored before and after each grooming session in both groups.
- The researchers also carefully evaluated the horses’ behaviours during grooming, looking for signs of either contact-seeking (indicating positive emotions) or avoidance (indicating negative emotions).
Key Findings
- At the end of the 11 sessions, horses in the G group conducted significantly more contact-seeking behaviours than those in the S group, who showed more avoidance behaviours. This suggests that G horses were experiencing positive emotions while S horses were experiencing negative emotions.
- Surprisingly, the basal (basic) levels of oxytocin in the G group were lower than in the S group after the 11 sessions. While this seems contradictory to common physiological understanding, it falls in line with studies indicating low levels of basal oxytocin as a marker of better overall well-being.
- Facial expressions were found to be a sensitive and reliable indicator of the horses’ emotional state. Particularly, facial cues allowed researchers to differentiate between experiences of positive and negative emotions even when both groups were subject to neutral grooming one year post-experiment.
Significance of the Research
This research adds to our understanding of animal emotions, particularly in horses. It highlights how simple changes in grooming method can significantly affect a horse’s emotional state. Additionally, it suggests the potential validity of low basal oxytocin levels as an indicator of better emotional well-being in horses, challenging previous understanding. Finally, it underscores the sensitivity and importance of facial cues as indicators of emotion in animals.
Cite This Article
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France. lea.lansade@inra.fr.
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, University Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Emotions
- Horses / physiology
- Oxytocin / blood
Conflict of Interest Statement
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