Do animals have emotions?
Any child that has spent a hour with a dog will tell you that they do, but as we grow
up this certainty is pushed aside, and after all in a world that routinely uses and abuses
animals for food, clothing and entertainment, ignoring or minimising the emotional lives
of animals is rather convenient.
There is quite a bit of evidence and literature on the subject of animal emotions but for
today I want to exclusively focus on the work of neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp.
During his research on affective neuroscience, Panksepp found 7 emotional systems within
the mammalian brain.
These basic emotions do not come from the cerebral cortex, which is associated with
complex human thinking, but instead from ancient brain structures that have similar functions
across all mammalian species.
These 7 emotional systems include:SEEKING, FEAR, RAGE, PLAY, CARE, PANIC/GRIEF and LUST.
The first 3 are basic emotional and motivational processes, while the last 4 are what Panksepp
describes as social emotions.
You may also have noticed that these 7 systems are spelled in capitals to better differentiate
them from the regular use of the words that may not refer to emotional systems that are
traceable within the brain.
SEEKING is a built in system that is essential to survival.
It causes the animal to go out and look for resources such as food, water, companionship,
to explore his environment to try solving problems.
If the SEEKING system becomes under-active then the animal may become depressed.
Therefore it is essential to stimulate the SEEKING system of your domestic animal on
a daily basis.
This can be done through the use of environmental and sensory enrichment such as taking the
animal for a walk, food enrichment such as food puzzles and cognitive enrichment such
as clicker training sessions.
The FEAR system protects the animal from danger and ensures the survival of the species.
When FEAR is activated, either through external threats or conscious or unconscious fear memories,
there are a number of internal physiological effects: The arousal of the sympathetic nervous
system (the system associated with flight or fight) and associated hormones released
by the endocrine system, produce an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, the airways
dilate, the inflammatory response increases and the immune system is suppressed.
These are all involuntary responses over which the affected animal has no control over that
prepare him to escape, or - if escape is prevented - to defend himself.
It is common practice in the horse world to correct and punish behaviours that are a product
of FEAR.
If they are lucky, the trainer may reduce the unwanted behaviour by these methods, but
won't achieve full resolution of the problem, as this does not take into account what is
happening inside the animal's mind, nor change how the animal feels about whatever
triggered the FEAR.
Oxytocin, the hormone associated with the CARE system is however useful in reducing
FEAR.
This is why you will often notice horses engaging in mutual grooming following a stressful event.
Similarly owners may find stroking to be successful in soothing a worried horse.
The RAGE system is linking to the fight part of the flight/fight response and is most often
activated by physiological states of social isolation and hunger.
This explains why horses that are socially isolated and fed inappropriately are so prone
to aggression and that a change of management is recommended as treatment.
Hormones such as oxytocin, endorphins, progesterone and oestrogen function as antidotes to RAGE.
Mares that refuse to feed their foals and show RAGE toward them are most often victim
of chronic stress.
Chronic stress is known to disturb the normal process of pregnenolone, a building block
to many hormones including progesterone, which is s precursor to oestrogen, which is essential
for the hormone oxytocin to work.
RAGE can also be seen in animals that are unsuccessful (and therefore frustrated) in
obtaining expected reinforcement – either positive or negative reinforcement.
This can be seen when they are putting in more effort in an attempt to escape an aversive
stimulus or situation, as well as when they are trying to obtain expected positive reinforcers.
The PANIC/GRIEF system may sound similar to the FEAR system, however it is a social emotion
which circuits are linked to separation anxiety.
PANIC/GRIEF is what a young foal experiences when forcefully taken away from his mum and
later on in life when forcefully separated from herd companions.
Hormones such as oxytocin and social stimuli such as touch, can act as antidotes to PANIC.
LUST is essential to the survival of the species because it ensures that animals come together
and mate.
It is strong in both males and females.
So strong that we routinely castrate male horses to reduce testosterone, because it
is so difficult to compete with this emotional system when it comes to handling and training
horses.
When horse riders label mares as moody and difficult they often overlook the fact that
mares, unlike geldings, still have an intact LUST system and may be living permanently
sexually frustrated lives.
The CARE system is essential to the social life of animals.
It promotes appropriate parent/child relationships, social cohesion within a herd and as we have
seen before acts as an antidote to FEAR, RAGE and PANIC/GRIEF.
Relationships based on CARE can be formed with other species such as a human caregiver
if horse and human engage in affiliative behaviours such stroking, grooming and loafing together.
The PLAY system is crucial to the healthy development of young animals and strengthens
social attachments by the release of endorphins.
Social isolation, fear and separation distress act as inhibitors of play.
This is why we often see suppression of normal play behaviour in abruptly weaned animals.
To put these emotional systems into an animal training context: Conventional animal training
that primarily involves the use of negative reinforcement and positive punishment rely
on the activation of the FEAR and RAGE system.
While humane, science-based animal training which primarily involve positive reinforcement
rely on the activation of the SEEKING system and can also lead to the PLAY and CARE system
being activated.
If you enjoyed this video, check out the other episodes available in our animated series.
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more.
I would like to say a special thank you to Max Easey from Horse Charming for helping
with the making of the script and of course thank you to all our supporters on patreon.
You made this video possible.
If would like to join them in supporting our free educational ressources, check out the
patreon link in the description below this video.
Have a beautiful day and I see you in the next video.
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