Articles tagged with Ethology
Researchers discovered that chronic social isolation leads to an increase in a specific neuropeptide called neurokinin B, which promotes aggression and fear. Blocking this peptide eliminates negative effects of isolation, suggesting potential applications for treating mental health disorders in humans.
Researchers found that social isolation in mice upregulates neuropeptide Tac2/NkB, leading to increased aggression and persistent responses to threatening stimuli. The peptide is overproduced in multiple brain regions, causing diverse behavioral changes that persist even after social isolation is reversed.
A recent study published in Genetics identifies five genes that control sociality in chickens, shedding light on the genetic basis of this complex behavior. The researchers used a cross between wild and domestic chickens to assess sociality and gene expression, revealing a surprising connection between sociality and anxiety.
Researchers discovered that rhesus macaques and children with autism spectrum disorder have lower vasopressin levels, linked to reduced sociability. The study suggests vasopressin as a potential biomarker for social deficits in autism.
Researchers found a potential biomarker for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in monkeys with low social behavior, which had lower arginine vasopressin concentrations in their cerebrospinal fluid. This discovery suggests that AVP may be a target for developing new drugs to alleviate social impairment in ASD patients.
Parasites have evolved to 'hack' their host's nervous system, controlling behavior and decision-making. Researchers explore the mechanisms involved, discovering compounds that act on neural circuitry, offering insights into neural control of animal behavior.
A new study from Columbia University uses an AI algorithm to analyze the full range of behaviors exhibited by the tiny pond-dwelling creature Hydra. By comparing its movements to neural firing patterns, researchers hope to gain insights into how its nervous system works.
A study by the Universities of Sussex and Portsmouth reveals that horses can read human facial expressions and remember specific individuals' emotional states. The research found that horses perceive people more negatively if they had previously seen them looking angry in a photograph, adapting their behavior accordingly.
Researchers at KAIST have identified a neural circuit in the hypothalamus governing obsessive behavior towards non-food objects in mice. The MPA-PAG circuit modulates object craving and facilitates hunting behavior, allowing for controlled mammalian behavior with optogenetics.
Researchers analyzed 729 reports of abnormal animal behavior related to 160 earthquakes, but found that most evidence consists of single observations and anecdotes. The team suggests a series of questions to analyze the data, including whether animal behavior is linked to specific rules or environmental changes.
The AChemS 40th Annual Meeting features research on the roles of smell and taste in human and animal health. New findings will be presented on topics such as smoking's effect on salt sensitivity and inflammation in gum disease.
Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia have identified a brain pathway that, when stimulated, leads to 'antidepressive' behavior in animals. The study suggests that targeting this circuit could lead to a novel treatment for depression.
Researchers found that individual aspects of parenting, such as motor behaviors and motivation, are controlled by distinct pools of galanin neurons. This discovery sheds new light on why some people appear to be natural parents while others exhibit abusive behavior.
Research found rock ants with slightly better vision in one eye tend to turn left, contradicting previous thinking on human lateralization. This suggests physical indicators of lateralization can be externally observable.
Researchers observed bonobos sharing meat across community borders for the first time, demonstrating cooperative behavior and social structure dominance by females. The study provides insights into how our last common ancestor may have acted when dividing food with others, shedding light on human origins.
A new study reveals that intelligence is a primary factor in achieving success through cooperation. Researchers found that individuals with higher IQs displayed significantly higher levels of cooperation, leading to increased earnings. Personality traits like agreeableness and conscientiousness had a smaller impact on behavior.
Researchers have identified a wax-like hydrocarbon called heneicosane as a royal recognition pheromone in termites, enabling workers to recognize and care for queens and kings. This discovery could upend current understanding of insect social behavior and evolution, suggesting that CHCs evolved as royal pheromones 150 million years ago.
Indonesia's anti-IUU fishing policies have successfully kick-started fishery recovery without reducing local fishing effort or catch. The country's policies reduced foreign fishing in its waters by over 90% and total fishing by 25%, generating a 14% increase in catch and a 15% increase in profit by 2035.
Researchers identified the nerve cells responsible for a fly's escape response, providing clues into comparable survival mechanisms in humans. The study's findings shed light on conditions like allodynia, where gentle touch triggers pain-like sensations.
Research reveals that wild mice living near humans in a Swiss barn underwent changes in behavior and physical appearance, including the development of white fur patches and shorter snouts. The study, led by Anna Lindholm, found that these changes occurred without human selection or breeding, highlighting the process of self-domestication.
