Guinea pigs have a positive effect on young people with Autism

We know from many studies that domestic animals they can have very interesting therapeutic applications. We discuss it in articles such as the one on the cat therapy or the one with dog therapyBut, as it is easy to guess, it is not necessary to use these animals specifically to see progress in different types of mental health intervention.

For example, today we know that children with some form of autism spectrum disorder (TORCH) may find benefits in the company of curious beings: the guinea pigs, also known as Guinea pigs.

Animals that help people with Autism

That is the conclusion reached by a team of American researchers whose article has been published in the journal Developmental Psychobiology. Specifically, guinea pigs can influence young people with autism spectrum disorders dampening anxiety causing them to be in contact with adults and making it easier for them to focus on tasks related to others (or even take the initiative when interacting with the rest of the people).

Generally speaking, these rodents

they act as a kind of anxiolytic social root, since their presence or company has effects on these children that are measurable at a physiological level.

Investigation

To carry out the study, the group of researchers took as a reference a group of boys and girls diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and another group of children without any disorder diagnosed. In total, the sample of volunteers consisted of 99 boys and girls of primary school age.

The research used the level of electrical conductivity of the skin as an objective measure of reference, a way of indirectly estimating the state of mental activation and stress of the kids.

To study their level of electrical activation through the skin, bracelets were placed on all the youngsters and then it was seen how different activities affected these measurements. The contexts studied to compare results were:

• Read silently (for baseline results).

• An activity at school that included having to read aloud.

• A time to play freely with toys and with other people of the same age.

• A time to play freely with other people of the same age and with guinea pigs.

Results

The researchers verified how the electrical activity measured in the skin of boys and girls with autism spectrum disorder was greater than that of the rest of the young people in all situations except in the game with guinea pigs. Compared to the context in which they could play with toys, playing with guinea pigs produced a 43% lower activation level. This responded to the calming and anti-stress effect that these animals seem to have on children with ASD who interact with them.

A therapeutic company

The interesting thing about these types of studies focused on the relationships between humans and animals is that the applications of their discoveries are cheap and easily applicable to many cases. The company of guinea pigs does not have negative effects on young people and the use of this type of measures can be combined with other therapies and forms of intervention. In addition, animals also enjoy interaction with other living beings and appreciate the time spent playing.

There is no doubt that much progress remains to be done. Progress not only in relation to intervention measures in people diagnosed with ASD, but also in the type of research aimed at knowing the needs of these people and the ways in which society can adapt to they. For now, the company of domestic animals such as guinea pigs can make things easier and make it easier for thousands of young people have it easier when it comes to learning to empathize and to get involved in social dynamics of everything kind.