Abstract

MOLINA, Álvaro; DAZA, Mariana  and  ROTH, Eric. Effects of Clonazepam Administration on Helping Behavior of Mus musculus Rodents. Ajayu [online]. 2023, vol.21, n.2, pp.131-147.  Epub Aug 31, 2023. ISSN 2077-2161.  https://doi.org/10.35319/ajayu.212213.

The present study explored the emotional response of Mus musculus mice, in the presence of a conspecific in need, (in forced captivity), when this consistently performed a release behavior, with and without the influence of a benzodiazepine (Clonazepan). Eight male rodents, members of the same litter, were divided into pairs and housed in an experimental chamber, where one of them was captive and the other was free. In the study, the behavior (emotional and rescue or release) of the free rodent was measured, throughout 20 sessions, 10 of them in the absence of the drug and 10 under its effects. The results indicated that the rodents develop emotional behaviors when they perceive that a congenerate is in a critical situation, and that they are capable of manifesting helpful behaviors. The inhibitory effects of benzodiazepine on such behaviors were also analyzed and the connotations of its effect were discussed.

Keywords : Animal empathy; emotional activation; helping behavior; benzodiazepine.

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