Researchers discover vascular alterations in small blood vessels of mice with advanced Alzheimer's disease, affecting female mice more severely. The study finds correlations between vascular structure and function, anxiety levels, and cognitive functions.
Researchers found that helping behavior can be more advantageous in unpredictable environments, where staying home to raise relatives can provide a survival advantage. This challenges the long-held theory of Haldane's rule, which explains why some animals prioritize their own reproduction over helping others.
Researchers exposed rhesus macaques to sevoflurane three times during infancy and found increased behaviors such as self-touching and self-grooming at one and two years of age. These subtle changes persist even after the animals are no longer under stress, suggesting a long-term impact on anxiety levels.
A groundbreaking study published in eNeuro finds that low-dose ketamine promotes resilience to future adverse events in female rats, similar to its effects in males. The researchers identified a neural circuit involving the prefrontal cortex and dorsal raphe nucleus responsible for ketamine's stress-reducing properties.
Researchers found significant variation in the response threshold of cloned ants to sweetened water, with some preferring diet soda equivalents and others requiring stronger concentrations. This diversity may be driven by epigenetic modifications that allow for individualized adaptation and potentially enhance long-term colony survival.
A study by researchers at the University of Exeter found that dominant male pheasants were better at remembering which tunnel was clear. This suggests a link between social dominance and cognitive performance, with top-ranking males performing 40% better than their less dominant peers.
Research reveals that clonal ants show diversity in their attraction to sweetness, with some preferring diet soda-like solutions and others requiring regular soda concentrations. The study suggests epigenetic modifications are involved, leading to changes in gene functions and potentially affecting colony survival.
Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have created a bioinspired robotic replica that can interact in three dimensions with live zebrafish. The system allows the robot to watch and mimic the behavior of live fish in real-time, promoting social interactions.
Researchers at RIKEN Brain Science Institute identify a neuronal pathway that enables zebrafish to avoid carbon dioxide. The team found that the trigeminal sensory neurons and the habenula play critical roles in detecting carbon dioxide. These findings shed light on the neurobiology behind avoidance behaviors in animals.
The wireless photometer uses an ultrathin probe to record neural activity in freely moving animals with reduced anxiety-like behavior compared to traditional systems. The device offers a new approach to measuring neuronal dynamics in deep brain regions.
A study by University of Oxford researchers reveals that bacteria approach conflict in a coordinated manner, responding to threats with collective retaliation. The research shows that different strains exhibit varying levels of aggression and can even detect incoming attacks to warn other cells, enabling sophisticated defense strategies.
New study finds that mammal movements are reduced by up to three-fold in areas with high human activity, affecting not only individual animals but also ecosystems. Movement distances vary by species and resource availability, suggesting a complex interplay between humans and wildlife.
Researchers at the University of California, Riverside found that Argentine ants produce compounds dolichodial and iridomyrmecin to attack harvester ants, causing irritation and disorientation. The study's findings could lead to new pest control strategies using synthetic versions of these chemicals.
Researchers found zebrafish larvae use 13 different patterns of movement combined in sequences to respond to situations, revealing the 'Lego pieces' of complex behaviors. The study's objective computational method revealed novel features of behavior that are not obvious from human observation.
A Duke University study found that bonobos are more attracted to jerk-like behavior than helpful actions, challenging the idea that humans have a unique preference for kindness. The researchers observed bonobos preferring individuals who hinder others over those who help, suggesting that having powerful allies may be key to their socia...
Research finds that male redback spiders benefit from mating with immature females, which appears to have no cost to female reproductive output or survival. This early mating may be advantageous for females, as delays in mating can lead to shorter lifespans and reduced offspring success.
Researchers found that bearded dragons incubated in colder temperatures learned to open a sliding door faster than those from warmer temperatures. This ability is crucial for adapting to changing environments and may offer a potential buffer against human-induced environmental change.
Biologists have found that cichlid fish with a distinct preference for one side of their bodies exhibit corresponding asymmetry in brain structure and gene expression. The study reveals a functional relationship between brain shape and behavioral laterality, suggesting an evolutionary link to handedness in humans.
Recent advances have shed light on neural circuits and mechanisms driving social behaviors, revealing a complex interplay of brain areas involved in cooperation and aggression. These findings suggest that shared neuronal activity between social partners plays a key role in cooperative behavior and learning.
