Gina Caplen
Papers
2
Total Citations
29
H-Index
2
About
Gina Caplen’s research lies at the intersection of animal cognition, affective neuroscience, and welfare science, with a particular focus on how non-human animals—especially poultry—experience and express emotional states. Her work challenges traditional behavioral assays by refining methods that capture subtle, valenced responses. In her most-cited paper (2018, 17 citations), Caplen introduced a Conditioned Place Preference (CPP) test for chickens, demonstrating that affective structure—including valence, intensity, persistence, and generalization—can be systematically measured in birds. This approach goes beyond simple approach-avoidance paradigms, offering a more nuanced window into animal emotion. Her earlier study (2011, 12 citations) showed that discrete-choice preference tests detect mild environmental aversion more sensitively than free-access methods, a finding with direct implications for housing and husbandry design. Caplen’s contributions are notable for bridging comparative psychology and applied ethology, providing rigorous, replicable tools that advance both fundamental understanding of animal affect and practical welfare assessment. Her work is increasingly cited in discussions of sentience, decision-making, and the ethical treatment of farm animals.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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