Individual recognition in crayfish (Cherax dispar): the roles of strength and experience in deciding aggressive encounters

The outcomes of agonistic interactions modulate access to resources and thereby affect fitness. Success in agonistic encounters may depend on intrinsic physical and physiological performance, and on social experience. Here we test the hypothesis that previous experience will override physical strength in determining the outcome of fights in the freshwater crayfish Cherax dispar. Between unfamiliar opponents, greater chelae closing force significantly increases the chances of winning. However, even when the chelae of the original winners were disabled, the winners kept on winning against the same opponents after 30 min and 24 h. This winner effect disappeared when previous winners encountered unfamiliar individuals. Similarly, a previous loss did not affect the outcomes of subsequent encounters with unknown crayfish. We suggest that this prolonged recognition of individuals and their relative fighting ability is a mechanism that can reduce the number of agonistic encounters experienced by individuals

Understanding early-life pain and its effects on adult human and animal emotionality: Translational lessons from rodent and zebrafish models

Critical for organismal survival, pain evokes strong physiological and behavioral responses in various sentient species. Clinical and preclinical (animal) studies markedly increase our understanding of biological consequences of developmental (early-life) adversity, as well as acute and chronic pain. However, the long-term effects of early-life pain exposure on human and animal emotional responses remain poorly understood. Here, we discuss experimental models of nociception in rodents and zebrafish, and summarize mounting evidence of the role of early-life pain in shaping emotional traits later in life. We also call for further development of animal models to probe the impact of early-life pain exposure on behavioral traits, brain disorders and novel therapeutic treatments

Understanding early-life pain and its effects on adult human and animal emotionality: Translational lessons from rodent and zebrafish models

Critical for organismal survival, pain evokes strong physiological and behavioral responses in various sentient species. Clinical and preclinical (animal) studies markedly increase our understanding of biological consequences of developmental (early-life) adversity, as well as acute and chronic pain. However, the long-term effects of early-life pain exposure on human and animal emotional responses remain poorly understood. Here, we discuss experimental models of nociception in rodents and zebrafish, and summarize mounting evidence of the role of early-life pain in shaping emotional traits later in life. We also call for further development of animal models to probe the impact of early-life pain exposure on behavioral traits, brain disorders and novel therapeutic treatments