Animals more capable of empathy than previously thought, study finds

[n2doc]

A new study has found that prairie voles will console other voles who are feeling stressed - which researchers have described as evidence of empathy.

A study team at Emory University set up an experiment where pairs of voles isolated from each other, and one of them was exposed to mild shocks.

When they were reunited, the voles who hadn't been shocked would lick their partners sooner and for longer durations than specimens in a control group who were separated but not exposed to shocks.

The consoling behavior only took place between voles who were familiar with each other, and not between strangers. According to researchers Larry Young and James Burkett, this demonstrates that the behavior was not simply a reaction to aversive cues.

more
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/12117501/Animals-more-capable-of-empathy-than-previously-thought-study-finds.html

[Kalidurga]

1. They did a study with rats

they kept a rat in distress by having it standing in a pool of water. The other rat could get it out of that wet cage or it could go get a food pellet. Most the time the rat not in distress would rescue the rat in distress rather than get the food pellet.

[hlthe2b]

2. Of course they are empathic and they grieve--this isn't mere anthropomorphising...

On that score, one of my pair of front yard wild rabbits was hit and killed by a car sometime during our last snow storm in a pretty grisly fashion. His remains lay on the sidewalk not far from my house so that I'm sure the female knew he was dead. She seemed to not be feeding as she normally does on the remaining plants/bushes and just genuinely seemed "lost". I took the carcass of the male and laid him under a bush in a nearby field/open space and have been supplementing her winter-diminished diet with some shredded carrot, salad greens and a bit of timothy hay--she seems to be perking up. But most don't realize that wild rabbits tend to mate for life.

We have large numbers of wild rabbits in my area, but I can't help feeling for this one... She probably won't pick a new mate, but I'd still like to give her a chance...

[fizzgig]

3. my dad used to watch a prairie dog colony from his office

they mourn their dead.

the dim one and fat cat were together for more than ten years and merely tolerated each other. however, the dim one snuggled with fat cat in fat cat's final days. they're capable of so much more than we realize.

[Faux pas]

4. Someone asked me once if I thought dogs/cats etc

were beasts or beings. I said I know they are beings. They feel pain, fear, joy, love and empathy. I don't think they really needed a 'study' to figure that out.

[lastlib]

8. Dolphins, whales, orcas have also exhibited these feelings.

I have seen horses, cows and pigs do so as well.

We of the animal kingdom are all more alike than most realize.

[Faux pas]

9. I figure all mammals do.

Reptiles and amphibians, not so much. Seeing how they tend to their newborns is a pretty big clue.

[gvstn]

11. I don't know how many years I heard a dog doesn't feel pain.

All the vets etc, would say they don't need pain therapy or anesthesia.

Anyone with a dog or cat can tell you differently but is was a respected belief for decades.

[Faux pas]

13. I never heard that, how sad

to think of the suffering that went on before the enlightenment.

[gvstn]

14. It really did happen.

I've had my share of cats and dogs and for years they would say the don't feel pain like humans. If there was a problem, I'd be like look in their eyes, it looks like it hurts and they would say it doesn't hurt them like it does us.What??? And they really seemed to believe it. They weren't cruel but they just read something in some journal that told them so despite common sense. I'm glad things have changed as well. I don't want my little cat to feel pain if he needed surgery or something like that. That's what pain medications are all about, and useful for.

[William Seger]

16. Wow, I never heard that; what a stupid thing to believe

For the last 3 years, I have to give my dog insulin shots twice a day, and no matter how careful I am, about once a week she lets me know it hurt. Since I'm still needle-shy anyway, it tears me up when she yelps. One of our other dogs comes running to see what happened, so I think he feels empathy, too, but we have a third dog who doesn't do that so I think there is some variation, as with people.

[gvstn]

18. Yes, just because injured animals survive doesn't mean they don't feel pain.

I don't envy you giving insulin to a dog. I've loved every dog I've had, but trying to give them insulin everyday, twice a day, would be a trial. Diabetes is not easy, you have to keep it on a schedule. Humans can put up with it, but dogs may vary. Thanks to you for helping keep him/her alive.
You are a great human person/caretaker of your pet. Thanks for that!

