Centre of Physiological and Biochemical Reseach, Cheshskaya ul. 6-5, Kiev 252042, Ukraine

Abstract

Rodents are a useful tool for studying various stress behaviours, including anxious. Physiological arousal is traditionally thought to accompany anxiety in human and animals. The paper reviews behavioural and pharmacological data on effects of anxiety observed in rodents at different arousal levels. The results indicate that mild arousal might have "paradox" anti-anxiety effects on rodent behaviour while higher arousal level is a pro-anxiety factor. The concept of "pleasurable emotion" produced in rodents by mild arousal is supported.