Normal behavior plays a key role in facilitating homeostasis, especially by allowing the
animal to control and modify its environment. Captive environments may interfere with these …

Laboratory animal facilities have been designed to provide a standard environment where
animals can be kept in good physical health at the same time as economic and ergonomic …

Background Over 120 million mice and rats are used annually in research, conventionally
housed in shoebox-sized cages that restrict natural behaviours (eg nesting and burrowing) …

Animals housed in artificial habitats are confronted by a wide range of potentially
provocative environmental challenges. In this article, we review many of the potential …

In reply to commentary on our target article, we supply further evidence and hypotheses in
the description of ritualized behaviors in humans. Reactions to indirect fitness threats …

Cognitive mechanisms are an important part of the organization of the behavior systems of
animals. In the wild, animals regularly face problems that they must overcome in order to …

The manner in which laboratory rodents are housed is driven by economics (minimal use of
space and resources), ergonomics (ease of handling and visibility of animals), hygiene, and …

The provision of environmental enrichment to numerous species of laboratory animals is
generally considered routine husbandry. However, mouse enrichment has proven to be very …

Cage stereotypies—abnormal, repetitive, unvarying and apparently functionless behaviours—
are common in many captive animals, sometimes resulting in self-injury or decreased …

Captive/domestic animals are often described as inactive, with the implicit or explicit
implication that this high level of inactivity is a welfare problem. Conversely, not being …