Geophagy (rock eating), experimental stress and cognitive idiosyncrasy

Abstract

Objective: To discusse the impact of geophagy on behavior and conditioned-reflex activity of Wistar rats subjected to instrumental stress under experimental conditions. Methods: Experimental geophagy was simulated by adding zeolite-containing tuff (clinoptilolite) to animal feed, the amount relating to 2% of body mass. Tuff was obtained from areas where animals usually eat subsurface rock. Search activity of animals and peculiarities of information and emotional stress were studied through the use of a universal problem chamber. Results: The results of this experimental study showed the negative impact of instrumental stress on laboratory animals, manifested in behavioral dysfunction, in the form of changes in qualitative and quantitative characteristics of search activity. Experimental geophagy contributed to significant improvement in behavioral parameters, confirming the anti-stress effects of the use of natural ingredients. Conclusions: These results suggest that, in natural environmental conditions, “edible” rocks serve as an adaptive tool for recovery from various types of environmental stresses, and are examples of self-medication.

Keywords

• Geophagy
• Cognition
• Search activity
• Zeolite
• Stress