Research Methods Animal research Brain p255 Ethical Issues Practical Issues http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpBPavEDQCk

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 link

According to the American Psychological Association about 8% of psychological research involves the use of animals; this is most likely to be in the USA. A number of species are used. Around 90% of which are rodents and birds, mainly rats, mice and pigeons. Only around 5% of the animals are primates; cats and dogs are studied rarely.

Animals used Area studied Mice Genes associated with abnormalities in humans – to gain understanding of such issues Rats Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – and gene therapy to see if it could work Antipsychotic drugs – to see how they change the brain itself (both it’s structure and the nervous system) Stress – to find changes in neurotransmitters to gain understanding Monkeys Stress – to see what effect having control over the situation has Rodents Exercise – to see if it helps prevent the processes of ageing Memory – to see what parts of the brain perform which function Sleep deprivation – to see its effects

Do the ends ever justify the means? Each person will have their own views on this. Is the animal suffering caused by certain types of research outweighed by the benefits to humanity? Bateson (1986) expressed this as a 3D graph

Bateson cube Draw this on p18 of your Biological Pack

The cube has 3 axes measuring suffering, certainty of benefit and quality of research. If the research is high quality, certain to be beneficial and not going to inflict suffering then it will fall into the hollow section (top front) meaning research should proceed. Painful, low quality research with lower likelihood of success will be bottom back in the solid and should not proceed. Most research will not be clear cut but the rule is solid should not continue, hollow should. The problem of course is how to determine benefit in advance.  Also who will decide on quality of research and the level of suffering?  Both of which are subjective measures.

Many scientists believe that using animals for research purposes is completely justifiable YES NO NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH THIS HOWEVER

The 3 Rs Replacement of animals by other methods such as computer models and simulations. 2. Reduction in the number of animals used.  More advanced statistical methods can be used allowing significant results based on lower numbers.  Sharing of information between institutions allows the number of replications to be reduced. 3. Refinement of experimental methods to inflict less pain and suffering.

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 States: Psychologists must adhere to the legal requirements of the country they are working in. Psychologists have to be aware of endangered species or threatened species and act appropriately. Research must be prefaced with a covering letter stating this.

Replacing use of animals Videos and computer simulations have to be used where possible. Ideal for teaching situations. e.g. Ratlife and Sniffy the Rat

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h8L96WHXn4

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 Choice of species and strain Species should be carefully chosen to ensure effectiveness with minimal suffering-knowledge of species and history of individual animals vital Choices have to be justified on project licence application Different strains of rodents are physiologically different and need to be chosen carefully. Transgenic mice may be used as no harm to organism is observed.

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 Number of animals 1986 Act-legally required to use smallest number of animals possible National Centre for 3Rs (Replacement, Refinement and Reduction) can provide advice on how the use of better methodologies/designs and statistical analysis can help achieve this.

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 Procedures Project licence Registered establishment Personal licence Local ethical review process (Committee) Home Office Identify costs to animals in reports/journals

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 Procedures (contd) Housing- caging needs to take into account the social behaviour of species Reward, deprivation, aversive stimulation- periods of deprivation of food should be short and species specific Aggression and predation- natural encounters preferable if staged animals should be protected Fieldwork- should not disturb the ecosystem or interrupt species reproduction and survival Anaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia- animals should have access to pain relief and be destroyed humanely if suffering

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 Procurement Home Office Designated Breeding and Supply Establishments. Wild caught animals- refer to ASAB website

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 Animal Care Housing and husbandry conditions must be within guidelines Captive animals should be kept in conditions closely resembling their natural conditions as much as possible Need to foster habituation to minimise stress Animal care personnel must be trained

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 Disposing of animals Distribute to other colleagues if deemed possible by home office If disposed of- it must be done humanely Death must be confirmed before disposal Vets must be consulted

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007 Animals in psychology teaching Teachers have a responsibility to educate pupils on ethical issues Coursework on animals may be possible but tests to show known facts are prohibited Use of film/video should be encouraged Undergraduates must work within a project licence Post graduates need personal licence

Sometimes it is hard to justify!   Sometimes it is hard to justify! Harry Harlow Rhesus monkeys Removed from mothers at birth and given surrogates, usually made from wire or terry cloth.  Distress caused during procedure.  Unable to develop normal social relationships with other members of species.  Picked on by other monkeys who see them as very submissive and timid.    Questioned the psychodynamic and behaviourist theories of attachment since it suggests food was not crucial.  Evidence for the long term effects of privation.

Tasks for lesson 1 1: Make sure you have read and evaluated the Caster Study in your pack (p17) This is an example of one type of research that uses animals. 2: Sort the statement slips into practical and ethical arguments for and against using animals in research. Write down some of the key arguments 4: Complete the activity on p20 of your pack 5: Complete the gap fill on p19 of your pack 6: Answer the exam question on p21 of your pack