Heart Rate and Defecation Frequency as Measures of Rodent Emotionality.

Abstract

To assess the relationship between heart rate and defecation frequency as comparable measures of emotionality, both were recorded simultaneously from albino rats in a novel environment and in the home cage. Subgroups receiving different numbers of trials were used under both environmental conditions to distinguish the possible effects of distribution of trials and age. Heart rate and defecation frequency were higher in the novel environment. Intertrial adaptation to the novel environment over 30 successive test days appeared in defecation frequency but not in heart rate. Intratrial adaptation appeared in heart rate. Heart rate and defecation frequencies were not significantly correlated, either for individual Ss or groups. Heart rate was higher in females than males, but defecation frequency did not vary with sex. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)