ERE ADVANCES Dr ee ed COC Cau CO RCL R uy welfare of people and animals. ee ete ec cuted eee eet are Ucar) Ree ee eC) Pe ee eee es Since Charles Darwin’s work, which emphasized continuity in evolution from Concer | CS een Rr Nees Pee oe kd cr eka oa stand the basic principles and processes CU CUCU Sa CR CAT Muu ee Pee ee eA Crete eh ee CU Ly Pe ee een Ce ) Pee eee ee ne} Fe Contact APA for More Information RR Ue eT noon PR Lee TT eu PCD ere aU eRe Washington, DC 20002-4242, From the APA Guidelines for Ethical NT Re ee Peet ee cee ka) Ce ee Ceuta PO BOC Cy OU URE a) increase knowledge of the processes underlying the evolution, development, COTTRELL or biological significance of behavior, b) increase understanding of the species under study, or ¢) provide results that benefit the DAT CU LCsAnimal Research Contributes Significantly to Knowledge of Behavior Animel research has been the mojor contributor fo our knowedge of basic learning processes ond motivational systems, such as hunger, thirst, ond reproduction. Animal ezoarch has provided eritcal information about the sensary processes of vision, tase, hearing, and pain perception. Studies of animal cognition have provided « omparatve and ecological perspecve on issues ofthe mind ond intelligence. Other studies have shown how sensory functions ond levels of cognition can depend critically on early experience. Through research with animals, we have learned about modes of ‘adaptation to change, including evolution, development, and al ypes cFlearning. The resaarch has told us about important connections between sress and disease and has suagested psychological interventions for coping with skess more effectively. ‘Anim research has been used to identify and refine the basic behavioral principles that have led fo the development of effective methods for promoting learning and selfreliance in a wide varity of populations. Animal research has contributed also to ieatment of Aifict clinical problems such os controling selfinjurious behavior in ‘uti children and aduls and teaching children who have been tubefed since birth fo eat normally. ‘Acimal behavioral research has been findamental to understanding the range of behavioral efects of psychoaclve drugs ond ‘environmental toxicants. Behavioral research by psychologists has conrioved signiiconlly o our understanding of drug abuse and physical dependence. Behavioral research with specially bred trains of mice ond ras is contibuing importantly Yo understanding fhe nce and ener of geneic winery lig dope ‘On other fronts, psychologists have developed behavioral methods for screening compounds in laboratory animals and ore active in devaloping row drugs used inthe treatment of such disorders as anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression. Animal research is critical to current effor's to develop effecive pharmacologic reaiments for Re dependence ca forthe eognifve defets ofoging and Alcheimer’s disease Animal research also has coniributed fo efforts fo help animals, such «sin programs jo reeslablish populations of endangered or threatened species, in designing appropriai living conditions ond ‘enhancing the wellbeing of captive animals, and in developing humane methods of animol control inthe wild Animal Research Helps Explain the Central Nervous System “Alhough experisnees in the world shape behavior, understanding how ite netous dom work seit a eonflele udosiending of behav Incudleg beleviors hal ce problema nena less Inner dards, ond dug adctn. Much of wh! we row obo! the rettionships among analomy, physiology, and behavior has come He ee ane Serene: Mane eerie processes of chemical neurotransmission, combined with behavioral Fotoarch in animal has provided enormous leaps forward in out Understanding of he functioning of fhe central nervous system. Tis information is crical to understanding: + the procoss of recovery after novral damage * biological correlates of fear, anxiety, and other forms of sess + subjective and dependence producing effects of psychotropic drugs; + mechanisms that contol eating and other motivational processes; and * the biology of leaining and memory. Psychologists who conduct cnimel research hove contributed to the sudy ofall these areas on their own and in fruiful and dynamic cok laboration and dialogue with biologists, chemists, molecular bicko- gists, pharmacologiss, and physicians Human Subjects and Alternatives to live Subjects Have Been Proposed Yorious lteratives to resaarch with animals have been proposed, including he use of plants and fsue cultures and the use of computer sinus in fac ll who do esearch wt cima are eae, ally and ethical, to consider the possibly of using aleratives to nent annals Animal ire re cen nd ior intensive fo maintain; practically speaking, alternative methods could be an advantage, However, cleatives ore offen unavailable or inadequete, Plants lack ‘i nervous system and therefore cannot be used fo learn about psycho- logical phenomena, Tissue culures cannot develop depression, aleo- helism, cutis learning disorders, memory impairments, aggressive behavior, social abnormalities, or other psychologically relevant prob: lems. To be useful, compuer simulations hove fo be bosed on know! edge obtained from live behaving organisms, and, therefore, conaat subsite for studies of ive animals. Meny fundemental research ques: tions cannot be addressed without the use of inact functioning organ- isms, Even when an dlernative method generates usell information, however, the behavioral relevance ofthat information ulmetely must bee determined in «living organism. Studies fypicaly use animals when time requirements, risk