Exam 4: Behavior Flashcards
What are the neurotransmitters in the brain?
Glutamate GABA Dopamine Serotonin Norepinephrine/noradrenaline
Describe glutamate
Excitatory
When stressed, this is secreted which enhances memory
Describe GABA
Inhibitory
Describe dopamine
Reward and reinforcement
Short-term memory and problem solving
What are the structures in the brain that play a key role in learning?
Ventral tegmental area (VTA) Amygdala Nucleus accumbens Prefrontal cortex Hippocampus
Describe VTA
Found in midbrain
Release dopamine into the reward circuit
What is the amygdala responsible for?
Emotions
What is the nucleus accumbens responsible for?
Body motor function
What is the prefrontal cortex responsible for?
Focus, attention, planning
What is the hippocampus responsible for?
Formation of memories
Main region where learning occurs
New neurons born throughout adulthood
What are the different types of learning?
Non-associative learning
Associative learning
Describe non-associative learinging
Habituation and sensitization
One of the most widespread forms of learning
All animal shoe habituation
Response to certain stimuli is influenced by breed, species, and past experiences
What is habituation?
A decrease in responsiveness produced by repeated exposure to a novel/neutral stimulus in environment
What is sensitization?
An increase in responsiveness produced by repeated exposure to some environmental stimuli
Flooding can result in sensitization
What is associative learning?
Classical and operant conditioning
Ability to learn to perform a particular behavior when a particular stimulus is present
What is classical conditioning?
Learned through association on a conscious or subconcious level
Involves involuntary visceral responses (salvation, vomiting, milk let down, and emotional response)
Counter conditioning
What is counter conditioning?
Process of establishing a new response to a stimulus
Often used to treat fears
What is operant conditioning?
Respond to consequences
Gives choices and control over environment
Long term changes
Behavior modification
What are the 4 quadrants of operant conditioning?
Positive reinforcement
Negative punishment
Negative reinforcement
Positive punishment
Describe positive reinforcement
Add something good and behavior happens
Describe negative punishment
Take something away and behavior stops
Describe negative reinforcement
Take something away to increase behavior
Remove your attention
Describe positive punishment
Add something bad/unpleasant to decrease that behavior
Spray cat with water
Shock collars
Which of the quadrants of operant conditioning tend to have more adverse side effects?
Positive punishment
Negative reinforcement
What is fear?
An adaptive emotional response to an existing stimulus or situation that animals perceives as potentially dangerous
May be adaptive
Where does fear response start?
Amygdala
Describe the amygdala
Located in temporal cortex
Considered part of the limbic system
Primary site responsible for processing external and internal triggers that are fear-evoking and potentially life-threatening
What do anxiety, stress, and fear stimulate?
Sympathetic system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
Describe the autonomic fear response
Sympathetic system release NE and Epi for fight of flight response
Describe the hormonal fear response
Responses reinforce the autonomic response
Further increase blood flow to muscles
Causes nutrients stored in muscle to be converted to glucose
Describe the behavioral fear response
Muscle movement that are appropriate to the situation that elicits it Communication signals (barking, growling, lunging, showing teeth, piloerection)
What is fear conditioning?
Form of classical conditioning
What is the central site for fear conditioning?
Amygdala
What is the primary neurotransmitter in fear conditioning?
Glutamate
What is anxiety?
Anticipation of negative outcome
What is stress?
A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances
What is a phobia?
Sudden excessive and profound fear
Intensity is greater than a fear response
Not adaptive
What are the risk factors for separation anxiety?
Single family homes
Separation from mother and other littermate before 8 weeks
Ill as puppies
Genetics
Dogs that have had obedience training and the trained with positive reinforcement appear to have less separation anxiety and other behavioral problems
What is safety and avoidance treatment for separation anxiety?
Avoid leaving him at home, create a safe haven, increase exercise
What is communication treatment for separation anxiety?
Cue-response reward, ignore 20 minutes before leave/ignore when return
Avoid punishment
What are tools that can be used as treatment for separation anxiety?
Food puzzle toys Aromatherapy Pheromones Thunder shirt Classical music
What is behavior modification treatment for separation anxiety?
