Research Methods Animal research Brain p255 Ethical Issues Practical Issues

Research Methods Animal researchAnimal research

Brain p255Ethical 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

Rats Antipsychotic drugs – to see how they change the brain itself (both it’s structure and the nervous system)

Mice 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

Rats Memory – to see what parts of the brain perform which function

Rats Sleep deprivation – to see its effects

Do the ends ever justify the means?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) Bateson (1986) expressed this as a 3D graph

Bateson cube

Draw this on p18 of your Draw this on p18 of your Biological PackBiological 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.subjective measures.

Many scientists believe that using animals for research purposes is

completely justifiable

YES YES NONO

NOT EVERYONE AGREES WITH THIS HOWEVER

The 3 Rs1.1. Replacement Replacement of animals by other methods such as

computer models and simulations.

2. ReductionReduction 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. RefinementRefinement 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 animalsVideos 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 strainSpecies 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 animals1986 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

• ProceduresProject licenceRegistered establishmentPersonal licenceLocal ethical review process (Committee)Home OfficeIdentify 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 speciesReward, deprivation, aversive stimulation- periods of

deprivation of food should be short and species specificAggression and predation- natural encounters preferable if

staged animals should be protectedFieldwork- should not disturb the ecosystem or interrupt

species reproduction and survivalAnaesthesia, analgesia and euthanasia- animals should

have access to pain relief and be destroyed humanely if suffering

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007

• ProcurementHome Office Designated Breeding and Supply

Establishments.

Wild caught animals- refer to ASAB website

BPS Guidelines for Psychologists working with animals-2007

• Animal CareHousing and husbandry conditions

must be within guidelinesCaptive 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 animalsDistribute 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 teachingTeachers have a responsibility to

educate pupils on ethical issuesCoursework on animals may be possible

but tests to show known facts are prohibited

Use of film/video should be encouragedUndergraduates must work within a

project licencePost graduates need personal licence

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 Caster

Study Study in your pack (p17) This is an example of one type of research that uses animals.2: Sort the statement slips into practicalpractical and ethical ethical

arguments for and against using animals in research. Write down some of the key argumentsWrite down some of the key arguments4: Complete the activityactivity on p20p20 of your pack5: Complete the gap fill gap fill on p19 p19 of your pack6: Answer the exam question exam question on p21p21 of your pack