Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)

This thesis is a combination of two studies in the first, red junglefowl chicks were tested for several behavioural measures, using a novel arena/novel object test and a tonic immobility test (detailed in Lundgren et al. 2021). Following behavioural testing to examine the relationship between brain gene expression of serotonergic and dopaminergic genes and the recorded behavioural measures, the behaviourally assayed chicks were culled at 9 weeks of age, by rapid decapitation and dissected out their brains.

For the second study, red jungelfowl chicks were once again used and tested for several behavioural measures, this time some of the chicks were treated with the serotonin receptor antagonist Fluoxetine. Same behavioural tests as those in study one were used, with the addition of a detour reaching test to measure impulsive action.