Articles tagged with Ethology
Researchers found that rats depleted of salt show unusual growth of brain cells, with a 30-35% increase in neuron length and branching. This suggests an ability for neurons to make more connections.
A new program helps protect Asian elephants from crop-raiding by implementing a coordinated effort to deter them, reducing farmer risk and protecting the environment. The initiative uses trip wires, sirens, spotlights, and firecrackers to scare off aggressive elephants, promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife.
Researchers will explore neuroadaptation, reinforcement, tolerance, sensitization, withdrawal, and relapse to improve treatment and preventive interventions. The INIA consortium aims to clarify the molecular and cellular underpinnings of excessive drinking behavior.
The NIH has awarded $3.9 million in new grants to support innovative treatments for autism and establish a nationwide network of major research centers. The grants will focus on aspects such as speech therapy, imitation skills, and biological effects of medications.
An international research team aims to fill knowledge gaps on whale, seal, bird, turtle, fish and squid behaviors. The Census of Marine Life project tracks animals using sophisticated electronic sensors.
A Yale University study suggests that individuals who quickly escalate their cocaine intake are more likely to become addicted. The research identified a key behavioral feature: excessive craving responses, which correlated with dramatic increases in cocaine intake before abstinence.
Researchers found that marine mammals take advantage of buoyancy changes with depth, allowing them to glide rather than swim during deep dives. This strategy enables animals to extend their dives and conserve energy.
Scientists find that cryptochrome, a blue-light photoreceptor, may play a role in processing visual clues from the magnetic field and staying on course. The discovery was made using chemical experiments and computational modeling.
A new polymer, polyethylene glycol (PEG), has been shown to rapidly repair damaged nerve membranes in live guinea pigs with severe spinal cord injuries. The treatment can be applied up to eight hours after the injury without losing benefits, offering promise for rescuing substantial portions of damaged spinal cord tissue.
Researchers found that displaying aquariums in nursing homes reduced disruptive behaviors and improved eating habits among Alzheimer's patients. The tanks of brightly colored fish appeared to calm patients, increasing food consumption by up to 21 percent and decreasing behavioral issues such as wandering and aggression.
Researchers found neurons in parietal cortex that carry signals correlated with reward probability and amount, reflecting the value a monkey places on an action. This discovery reveals a viable biological alternative to the Cartesian reflex paradigm.
A new study found that nicotine alters activity levels and exploratory behaviors in male rats but not female rats. Female rats who lived in groups showed increased time spent in the center of an open arena after nicotine administration, suggesting reduced anxiety. The findings may reflect human sex differences in reasons for smoking.
Researchers found that iguanas recognize individuals through both visual and auditory cues, with head bobs indicating familiarity. The study demonstrated human recognition by a lizard for the first time in scientific research.
Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a non-invasive technique to study complex cell behavior using electricity. The ECIS 100 technology provides unprecedented sensitivity and detailed results, allowing for real-time analysis of cell activity over time.
Researchers analyze patterns in animal aggregations, such as schooling fish and flocking birds, to understand how they behave in trying conditions. This knowledge can inform predictions about group behavior under various scenarios, including the impact of climate change on fish populations.
The Great Ape Project advocates for nonhuman great apes to have individual rights, including the right to life and protection from cruel treatment. However, experts raise concerns about overemphasizing human-like qualities in great apes, which may lead to an expansion of moral concern beyond humans.
Researchers found that young rats learned to distinguish lactating females from others through repeated trials, but did not yet recognize their mother. This study sheds light on the complex process of mammalian recognition and attachment.
Researchers discovered that female paper wasps sit and wait for opportunities to adopt orphaned nests or hijack others, a risky behavior with high reproductive benefits. Adopting the most mature nests allows these queens to produce workers quickly, increasing colony survival.
Exposure to stress during puberty results in abnormal aggressive and submissive behaviors, as well as neurobiological alterations, in hamsters. The study suggests that an imbalance in vasopressin and serotonin brain chemical systems contributes to inappropriate behavior.
The studies found that moving and lifestyle issues were the main reasons for surrendering pets, with 64% being euthanized instead of adopted. The majority of pet owners who surrendered their animals were under 30 years old, and more dogs than cats were taken to shelters.
Researchers at USC identified signals in the cerebellum and inferior olive that cause blocking, a phenomenon where animals fail to associate new stimuli with learned responses. Blocking prevents distraction from redundant or erroneous signals, ensuring efficient learning.
Researchers found that rats receiving ginkgo biloba extract learned quicker and made fewer errors in learning tasks, with an average lifespan of five months longer than control animals. The study suggests that the extract may have a positive effect on longevity beyond its purported benefits on brain function.
Researchers found that chronic stress influenced daily activity rhythms and induced depressive-like behavior changes in mice. Exercise was more pronounced in animals without running wheels, suggesting its protective properties against stress effects.