![]() ![]() The researchers concluded that classical music, as an enrichment for dolphins, could be used to facilitate enrichment in situations where social interaction should be encouraged. ![]() The harmonic sound of the classical music could have improved the capability of the dolphins to coordinate behaviors, which would improve social bonding. It is hypothesized that species that employ vocal learning, which includes dolphins, can synchronize their behavior to the beat of sounds in their environment. The music would, similarly to humans and primates, excite the endogenous opioids system, which will give a sense of pleasure to dolphins. Therefore, it is assumed that this observed behavioral change is due to a positive affective state in the dolphins. However, the researchers concluded that this is unlikely in this case since behaviors related to stress were not increased with the addition of classical music. When exposed to stressors, dolphins will comfort each other as a form of social support. An increase in social behavior could originate from both negative and positive affective states. Furthermore, the supplementation of classical music also increased the amount of touches to a conspecific dolphin after the music had stopped.Īll these behaviors are categorized as social behaviors in dolphins. ![]() Synchronized swimming, frequency of touches and interest shown in other dolphins were increased when dolphins were provided with the classical music when compared to other types of enrichment. ![]() Classical music has positive effects on the affective state Both the relative duration of certain behaviors (% of total time), as well as the frequency of these behaviors (events/20minutes) were used in their analysis. The researchers used The Observer XT to observe the animals from video recordings taken before, during and after the enrichment was provided. These objects were used to see whether or not the novelty of enrichment would induce a response. Lastly, dolphins were provided with very familiar floating objects in their enclosure. Secondly, a slide show of photographs was provided to see if a visual and auditory stimulus induce different responses in dolphins. In this study, aside from classical music, three other types of enrichment were utilized to control for any aspect of the classical music that could have elicited a behavioral response.įirstly, rain sounds were used to see whether or not sound characteristics matter when it comes to supplying sound as an auditory stimulus. It reduces stereotypical behaviors and stimulates the animals to interact with the enrichment. Different types of enrichmentĮnrichment is an important part of keeping animals in captivity. Scientists from the university of Padova studied the response of bottlenose dolphins ( Tursiops truncates) to classical music, by doing behavioral observations using The Observer XT. Studying behavior in bottlenose dolphins with classical music Therefore, it has been assumed that classical music can be used to improve the welfare of captive animals by decreasing their aggression and relaxing them. In the past, studies in a variety of mammals have shown that classical music can decrease agitated behaviors and increase social behaviors. Music can have a major influence on the emotional state of both humans and animals. ![]()
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