Laboratory of Applied Ethology and Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science and Rural Development, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
Laboratory of Applied Ethology and Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Science and Rural Development, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
J Equine Vet Sci. 2023 Jul;126:104249. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104249. Epub 2023 Feb 16.
Stabled horses often experience negative emotions due to the inappropriate living conditions imposed by humans. However, identifying what emotions horses experience and what can trigger positive and negative emotions in stabled horses can be challenging. In this article we present a brief history of the study of emotions and models that explain emotions from a scientific point of view and the physiological bases and functions of emotions. We then review and discuss physiological and behavioral indicators and cognitive bias tests developed to assess emotions in horses. Hormone concentrations, body temperature, the position of the ears, facial expressions and behaviors, such as approach and avoidance behaviors, can provide valuable information about emotional states in horses. The cognitive bias paradigm is a recent and robust tool to assess emotions in horses. Knowing how to evaluate the intensity and frequency of an individual's emotions can guide horse owners and caretakers to identify practices and activities that should be stimulated, avoided or even banned from the individual's life, in favor of a life worth living. The development and validation of novel indicators of emotions considering positive and negative contexts can help in these actions.
马在被人类强加的不适当生活条件下，常常会产生负面情绪。然而，识别马所经历的情绪以及哪些因素会引发马的积极和消极情绪可能具有挑战性。在本文中，我们简要回顾了情绪研究的历史，并从科学角度介绍了解释情绪的模型，以及情绪的生理基础和功能。然后，我们回顾和讨论了为评估马的情绪而开发的生理和行为指标以及认知偏差测试。激素浓度、体温、耳朵位置、面部表情和行为，如趋近和回避行为，可以提供有关马情绪状态的有价值信息。认知偏差范式是评估马情绪的一种新的有力工具。了解如何评估个体情绪的强度和频率，可以指导马的主人和饲养员识别哪些行为和活动应该被刺激、避免甚至禁止，以促进其过上有价值的生活。考虑积极和消极情境的新型情绪指标的开发和验证有助于实现这些目标。
