Articles tagged with Animal Psychology
Researchers discovered that stimulating dopamine neurons in mice's midbrain triggers orofacial movements, which are linked to brain-wide neuronal activities. The study identified two distinct orofacial movements: transient actions upon reward expectation and active, sustained movements upon receiving a reward.
A new holistic framework evaluates mental and psychological wellbeing in wild animals, including physical and behavioral indicators for positive and negative experiences. This approach has the potential to provide crucial early warning signals about species challenges and population declines.
A study found that monkeys with opposable thumbs were fooled by a sleight-of-hand trick, while those without were not. The French drop trick worked for capuchins and squirrel monkeys due to mirroring in their neural motor system.
Researchers discovered that great apes deliberately spin themselves to dizzy, mimicking human behaviors like whirling dervishes. This study suggests that humans may have inherited the need for altered states from their evolutionary ancestors.
Researchers at the University of Bern discovered that geckos can detect and distinguish their own skin chemicals from those of other geckos, revealing a new level of social complexity in these animals. This finding suggests that geckos are more intelligent than previously thought, using pheromones for communication and self-recognition.
A new study found that human contact, including neck scratches, can reduce stress and improve well-being in weaning dairy calves. The research showed that calves housed alone benefited most from the extra human interaction, leading to decreased sucking behaviors and increased rest after meals.
Researchers at the University of Arizona found that rock ants follow a methodical search strategy, combining systematized meandering with random movement to efficiently explore new areas. This unique behavior may provide insights into the evolution of exploration strategies in other species.
A study by Oregon State University researchers found that synchronized fishing with dolphins in Brazil increases the number of fish caught and supports both species' survival. The cooperative relationship is specific to this population of dolphins and has been passed down through generations of fishermen.
A study analyzed 105 cat interactions to categorize them into playful, aggressive, or intermediate groups. The majority (56.2%) were classified as playful, while 28.6% were agonistic. Intermediate behavior was observed in 15.2% of cats, exhibiting characteristics of both play and aggression.
Researchers found that differences in epigenetic DNA methylation predict behavioral differences between dogs better than genetic markers. Epigenetics are more informative for behavior than genetics, and the results open up new possibilities for screening and selecting desired behavioral traits in companion or service dogs.
Researchers discovered that wild chimpanzees exhibit facial similarities with their family members, especially as they age. The study found that adult chimpanzees were the easiest to match, while younger infants and males were more challenging, suggesting different pressures on biological family resemblance in these species.
A recent study found that juvenile pied flycatchers in Europe can distinguish their own population's song dialects even at 12 days old. This ability is thought to aid in attracting mates and preventing learning other species' songs, highlighting the remarkable specificity of bird behaviors.
A study of 16 cats found they can differentiate their owner's voice from a stranger's, even when tone is changed. This suggests that cats form strong bonds with their owners based on experience of the speaker's voice.
A study by Oregon State University found that dogs with owners who have high expectations and respond well to their behavior are more social, secure, and persistent problem solvers. The research suggests that understanding a dog's needs is crucial for raising secure and resilient dogs.
A team of researchers has observed orcas killing white sharks in South Africa using drone and helicopter footage. The study provides the first direct evidence of this behavior, showing that orcas are capable of pursuing, capturing, and incapacitating white sharks.
Horses with long-term relationships with owners are less stressed when encountering novel objects and surfaces. Research suggests that exclusive ownership and positive human interactions shape the horse's behavior, particularly in new or stressful situations.
A study by Hoi-Lam Jim and colleagues found that neither dogs nor wolves formed reputations of humans as generous or selfish after indirect or direct interactions. However, some animals showed preference for the generous human after combined experiences.
A recent study found that isolating horses can lead to stress-related immunomodulations, weakening their immune systems. The researchers discovered that single housing caused these changes, regardless of the group composition, highlighting the importance of social interaction for horse health.
A new study investigates how birds experience neophobia, which could play a vital role in helping to save Critically Endangered species. The research gathered data on the behavior of captive Bali myna birds, revealing that juvenile birds may be more suitable for reintroduction than adults.
Rainforest chimpanzees are digging wells to access and filter cleaner drinking water due to the limited availability of clean water during the dry season. The behaviour has been observed spreading among young chimps and adult females, with some males using the wells dug by others.
Research found that adult howler monkey play increases when faced with competition over fruit, a valuable resource. This playful behavior helps regulate relationships within the social group and avoid conflict, unlike collective grooming used by some other primates.
A study by Dr. Fuhimiro Kano and colleagues found that humans can distinguish gaze directions from each other more accurately than chimpanzees, particularly in challenging conditions. The researchers used computerized tasks to present images of human and chimpanzee eyes to both species, with white sclera in the chimpanzee eye improving...
A team of international researchers has developed an algorithm to translate pig grunts into actual emotions, with 92% accuracy. The study provides insight into animal welfare and could lead to improved living conditions for livestock.
A survey of 426 Italian dog owners found that 86% observed negative changes in surviving dogs' behavior after the death of their companion. These changes included increased attention seeking, decreased activity, and fearfulness.
A study by Georgia State University researchers found that monkeys can 'choke under pressure' on a computerized matching task. The team discovered that individual variations in stress response and cortisol levels affect performance, suggesting an evolutionarily common trait among species.
Dartmouth researchers identified a new type of neuron in the rat brain that facilitates visual and spatial processing by tracking visual landmarks. The postrhinal cortex neurons can fire in two directions depending on the environment, allowing rats to estimate their direction.
A recent study published in Canine Medicine and Genetics found that French Bulldogs have a significantly higher risk of being diagnosed with 20 common health disorders compared to other breeds. The authors propose breeding towards more moderate characteristics to reduce these risks.
Researchers developed metrics to quantify information in animal responses to reward feedback, showing that animals exhibit undermatching behavior. The new metrics provide a way to predict this deviation from the matching law, offering insights into adaptive behavior and decision-making.
A new article reviews key concepts, mathematical models, and statistical techniques for testing rationality in animal behavior. The authors tackle five significant obstacles to justify conclusions from empirical testing of transitivity, including aggregation artifacts and scientific parsimony.
A new study shows that gorillas can distinguish between human voices, reacting with distress when hearing unfamiliar or negative voices. The apes' ability to gauge threats by familiarity of human voices has implications for their wild cousins.
A study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B found that intelligent bird species such as parrots and great apes are at risk of poor welfare in captivity. The researchers recommend providing naturalistic diets, enrichment items, and stimulating environments to improve care and reduce psychological problems.
Researchers tracked 50 vampire bats, including those with social relationships, to find that they hunt together and coordinate their efforts. The study suggests that forming friendships in the roost can create more interdependence among socially bonded bats, increasing their success at obtaining blood meals.
Researchers suggest sea snakes mistake divers for rival snakes or potential mates and female sea snakes perceive them as hiding places. Staying still allows divers to avoid escalation and bites.
Researchers found that Goffin cockatoos solve spatial memory tasks comparable to those of great apes and four-year-old human toddlers. The birds' performance was surprising, given the complexity of these tasks and their potential ecological implications.
Researchers discovered how brain filters sensory inputs to focus on specific smells, tastes, or sounds by hardwiring sensory and motor cortices. This mechanism enables immediate motor signals to enhance sensory perception, illustrating the intricate connection between sensation and motor control.