Independent exercises
Relax on a mat
What are medications for separation anxiety?
Paroxetine
Trazadone
Gabapentin
What are risk factors for compulsive disorder?
Genetically predisposed animals that are subjected to chronic or recurrent conflict or frustration, individuals whose behavioral needs are not met, and maternal deprivation
What are compulsive behaviors derived from?
Normal behaviors such as grooming, ingestion, predation, and locomotion
What is the primary mechanism in which compulsive disorders induced?
Abnormal serotonin transmission
What is the safety and avoidance treatment for compulsive disorder?
Increase enrichment
What is the communication treatment for compulsive disorder?
Cur-response reward
Focus and foundation exercises for redirection
What are the tools used for treatment of compulsive disorder?
Mat
Food toys
Head collar
What is the behavior modification treatment for compulsive disorder?
Relax on mat
What are the medications for compulsive disorder?
Fluoxetine
Clonidine
What are the risk factors for cognitive dysfunction syndrome?
Caused by physical changes to an aging dog’s brain
Decreased awareness, ability to learn, and memory
What is the safety and avoidance treatment for cognitive dysfunction syndrome?
Safe haven
Ignore attention seeking behavior
Tethers
Head collars
What is the communication treatment for cognitive dysfunction syndrome?
Cue-response reward
Teach new behaviors
Targeting an object
Focus behavior to go to a mat
What are the tools used for treatment of cognitive dysfunction syndrome?
Classical music
Pheromones
Food dispensing toys and puzzles
Ex-pen
What are the medications used for treatment of cognitive dysfunction syndrome?
Purina Neurocare Antioxidants Melatonin Lorazepam Selegiline Gabapentin
What are the risk factors for REM sleep behavior disorder?
Cause is unknown
Clinical signs during sleep are vocalization, locomotion, and aggression
What is the treatment for REM sleep behavior disorder?
They tried a bunch of stuff
KBr, phenobarbital, simplicef
What are risk factors for redirected aggression?
Fear based
Bottle fed
Genetics
Mother stress
What is the treatment for redirected aggression?
Crate train Enrichment Interactive play- short and frequent Food dispensing toy Emergency recall Train in kennel
What are the risk factors for cribbing?
Decreased forage
Increased concentrate
Decreased communication between adjacent horses
Weaning critical time
What is the treatment for cribbing?
Cribbing straps Bad tasting substances Antacids Shock collar Cribbing bar Naloxon Surgery to remove CN 11 and portions omhyoideus and sternothyroideus muscles Environmental modification (preferred treatment)
Describe PRN/situational mediations
Benzodiazepines, trazadone, clonidine, gabapentin
Mild to strong effects (dose effect)
Dose just before trigger
Choose if intermittent and predictable trigger
Not great for long term use
Describe maintenance medications
TCA, SSRI, trazadone, gabapentin
Mild to moderate anxiolytic effects
Weeks to be effective
Same daily dose regardless of trigger intensity
Choose if trigger constantly or predictably present
Safer for long term use
Describe Benzodiazepines
Acts on GABA and decrease glutamine
Use for storm anxiety, noise phobias separation anxiety, car rides, vet visits, and reset sleep
Describe trazadone
Acts on serotonin and histamine
Blocks arousal system and causes sedation
Use for storm phobia, anxiety, post-op confinement, hospitalization, fear at hospital
Class of drug: SARI
Describe clonidine
Acts on norepinephrine
Use for fear-related aggression, noise phobia, separation anxiety, compulsive disorders, impulse control
Describe gabapentin
Acts on glutamine
Helpful with refractory cases and those with neuropathic pain
Describe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Acts on serotonin
It is anxiolytic, anti-aggression, anti-compulsive
Describe tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
Acts on serotonin and norepinephrine
It is anticholinergic, antihistamine, and alpha-adrenergic effects
What are the FDA approved medications to treat behavior problems?
Sileo (oral gel to treat noise phobia)
Reconcile (AKA fluoxetine; treats separation anxiety)
Clomicalm (separation anxiety)
Selegiline (anipryl; cognitive dysfunction; currently off markets)
