Animal Stereotypies: From Neurobiological Mechanisms to Evidence-Based Interventions
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Welfare".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 21 September 2026 | Viewed by 15
Special Issue Editor
Interests: animal welfare; hormones; stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Stereotypic behaviors are common across many species, from laboratory rodents to farm animals and zoo wildlife. These behaviors signal a clear mismatch between an animal's natural instincts and the constraints of captivity. This Special Issue brings together research aimed at understanding and reducing these abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs).
A major focus of this Special Issue is the "pathology of captivity". The articles examine how goal-oriented actions can transition into ingrained, compulsive habits. By combining ethology and neuroscience, researchers show how a lack of environmental stimulation can lead to brain dysfunction—specifically within the basal ganglia. Understanding these biological mechanisms is vital, as it allows us to distinguish between simple boredom and more serious neurological impairment.
The collection also introduces "Welfare by Design". This is a proactive approach to animal care that focuses on prevention rather than merely addressing problems after they emerge. By improving enclosure architecture, social housing, and the use of targeted medical treatments, these studies offer evidence-based strategies to support long-term psychological health.
Finally, animal stereotypies serve as important comparative models for human psychiatry. Because animals and humans share similar brain pathways—such as the cortico-basal ganglia-thalamic loops—this research offers new insights into human conditions like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In conclusion, this Special Issue serves as a practical guide for those dedicated to improving animal welfare and psychological health.
Dr. Daniela Alberghina
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- stereotypic behaviors
- animal welfare
- neurobiology
- welfare by design
- comparative psychiatry
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
