Cited by 2,223Thermal Regulation in MedicineTryptophan and brain disordersStress Responses and Cortisol

Biological basis of the behavior of sick animals

Hart, Benjamin L.·1988·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Abstract

The most commonly recognized behavioral 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 behavior of sick animals and people is not a maladaptive response or the effect of debilitation, but rather an organized, evolved behavioral 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 behavior is an all-out effort to overcome the disease.

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Crossref · 10.1016/s0149-7634(88)80004-6

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2 of 2 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
Hart, B. L.
Affiliations
University of California, Davis (US)
Corresponding author
Hart, Benjamin L.
Venue
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
1988-06
Volume
12
Issue
2
Pages
123-137
ISSN
0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2099555137
Cited by
2,223
References
2
Citations by year
2026: 61 · 2025: 60 · 2024: 89 · 2023: 105 · 2022: 92 · 2021: 136 · 2020: 92 · 2019: 93 · 2018: 95 · 2017: 89 · 2016: 96 · 2015: 111 · 2014: 99 · 2013: 86 · 2012: 101
FWCI
0.34
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Center for Research Resources (RR05457)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine › Thermal Regulation in Medicine
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Keywords
fever, animal behavior, lethargy, anorexia, grooming, behavioral strategies, viral infection, bacterial infection, host defense
MeSH terms
Animals, Animal Diseases, Animals, Wild, Arousal, Behavior, Animal, Energy Metabolism, Feeding Behavior, Fever, Interleukin-1, Sleep, Neuroimmunomodulation

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