Male, Long-Evans rats were used as subjects in this study.  The ethics of animal research has long been a controversial issue in the field of behavioral neuroscience, as well as in other related fields.  We asked Dr. Sapolsky how, if at all, the ethics of animal research have affected his lab.  Extremely conflicted on the subject, Sapolsky responded first by adamantly disapproving of primate research.  He then went on to say that as his lab's focus shifts from behavioral neuroscience to neurology, he refuses to employ anyone who does not feel discomfort towards the treatment of animals in the lab.  Dr. Sapolsky thinks that, other than in easy extreme solutions, the boundaries of animal research are arbitrary and variable depending on whose opinion is being reflected, but regardless that animal cruelty is not to be accepted or tolerated.

Click here to watch Dr. Sapolsky address the ethics of animal research. (57:02-59:38)