Research at Colorado State University found that orphaned female elephants have limited access to mature, dominant individuals, affecting their social integration. Social bonds with surviving adults may not compensate for lost relationships during early years following disruption.
A new study by University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna researchers reveals that Kune Kune piglets possess highly developed social learning abilities through observation. The piglets attentively observed and replicated tasks demonstrated by their mother or aunt, showcasing exceptional memory capabilities.
A recent study reveals that education and knowledge have little impact on individual behavior when it comes to major issues like the environment and personal health. Conservationists were found to behave in a marginally 'greener' manner, but with surprisingly modest differences compared to economists and medics.
New simulations show that limiting local coordination between swarming animals improves group survival and information spreading. Researchers at SUTD discovered a parallel between collective evasive maneuvers and the spread of information in social networks.
Researchers found that winning a competition makes people more willing to pay for luxury items and assign greater value to them. Contrary to expectations, testosterone levels were unaffected by winning or losing.
Researchers found that individuals with frontotemporal dementia were physically aggressive earlier and exhibited more severe behavior towards strangers compared to those with Alzheimer's disease. The study of 281 deceased patients revealed a significant difference in the manifestation of aggression between the two groups.
A new study by the University of Helsinki found that delaying weaning in cats until 14 weeks of age can significantly reduce behavioral problems. The research discovered that early weaning is linked to increased aggression and stereotypic behavior, suggesting a link between neurotransmitter changes and these behaviors.
Research reveals that prey use both speed of approach and proximity of predator to calculate best escape route, leading to a more nuanced understanding of self-preservation instincts. The study also sheds light on the neural mechanics that fuel this fundamental behavior in animals, including humans.
A new research study used a 'sniff-test' to evaluate dogs' ability to recognize themselves, confirming the hypothesis of self-cognition proposed by Dr. Cazzolla Gatti. The experiment found that dogs investigate their own odours longer when modified in an olfactory mirror test.
Researchers have developed a new, ultra lightweight system for recording neural activity in mice, enabling the study of brain disorders like schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease. The TaiNi device offers significant animal welfare benefits and high signal bandwidth, increasing information gathered from each mouse.
A team of researchers at Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences has created a simple device that mimics the complex songs of birds, including Zebra and Bengalese finches. The study suggests that birds may have exploited the physical properties of soft materials to produce their distinctive vocalizations.
Researchers have developed a system allowing zebrafish to self-administer doses of hydrocodone, leading to increased drug-seeking behavior and signs of anxiety. The study provides a new approach to explore the biological pathways behind addiction and withdrawal.
A newly discovered dinosaur fossil from Mongolia shows three juvenile oviraptors roosting together, suggesting a unique behavior among bird-line theropods. The specimen provides valuable insights into the origins of communal roosting in birds and sheds light on the social habits of ancient dinosaurs.
Researchers develop a virtual reality system that decouples movement from perception in animals, allowing for the study of spatial cognition. The system is used to test various behaviors, including navigation, fear response and collective behavior.
Scientists have developed a system called FreemoVR, which immerses freely-moving animals in a reactive, three-dimensional world controlled by a computer. This allows researchers to study complex interactions of neurons in different brain regions while maintaining natural sensory input and feedback.
A study found that western fence lizards preferentially flee from dark blue T-shirts over other colors, suggesting they respond to the color itself rather than its detectability. The researchers suggest that this could have implications for animal conservation and ecotourism, where human clothing color may affect animal behavior.
Researchers have developed a novel method to treat addiction using optogenetically-inspired deep-brain stimulation, which could provide continued benefits and improve on existing treatments. The method targets brain circuits responsible for addiction and shows promise in animal models.
Researchers found that presenting a large amount of information is suitable for recalling interchangeable behaviors, but relatively few recommendations are best for remembering key, complete sets of recommendations.
Researchers found that environmental factors, such as 'vigorous gaping' behavior in larval fish, can significantly influence the development of their craniofacial bones. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that genetics is the primary driver of species variability.
A mouse model of autism shows that social environment influences behaviors characteristic of ASD. Housing genetically modified mice with unmodified littermates alters their behavior, highlighting the impact of social hierarchy on ASD-like traits.
A new study in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases found that women and children in Sierra Leone participate in hunting activities, challenging previous assumptions. The research underscores the importance of recognizing children's specific hunting practices to develop effective interventions.