Expression of the startle reaction in rats genetically predisposed towards different types of defensive behavior (original) (raw)
Abstract
The magnitudes of startle reactions, consisting of shuddering in response to acoustic signals, were studied in rats selected for predisposition to different types of defensive behavior—rats with and without passive defensive freezing reactions (catalepsy), and Norway rats selected for a lack of defensive aggression to humans or for high levels of aggression; studies were performed in an SR-Pilot apparatus. These experiments showed that expression of the startle reaction to standard sound signal in rats with a genetic predisposition to catalepsy was double that in control Wistar rats. A similar but greater difference was seen between highly aggressive and non-aggressive rats: the amplitude of the startle reaction in rats with high levels of active defenside responses was three times that in rats showing no aggression towards humans. Extinction of the reflex reaction was significantly slower in highly aggressive rats than in non-aggressive rats. A similar tendency was seen in rats with genetic predisposition to the passive defensive freezing reaction as compared with Wistar rats. It was concluded that animals with an inherited tendency to defensive behavior have higher levels of the emotional fear state, regardless of the strategy of the defensive behavior.
Access this article
Subscribe and save
- Get 10 units per month
- Download Article/Chapter or eBook
- 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
- Cancel anytime Subscribe now
Buy Now
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.
Instant access to the full article PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
- N. K. Popova, “Brain serotonin and genetically determined types of defensive behavior,”Zh. Vyssh. Nerv. Deyat.,47, No. 2, 350–357 (1997).
CAS Google Scholar - R. J. Blanchard and C. D. Blanchard, “Attack and defense in rodents as ethoexperimental models for the study of emotions,”Progr. Neuro-Psychopharm. Biol. Psychiatr.,13, S3-S14 (1989).
Article Google Scholar - D. S. Blanchard, N. K. Popova, I. F. Plyusnina, et al., “Defensive reactions of ‘wild-type’ and ‘domesticated’ wild rats to approach and contact by threat stimulus,”Aggresss. Behav.,20, 387–391 (1994).
Google Scholar - D. O. Hebb, “On the nature of fear,”Psychol. Rev.,53, 259–276 (1946).
Article Google Scholar - J. A. Hogan, “An experimental study of conflict and fear: an analysis of behavior of young chicks towards a mealworm. 1. The behavior of chicks which do not eat the mealworm,”Behavior,24, 45–97 (1965).
Google Scholar - V. G. Kolpakov, N. N. Barykina, and I. L. Chepkasov, “Genetic predisposition of catatonic behavior and methylphenidate sensitivity in rats,”Behav. Proc.,6, 269–281 (1981).
Article CAS Google Scholar - A. V. Kulikov, E. Y. Kozlachkova, G. B. Maslova, and N. K. Popova, “Inheritance of predisposition to catalepsy in mice,”Behav. Genet.,23, No. 4, 378–384 (1993).
Article Google Scholar - K. E. Moyer, “Kinds of aggression and their physiological basis,”Commun. Behav. Biol.,2, 65–87 (1968).
Google Scholar - D. J. Nutt and P. Glue, “Clinical pharmacology of anxiolytics and antidepressants: a psychopharmacological perspective,” in:Psychopharmacology of Anxiolytics and Antidepressants, S. E. File (Ed.), Pergamon Press, New York (1991), pp. 1–28.
Google Scholar - I. F. Plyusnina and I. Oskina, “Behavioral and adrenocortical responses to open-field test in rats selected for reduced aggressiveness towards man,”Physiol. Behav.,61, 381–385 (1997).
Article PubMed CAS Google Scholar - N. K. Popova, D. F. Avgustinovich, V. G. Kolpakov, and I. V. Plyusnina, “Specific [3H]8-OH-DPAT binding in brain regions of rats genetically predisposed to various defense behavior strategies,”Pharmacol. Biochem. Behav.,59, 793–797 (1998).
Article PubMed CAS Google Scholar
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Lavrent'ev Prospekt, 630090, Novosibirsk, Russia
N. K. Popova, N. N. Barykina, T. A. Plyusnina, T. A. Alekhina & V. G. Kolpakov
Authors
- N. K. Popova
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - N. N. Barykina
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - T. A. Plyusnina
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - T. A. Alekhina
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - V. G. Kolpakov
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar
Additional information
Translated from Rossiiskii Fiziologischeskii Zhurnal imeni I. M. Sechenova, Vol. 85, No. 1, pp. 99–104, January, 1999.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Popova, N.K., Barykina, N.N., Plyusnina, T.A. et al. Expression of the startle reaction in rats genetically predisposed towards different types of defensive behavior.Neurosci Behav Physiol 30, 321–325 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02471785
- Received: 03 April 1998
- Issue Date: May 2000
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02471785