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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(2); 229; doi: 10.3390/ani13020229

Sympathetic Arousal Detection in Horses Using Electrodermal Activity.

Abstract: The continuous monitoring of stress, pain, and discomfort is key to providing a good quality of life for horses. The available tools based on observation are subjective and do not allow continuous monitoring. Given the link between emotions and sympathetic autonomic arousal, heart rate and heart rate variability are widely used for the non-invasive assessment of stress and pain in humans and horses. However, recent advances in pain and stress monitoring are increasingly using electrodermal activity (EDA), as it is a more sensitive and specific measure of sympathetic arousal than heart rate variability. In this study, for the first time, we have collected EDA signals from horses and tested the feasibility of the technique for the assessment of sympathetic arousal. Fifteen horses (six geldings, nine mares, aged 13.11 ± 5.4 years) underwent a long-lasting stimulus (Feeding test) and a short-lasting stimulus (umbrella Startle test) to elicit sympathetic arousal. The protocol was approved by the University of Connecticut. We found that EDA was sensitive to both stimuli. Our results show that EDA can capture sympathetic activation in horses and is a promising tool for non-invasive continuous monitoring of stress, pain, and discomfort in horses.
Publication Date: 2023-01-07 PubMed ID: 36670768PubMed Central: PMC9855141DOI: 10.3390/ani13020229Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This research was conducted to test the feasibility of using Electrodermal Activity (EDA) signals as a means of detecting sympathetic arousal in horses—an indication of stress, pain, and discomfort.

Objective and Background

  • The study aimed to develop a more objective, continuous monitoring method for assessing horses’ quality of life, using EDA as a gauge for sympathetic arousal.
  • Previously, heart rate and heart rate variability were the main non-invasive measures used to assess horses’ stress and pain, but these are less sensitive and specific than EDA.
  • Existing observational tools were deemed subjective and do not allow consistent monitoring, which created a demand for a more reliable, continuous method.

Methodology

  • In this pioneer research, EDA signals from fifteen horses of different gender and age groups were collected to test the technique’s effectiveness.
  • Two stimuli were used to elicit sympathetic arousal: a long-lasting feeding test and a short-lasting umbrella startle test.
  • All procedures were carried out under the approval and oversight of the University of Connecticut.

Results and Conclusion

  • The study revealed that EDA is sensitive to both long-lasting and short-lasting stimuli in horses, proving its efficacy in capturing sympathetic activation.
  • This result leads the researchers to posit that EDA is a promising tool for the non-invasive, continuous monitoring of stress, pain, and discomfort in horses.

In conclusion, this trailblazing research asserts the potential of EDA as a more precise and reliable tool for assessing stress, pain, and discomfort in horses. Its sensitivity to different stimuli supports the notion of continuous and non-invasive monitoring, contributing significantly to improving horses’ quality of life.

Cite This Article

APA
Golzari K, Kong Y, Reed SA, Posada-Quintero HF. (2023). Sympathetic Arousal Detection in Horses Using Electrodermal Activity. Animals (Basel), 13(2), 229. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13020229

Publication

ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
PII: 229

Researcher Affiliations

Golzari, Kia
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Kong, Youngsun
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Reed, Sarah A
  • Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
Posada-Quintero, Hugo F
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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