Behaviour of Sick Animals and Humans
HART, B.L. Biological basis of the behaviour of sick animals. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV 12(2) 123-137, 1988— The most commonly recognised behavioural patterns of animals and people at the onset of febrile infectious diseases are lethargy, depression, anorexia, and reduction in grooming. Findings from recent lines of research are reviewed to formulate the perspective that the behaviour of sick animals and people is not a maladaptive response or the effect of debilitation, but rather an organised, evolved behavioural strategy to facilitate the role of fever in combating viral and bacterial infections. The sick individual is viewed as being at a life or death juncture and its behaviour is an all-out effort to overcome the disease.
Biological Basis of the Behaviour of Sick Animals BENJAMIN L. HART Department of Physiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine University of California, Davis, CA 95616 Received 1 February 1988 HART, B.L. Biological basis of the behaviour of sick animals. NEUROSCI BIOBEHAV REV 12(2) 123-137, 1988— The most commonly recognised behavioural patterns of animals and people [...]