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Years ago a friend of mine who rescued all sorts of nonhuman animals (animals), but who had a penchant for rodents, told me that guinea pigs were very special beings, that they were different from other rodents such as rats and mice in making her feel good. I never knew what to make of her feelings but a recent essay in the New York Times by Jan Hoffman called "Guinea Pigs Are Autistic Child’s Best Friend" made me think of my friend's story.
Guinea pigs are cuddly, and like many animals they are non-judgmental. They also have been observed to play basketball (please see "Guinea Pigs Playing Basketball" Teaching and Enrichment"). I haven't had much contact with guinea pigs but one named Lucky, whom I met on a number of occasions, always brought a smile to my face and I loved holding her while she burrowed her way into my arms and heart and I listened to her soft vocalizations.
So, are guinea pigs special rodents? They may be. A new study by Purdue University's Dr. Marguerite E. O’Haire and colleagues, published in the journal Developmental Psychobiology, concludes that guinea pigs and perhaps other animals "may act as social buffers for children with ASD [autism spectrum disorder], conferring unique anxiolytic [anti-anxiety] effects."
Ms. Hoffman's summary is an excellent account of this research project. To wit, "When playing with guinea pigs at school, children with autism spectrum disorders are more eager to attend, display more interactive social behavior and become less anxious..." What's unique about the latest study is that "the researchers analyzed physiological data pointing to the animals’ calming effect on the children" and discovered that "The animals seem to have lowered the children’s stress..." These data were collected because the children wore wristbands that measured electric activity on their skin. The research confirmed earlier results collected by Dr. O'Haire, namely, that animal-assisted activities "with guinea pigs may be a feasible addition to the primary school classroom in order to improve social functioning."
Students of anthrozoology, the study of human-animal interactions, are keenly interested in learning more about the benefits of interacting with animals. Are the children's interactions with guinea pigs a form of therapy? Not necessarily, a point made by Psychology Today writer Hal Herzog. However, the animals could be a way for the children to learn about empathy and responsibility.
I really like these sorts of studies and I hope researchers will continue to perform them so we can learn more and more about the ways in which nonhumans and humans can interact in mutually beneficial ways. Indeed, according to Dr. Deborah Fein, an autism expert, “There really is no downside to this intervention.” Both the guinea pig's and the children's lives could be enriched in these mutually beneficial encounters, a win-win for all.
Marc Bekoff's latest books are Jasper's story: Saving moon bears (with Jill Robinson), Ignoring nature no more: The case for compassionate conservation, Why dogs hump and bees get depressed, and Rewilding our hearts: Building pathways of compassion and coexistence. The Jane effect: Celebrating Jane Goodall (edited with Dale Peterson) has recently been published. (marcbekoff.com; @MarcBekoff)
