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Home / Equine Research Bank / Physiol Behav / Laterality and emotions: visual laterality in the domestic h...
Physiology & behavior2008; 94(3); 487-490; doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.03.002

Laterality and emotions: visual laterality in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) differs with objects’ emotional value.

Abstract: Lateralization of emotions has received great attention in the last decades, both in humans and animals, but little interest has been given to side bias in perceptual processing. Here, we investigated the influence of the emotional valence of stimuli on visual and olfactory explorations by horses, a large mammalian species with two large monocular visual fields and almost complete decussation of optic fibres. We confronted 38 Arab mares to three objects with either a positive, negative or neutral emotional valence (novel object). The results revealed a gradient of exploration of the 3 objects according to their emotional value and a clear asymmetry in visual exploration. When exploring the novel object, mares used preferentially their right eyes, while they showed a slight tendency to use their left eyes for the negative object. No asymmetry was evidenced for the object with the positive valence. A trend for an asymmetry in olfactory investigation was also observed. Our data confirm the role of the left hemisphere in assessing novelty in horses like in many vertebrate species and the possible role of the right hemisphere in processing negative emotional responses. Our findings also suggest the importance of both hemispheres in the processing positive emotions. This study is, to our knowledge, the first to demonstrate clearly that the emotional valence of a stimulus induces a specific visual lateralization pattern.
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Publication Date: 2008-03-12 PubMed ID: 18455205DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.03.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article examined how the emotional value of objects affects the visual and olfactory exploration in horses. The research discovered that horses show preference to using different eyes when examining objects of different emotional values,confirming the role of different brain hemispheres in processing specific emotional responses.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The researchers observed 38 Arab mares as they interacted with three objects – each object representing positive, negative or neutral emotional values (novel object).
  • The pattern of exploration was carefully noted – which eye the horses used more when looking at different objects and whether there was an observable trend for a particular side while carrying out an olfactory investigation.

Results and Findings

  • There was a clear asymmetry in the visual exploration of the horses. When exploring the novel object (neutral emotion), mares predominantly used their right eyes, indicating the left hemisphere’s role in assessing novelty.
  • On the other hand, when interacted with the negative object, mares showed a slight tendency to use their left eyes, which hints at the potential role of the right brain hemisphere in processing negative emotions.
  • Interestingly, no asymmetry was observed while the mares explored the positive object signifying the role of both brain hemispheres in the processing of positive emotions.
  • A similar pattern of lateralization was observed during olfactory investigation as well. However, this finding was not as pronounced as the visual laterality.

Conclusion and Significance

  • This study is a unique exploration of the object-specific lateralization of perceptual processes in horses based on their emotional values.
  • The findings indicate that both hemispheres play distinct roles in the processing of emotional responses, dictated by the emotional value of the stimuli.
  • By highlighting the clear visual lateralization pattern induced by the emotional valence of a stimulus, this research contributes to our understanding of animal behavior and neurobiology, and has potential implications for horse training, animal welfare, and veterinary practices.

Cite This Article

APA
De Boyer Des Roches A, Richard-Yris MA, Henry S, Ezzaouïa M, Hausberger M. (2008). Laterality and emotions: visual laterality in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) differs with objects’ emotional value. Physiol Behav, 94(3), 487-490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2008.03.002

Publication

Physiology & behavior
ISSN: 0031-9384
NlmUniqueID: 0151504
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 94
Issue: 3
Pages: 487-490

Researcher Affiliations

De Boyer Des Roches, Alice
  • UMR CNRS 6552 Ethologie-Evolution-Ecologie, Université de Rennes 1, Avenue du Général Leclerc, Campus de Beaulieu, F-35042 Rennes Cedex, France. a.de-boyer@wanadoo.fr
Richard-Yris, Marie-Annick
    Henry, Séverine
      Ezzaouïa, Mohammed
        Hausberger, Martine

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Animals, Newborn
          • Behavior, Animal / physiology
          • Dominance, Ocular / physiology
          • Emotions
          • Exploratory Behavior / physiology
          • Female
          • Horses / physiology
          • Olfactory Pathways / physiology
          • Pattern Recognition, Visual / physiology
          • Photic Stimulation
          • Pregnancy
          • Statistics, Nonparametric
          • Visual Fields / physiology

          Citations

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