[William Seger]

19. They raised the price of insulin (again) this year

It's now costing about $120 every 3 weeks, and she's on a special diet that cost about $75 every month. We found that she had diabetes when she went blind from cataracts, and that was a $4000 surgery, but now she sees fine. It's pretty much like having a kid, really -- you do what you have to.

[gvstn]

20. Insulin prices are ridiculous.

It is not a drug that has research and development costs.

My mom got sick around 2004 with a heart attack. Insulin was about $25 a bottle when I had to start helping her out. Now it is like $100+. Same drug but it should never of gone up that much in 10 years. Something has gone wrong with drug prices.

By the way, I'll say Walmart may be hated, by me especially, but they have cheap insulin if you can adjust the dose, appropriately.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Aside from everyone with a cat or dog knowing this..

a quick search brought up this elephant "funeral":

There are dozens more.

[William Seger]

17. I suspect that it's a common adaptation for social animals

Perhaps someday Republicans will evolve.

[spooky3]

6. I think researchers should not shock captive animals

Only under very rare circumstances should it be considered ethical to do this. Surely there was a better way to design this study, if the answer to the research question truly is so ambiguous and important to determine.

[thecrow]

7. There is a video going around on fb

In the video a parakeet is dead and another parakeet is guarding the dead one ans the human is trying to roll the poor dead one in a paper towel.
The live keet appears to be trying to talk to ans even kiss the dead one and then attacks the human who's got the paper towel by biting the fingers. It is both touching and sad.

If you get a chance, watch it...it is very compelling.
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10153114435886512&id=102515706511&_rdr

[Warpy]

10. When the old tomcat died, HRH would meow at closed closet doors

thinking he'd gotten closed in there. This went on for a couple of years. Cats grieve deeply and at length.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

12. I've mentioned this before, but I am a veteran with combat-related PTSD

A few years ago, I was having an episode where, for the better part of a month, the bit from Paul Simon's "Slip-Slidin' Away" described me:

She said, "A good day
Ain't got no pain"
She said, "A bad day's when I lie in bed
And think of things that might have been."

My Great Pyrenees dog, Belle, recognized my bad days, and would lie down with me, giving me what can only be described as loving care. She knew I was hurting, and did her best to help me. I know she had empathy, because she showed it deeply and frequently. I'd say I got more help from her than from the VA shrink I saw.

[polly7]

15. Your Belle sounds like my now gone dog Wolfie.

After my Dad died by suicide and I'd found him, I was alone and really struggling with not wanting to go on ... at all. I'd sit and when the thoughts became overwhelming or my heart hurt so much I just wanted to disappear, literally - Wolfie would come and lay his head on my lap and look up at me with eyes so old and wise - this sounds strange, but those eyes reminded me of my Dad's. He just seemed to know without me making a sound how much I needed someone - he was that someone. I honestly don't think I'd be here if I hadn't had him.

They do know. I'm glad your Belle was so sensitive to your pain and I hope you're doing much better.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

21. Belle is also gone

She got an aggressive cancer, and we had to put her down. I held her when the vet gave her the injection, because I owed it to her.

The point for both of us is that we don't need to be told that animals have empathy, we have received empathy from out dogs.

[polly7]

22. That's just how my Wolfie went.

He was 15, I'd gotten him when he was 11 from someone who was trying desperately to find him a place rather than put him down, as he'd just had their second child and his wife no longer wanted a dog. He was also a large breed dog, though I'm not really sure what kind of a cross he was, but he'd gotten so ill so fast that I lifted him up on the table and held him while he got his injection also. It's so hard. Yes, we received the pure love and empathy. Crying just thinking about him here ... I'm sorry about your Belle.

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

23. That's the one real problem with dogs

They die too soon. What I wouldn't give to see Belle or the first Great Pyrenees I had, Abigail, alive and well. I'm sure you feel the same about Wolfie.