Locomotor Activity Rhythms in Dogs Vary With Age and Cognitive Status.

Beagle dogs exhibited diurnal patterns of locomotor activity that varied as a function of age, cognitive status, and housing environment. Aged dogs housed in an indoor facility showed a delayed onset of activity following lights on and displayed shorter bouts of activity, with more rest periods duri...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Behavioral Neuroscience Vol. 117; no. 4; pp. 813 - 825
Autores principales: Siwak, Christina T., Tapp, P. Dwight, Murphey, Heather L.
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: American Psychological Association August 2003
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Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
Descripción
Sumario:Beagle dogs exhibited diurnal patterns of locomotor activity that varied as a function of age, cognitive status, and housing environment. Aged dogs housed in an indoor facility showed a delayed onset of activity following lights on and displayed shorter bouts of activity, with more rest periods during the day, compared with young dogs. Cognitively impaired aged dogs were more active and showed a delayed peak of activity compared with unimpaired aged dogs. Housing in continuous light did not disrupt activity rhythms. The effect of age was less prominent in dogs housed in an indoor/outdoor facility. This suggests that bright sunlight and natural light-dark transitions are better able to consolidate and synchronize the activity rhythms of the dogs. Reprinted by permission of the publisher.