ReviewAnimal welfare (South Mimms, England)2024
Animal affect, welfare and the Bayesian brain.
Review in Animal welfare (South Mimms, England), 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- 'Teleonomes in Tatters': The Welfare Costs of Selecting Dogs for Extreme Phenotypes, and the Case for Change.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Gentle human interactions trigger positive emotions in chicks.Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) · 2026Article
- Moving hens into cages affects cognitive performance, extinction learning and motivation for rewards.Animal welfare (South Mimms, England) · 2026Article
- From welfare indicator to welfare contributor: the role of play in building flexibility and resilience in captive animals.Proceedings. Biological sciences · 2025Review
- Regulatory Integrity and Welfare in Horse Sport: A Constructively Critical Perspective.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Translating Ethical Principles into Law, Regulations and Workable Animal Welfare Practices.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- No More Evasion: Redefining Conflict Behaviour in Human-Horse Interactions.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Pain and pessimism affect calves' play behaviours post-disbudding.Discover animals · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
According to the Bayesian brain hypothesis, the brain can be viewed as a predictive machine, such that predictions (or expectations) affect how sensory inputs are integrated. This means that in many cases, affective responses may depend more on the subject's perception of the experience (driven by expectations built on past experiences) rather than on the situation itself. Little research to date has applied this concept to affective states in animals. The aim of this paper is to explore how the Bayesian brain hypothesis can be used to understand the affective experiences of animals and to develop a basis for novel predictions regarding animal welfare. Drawing from the literature illustrating how predictive processes are important to human well-being, and are often impaired in affective disorders, we explore whether the Bayesian brain theories may help understanding animals' affective responses and whether deficits in predictive processes may lead to previously unconsidered welfare consequences. We conclude that considering animals as predictive entities can improve our understanding of their affective responses, with implications for basic research and for how to provide animals a better life.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.