The effect of training on spontaneous blink rate in dogs
The spontaneous blink rate is found to be a non-invasive but functional, reliable and useful way to monitor central dopaminergic activity. Dopamine is associated with a range of functions such as reward, motivation and learning. It plays an important role in goal-directed behavior and in maintaini...
| Autor principal: | |
|---|---|
| Formato: | H2 |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés sueco |
| Publicado: |
SLU/Dept. of Animal Environment and Health (until 231231)
2013
|
| Materias: |
| Sumario: | The spontaneous blink rate is found to be a non-invasive but functional, reliable and useful way to monitor central dopaminergic activity. Dopamine is associated with a range of functions such as reward, motivation and learning. It plays an important role in goal-directed behavior and in maintaining a behavior once a task is learned. As far as the author knows, there are today no publications that discuss the topic regarding the possible link between training and spontaneous blink rate in dogs. Therefore, eight privately owned dogs were included in this study to determine if there was a significant difference in the spontaneous blink rate before and after the process of learning a task. If there was a significant difference in the spontaneous blink rate, a secondary aim was to determine if the change showed a consistent pattern during the training process. It was predicted that the spontaneous blink rate would increase in accordance with changes in dopaminergic activity associated with the activation of neuro-affective circuits associated with reward acquisition during the establishment of the response and furthermore that the spontaneous blink rate would decrease as the behaviour shifted from a goal directed behaviour to a habitual response. For the two dogs that reached criterion the data showed a similar trend where the blink rate per minute was decreased during training and returned towards baseline levels post threshold criterion. A significant difference was found in blink rate between baseline and training for the two dogs that reached criterion. From this study it was not possible to conclude that the spontaneous blink rate reflects dopaminergic activity. However, one conclusion that can be drawn from this study was that there is a change in blink rate during training compared to baseline for the two dogs that reached criterion. Further studies on larger sample sizes are necessary to assess the effect of training on spontaneous blink rate in dogs. For any further studies, it is strongly recommended accurate and careful recruitment of individuals is essential to ensure that they are suitable for such training.
|
|---|