Sustained Anxiety-Like Behavior in Crayfish Exposed to Thermal Burn

Both invertebrates and vertebrates make immediate simple reactions to noxious stimuli; a tail flip escape is typical example in crayfish. More complex sustained emotional responses, such as anxiety or fear, can be demonstrated many but until recently have not been seen crustaceans. Several recent studies found anxiety-like behavior (ALB) crayfish response electric shock social bullying, this suppressed by anti-anxiety medications. In study, were subjected thermal burn stress, then observed for ALB an established model (light-dark maze). Stressed animals spent almost all of their time the dark zone, contrast unstressed crayfish, who normal exploratory behavior. model, clearly stressful burn. This research has implications humane treatment crustaceans.