COST Action AFFECT-EVO is organized into four dedicated Working Groups (WGs), each focusing on a key dimension of understanding and applying knowledge about affective states across species.
Researchers interested in contributing to the Action can apply to join one or two WGs, depending on their expertise and interests.
For specific inquiries about a WG’s activities, please contact the respective WG Leader.
WG1
Working Group 1: Advancing our fundamental understanding of affective states across species
WG1 brings together experts from evolutionary biology, neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and animal behavior to develop a standardized conceptual framework for understanding affective states across species. The group focuses on creating non-anthropocentric definitions of emotions and moods, distinguishing shared affective traits through a phylogenetic lens.
Activities include organizing interdisciplinary workshops, mapping neurophysiological and behavioral indicators onto phylogenies, and addressing developmental aspects of affective states.
The main outcomes will be a publicly accessible database of affective traits, consensus documents on key definitions, and strategic recommendations to guide future comparative research in affective science.
Leaders
WG2
Working Group 2: Societal impacts of understanding animals’ affective states
WG2 explores how scientific knowledge about animal affective states influences public perception, ethical considerations, and policy making. By engaging with stakeholders such as policy makers, industry representatives, advocacy groups, and the general public, WG2 identifies how attitudes towards animal emotions shape societal norms and legal frameworks.
Activities include literature reviews on value systems, cross-cultural comparisons of legal approaches, interactive workshops to co-develop strategies with stakeholders, and training schools to train and engage young scientists and academics about working with society when studying animal affect.
The outcomes will provide guidelines for integrating scientific insights into policy, education, and public discourse, ensuring that advances in affective science translate into meaningful societal impacts.
Leaders
WG3
Working Group 3: Affective state assessment in the service of improved animal welfare
WG3 focuses on identifying and developing valid methods and tools to assess affective states as part of comprehensive animal welfare evaluations. Building on the conceptual framework of WG1, this group addresses the challenge of measuring affective balance, the interplay of positive and negative emotional states across diverse species and contexts.
Through systematic reviews, consensus-building workshops, and collaboration with farming, laboratory, zoo, and companion animal sector stakeholders, WG3 will propose indicators and practical assessment protocols.
The key objective is to enhance welfare standards by providing science-based, tools for real-world applications.
Leaders
WG4
Working Group 4: Improving treatments of affective problems across species
WG4 aims to advance the understanding and treatment of affective disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and pain-related affective components, across species. The group focuses on translating research findings into practical interventions for both animal models used in biomedical research and animals receiving direct care, including companion and zoo animals.
WG4 organizes targeted workshops to evaluate pharmacological, nutritional, environmental, and behavioral therapies, emphasizing cross-species applicability. Collaborations with technology developers will support innovative monitoring approaches.
The outcomes will include best-practice recommendations for diagnosing and managing affective disorders, contributing to both animal welfare and enhanced human-animal comparative models.
Leaders
