ABSTRACT
Acute and chronic stressors are common triggers of human mental illnesses. Experimental animal models and their cross-species translation to humans are critical for understanding of the pathogenesis of stress-related psychiatric disorders. Mounting evidence suggests that both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches can be efficient in treating these disorders. Here, we analyze human, rodent and zebrafish (Danio rerio) data to compare the impact of non-pharmacological and pharmacological therapies of stress-related psychopathologies. Emphasizing the likely synergism and interplay between pharmacological and environmental factors in mitigating daily stress both clinically and in experimental models, we argue that environmental enrichment emerges as a promising complementary therapy for stress-induced disorders across taxa. We also call for a broader use of novel model organisms, such as zebrafish, to study such treatments and their potential interplay.
Subject(s)
Anti-Anxiety Agents/therapeutic use , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Complementary Therapies/methods , Mental Disorders/drug therapy , Rodentia , Zebrafish , Animals , Behavior, Animal/drug effects , Disease Models, Animal , Female , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/etiology , Stress, Psychological/complications , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
We investigated whether young children are curious about what could have been ("counterfactual curiosity"). In two experiments, children aged 4 and 5â¯years (Nâ¯=â¯32 in Experiment 1, Nâ¯=â¯24 in Experiment 2) played a matching game in which they turned over cards in the hope that they matched a picture. After choosing a card, children could use "x-ray glasses" to uncover unchosen cards. In Experiment 1, most children spontaneously used the glasses to peek at past alternatives, even when the outcome could no longer be altered. In Experiment 2, children concentrated their information search on alternatives that were within their control. In both experiments, children showed greater interest in counterfactual outcomes when the card they chose turned out not to match the picture. The findings suggest that young children are curious not only about what is but also about what could have been. Curiosity about alternative outcomes seems to precede counterfactual reasoning.