the need to control behavioral history, or other conditions make it impossible to use humans or when thee are ober practical or ethical reasons net to ‘se humons, For example: In psychopharmacology research, tidy of he behaviorl ef of cronicaly admired dg ond is witcrow. dl requires many days or wooks of daily dug adminisro tion. Many drugs of interest are under development ond not yet approved for use in humans. Some studies may require ‘examination of brain tssve afer drug treatment or require ‘odminiskation of drugs to specific sites in the brain to help Uren Hor eens oF cto Investigations into the provess of aging are not practical wih humans, who live 75 lo 80 years, Scieists con get important insights info some aspects of aging by studying rats, which five an average of 2 years, or monkeys, whic live 15 to 20 years, because the shorter lifespan yields more quickly crucial data on agingExperiments may require subjects ofa particular size, age, (oF genetic makeup; they may restrict subjects to special dels or require environmental contel or even paricular behavioral histories. Suis ofthis sort would not be possible with humans Ithas also been suggested thot animals be studied in the wild rather ‘han in the laboratory. Psychologists do observe and study animals in ralral environments; but for many investigations, the laboratory is the only seting in which causal variables can be isolated with salficient precision fo generate meaningful conclusions. The laboratory is ofen We only posible sting for investigating elles of drags chemicals, or pollton Animals Us Research Vary in Psychological ‘About 7.8% of psychological research involves the use of animels Although the nee of species that have been used in various studies in psychology is broad, 90% ofthe animals used have been rodents ‘end birds, principally rate, mice, and pigeons. Only about 5% ofthe aimcls ors monkey ond oer primates, Use of dogs or co is ae Humane Care and f Animal Research Are Safeguarded Many safeguards exist to assure tha laboratory animals receive humane and ethical treatment. Care and vse of animale in teeearch «re regulated and mentored by various government agencies. Institutions in hich reseorch with onimals is conducted have federally mandated review committees. Federal Regulations and Guidelines Exist The Animal Welfare Act, most recently amended in 1985, governs the care and use of many research animals, The U.S, Depariment of ‘Agriculture is responsible for enforcing the Act and conducting period ie unannounced inspections of animal research facilities, boh public ‘and private. In addition, inttvions that conduct research using ani mals covered by the Act are required to hove an Insiutional Animal Care and Use Commits ([ACUC) to review each research protecel The [ACUC is required fo include both « veterinarian and a local com. ‘munity member who is nc afflicted with the institution, Animals may not be obtained and studies may not be conducted unless the |ACUC has approved the proiocal for is adherence to Federal quidalinas for ‘oppropriate and humane use of animals, The |ACUC must so main fain records akout the use of animals a! he istion and conduct periodic inspections ofits awn, In preporing protocols for teviow by the IACUC, resoarchers must con Sider ony fe telincl er heir evpotinetio adios concen ch ‘animal care during the experimen, but also the rationale forthe num- ber of cnimals thal they will use and whee or not his, number is ‘oppropriate for the proper interpretation ofthe resus. They are required to be fomliar with the iteralvre to assure that the research is rol unecessary dupicaive of pravious suds. Furthermore, they ‘ore required to identify and adress exactly issues of pain and suf foring that might be involved in their experiments and suitable copptoaches fr alleviating any pain or suifering The Public Health Service hos set guidelines thot al recipients of fants from the National Insiuies of Heath (NI), the major source of Ferg or bool end ordi etree ann follow. These guidelines apply to species such os rats, mice, and birds, not covered by the USDA regulations. The Scientific Community Also Sets Standards The Anerican Association forthe Accreditation of Laboratory ‘Animal Care (AAALAC) is ratonclly ond internconally recognized for its insttulional acereditation program. AAALAC ses the *Gold Stonderd” for laborctory animal care and serves as a guide for those research facilities seeking to assure the best conditions for their teseorch animals. Once accreditation is obtained, hocough inspections ore conducted every 3 yes fo delormine whother an insiution may retain its accrediation Professional societies whose members conduct animal research, such 1 the Society for Neuroscience and the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, alto have elical standard and widelines to which their members must adhere. Virtually all journals thot publish onimal research requie thatthe authors affirm that the research was done in accordance with particular elhical standards, APA Code of Ethics and Other Guidelines Cover Treatment ‘of Research Animals The American Psychological Assocation code of ethics includes principles for the humane ond ethical reaiment of research animals AAPA mobos are commited to phot hase pricps, Fabre to do 9 can lead to expulsion from the Association In addition, APs Guidelines for Ethical Condvct inthe Care and Uso of Animals establishes comprehensive quidalines for psychoogiss who use ani ‘mals in their research, All individuals who publish in APA journals ore required to conduct heir research with animals in accordance with these guidlines.