Methods and Welfare Considerations in Behavioral Research with Animals
A Report of the National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have created a handbook, Methods and Welfare Considerations in Behavioral Research with Animals, to assist the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) in the evaluation of protocols that employ various means to manipulate the behavior and health of laboratory animals. The handbook may be useful to the researcher who is considering different methodologies for behavioral experiments. The report contains chapters on manipulation of access to food or fluids; experimental enclosures/physical restraint; pharmacological studies; aversive stimuli; social variables; ethological approaches; and teaching with animals. An introductory chapter reviews the contributions of behavioral research to understanding a variety of medical and psychological problems, such as stress, cognitive deficits with aging, behavioral problems stemming from early deprivations, sleep disorders, and pain.
NIH convened a group of leading behavioral scientists and laboratory animal veterinarians to map out a report that would provide expert advice. Throughout the process of creating the document, laboratory animal veterinarians were asked to review written materials and suggest modifications in methodologies consistent with appropriate animal care. After the report had reached its final stage, the editors asked a wide variety of other scientists and veterinarians to suggest final adjustments and to participate in completing this document.
Limited numbers of printed copies are available upon request by calling 301-443-4513 or by email at nimhinfo@nih.gov.
NIH Publication No. 02-5083, March 2002.
