**3.4 Effects of consumption of chilli pepper (***Capsicum annum***) and capsaicin on social behaviour in the nesting behaviour test**

The nesting score of the capsaicin group was significantly higher (p < 0.01) compared to control. The value for the pepper group appeared higher than control but was not significant. However, it was significantly lower (p < 0.05) compared to that of the capsaicin group (**Figure 5**).

#### **3.5 Comparison of swim latency in the Morris water maze test for learning**

During the acquisition training, the capsaicin group had a significant longer (p < 0.001) swim latency on days 2 and 3 compared to control (**Figure 6A**). The swim latency during the reversal training was significantly longer in both capsaicin and pepper groups on day 1 compared to control (p < 0.001) but not different on days 2 and 3 (**Figure 6B**).

*Comparison of latency of tail flick in the tail immersion test of the different experimental groups. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 10. \*\* = p < 0.01, \*\*\* = p < 0.001 vs control; b = p < 0.01 vs pepper group.*

**Figure 4.**

*Comparison of (a) latency of jump, (b) paw lick frequency and (c) paw lick duration in the hot plate test of the different experimental groups. Values are expressed as mean ± SEM, n = 10. N = not significant, \*\* = p < 0.01, \*\*\* = p < 0.001 vs control; a = p < 0.05, c = p < 0.001 vs pepper group.*
