Articles tagged with Ethology
Researchers discovered a neurosteroid drug can correct behavioral problems and brain abnormalities caused by prenatal exposure to THC. This finding suggests a therapeutic approach for children born to mothers who used cannabis during pregnancy, highlighting the need for caution and guidance for pregnant women using cannabis.
Researchers confirm that the brain attends to criticality, a state of optimal excitation without disorder, to maximize information processing. This is achieved through the regulation of inhibitory neurons, allowing for efficient encoding and transmission of complex patterns.
A new deep learning toolkit, DeepPoseKit, has been developed to measure animal body posture with high speed and accuracy. The tool can be applied to study wild animals in challenging field settings and provides an accessible system for non-experts to apply machine learning to their behavioral research.
A study of stickleback fish found that male parental care is accompanied by changes in gene activity in the brain, similar to those experienced by mammals. The researchers identified genes associated with mothering and aggression, suggesting a molecular link between fish and mammal parents.
Researchers discover that the physical structure of animal groups, not individual animals, plays a crucial role in processing information and responding to environmental changes. By changing the group's structure, individuals can amplify risk signals and respond effectively to threats, highlighting the importance of social connectivity.
A recent study found that domestic cats bond with their owners in a way that's surprisingly similar to infants, with about 65% of both cats and kittens classified as securely attached. This suggests that cats' human attachments are stable and present in adulthood.
Researchers develop robotic fish predators that induce fear responses in mosquitofish, triggering avoidance behaviors and physiological changes associated with energy reserve loss. Brief exposure to a robotic largemouth bass replica provokes meaningful stress responses in mosquitofish.
Rats learn to play a simplified version of hide and seek with humans, exhibiting strategic gameplay and learning to alternate roles. They develop unique vocalizations and show intense activity in the prefrontal cortex during game events.
A new study by a University of Arkansas anthropologist suggests that feeding habits of an extinct kangaroo species were similar to the modern-day giant panda. The analysis of the skull biomechanics of a giant extinct kangaroo indicates that it had a capacity for high-performance crushing of foods.
Researchers have linked mammalian behavior to its underlying neural code for the first time, shedding light on how a mammal's brain interprets signals from the eyes. This discovery is relevant to all neuroscientists studying perception and has implications for understanding individual 'words' in the brain.
Research by Marco Del Giudice reveals parasites manipulate host behavior to increase transmission chances and alter neural functioning. Hosts evolve countermeasures to evade manipulation, but these adaptations may also create new vulnerabilities.
Researchers at Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown discover a new psychophysical rule, Time-Intensity Equivalence in Discrimination (TIED), which links decision times to sound intensity. TIED is more stringent than Weber's Law, describing behavior with mathematical precision.
A new study by Western University demonstrates that fear of predators can leave long-lasting traces in the neural circuitry of wild animals and induce enduringly fearful behaviour. The findings support the notion that PTSD is not unnatural and have important implications for biomedical researchers, mental health clinicians, and ecologi...
Researchers capture first evidence of leopard seals sharing food, challenging their solitary reputation. The footage reveals two seals feeding on the same penguin carcass, raising questions about true cooperation vs. tolerance.
Researchers propose three concepts from complex systems science to study animal social complexity: scales of organization, compression, and emergence. These concepts may help researchers better understand the level of complexity in animal societies across different scales.
A Brazilian study found that cannabidiol attenuates social isolation-induced aggression in mice by facilitating the activation of serotonin and CB1 receptors. The researchers used a resident-intruder test model to demonstrate that lower doses of cannabidiol inhibit aggressive behavior, while higher doses have little effect.
Researchers discovered signs of 'feasting behavior' associated with white-tailed deer at the Sitio Sierra archaeological site. The findings suggest that deer hunting was restricted and consumption linked to important occasions, reinforcing social relations among Panamanian pre-Columbian populations.
Researchers developed a new optogenetic technique to control brain activity in mice, recreating natural perception and guiding behavior. The method revealed new insights into neuronal dynamics and the neurobiology of mammalian behavior.
A Stanford University School of Medicine neuroscientist successfully stimulated nerve cells in mice visual cortex, inducing an illusory image and altering the animals' behavior. This breakthrough holds implications for understanding natural brain processing and psychiatric disorders.
Researchers found that brain activity patterns encode prior beliefs, which bias behavioral responses towards the middle of expected time intervals. This warping effect provides insight into how experience alters synaptic connections and embeds knowledge.
Researchers at Utah State University found that cyclists align in patterns within a plus-or-minus 30-degree arc corresponding to the human near-peripheral visual field. This helps them safely react to changes or disturbances from neighboring riders, leading to lower individual rider energy expenditures.
Researchers at Columbia University have successfully controlled a visual behavior in mice by activating specific groups of neurons in their visual cortex. The study used high-resolution optogenetics and two-photon calcium imaging to identify and target individual neurons, demonstrating the causal role of neuronal ensembles in behavior.
Researchers found that social isolation triggers aggression in spiders after they disperse, reversing their initial social behavior. This discovery challenges the long-held assumption that aggression is a precursor to dispersal in spiderlings.
Researchers model how octopus arms make decisions, finding a bottom-up decision mechanism that coordinates actions without brain input. The study sheds light on the diversity of cognition in the world and the universe.
Researchers found that Egyptian fruit bats and mice exhibit synchronized neural activity in social situations, predicting behaviors such as initiating interactions or responding to dominance hierarchies. This discovery sheds light on the neural mechanisms underlying animal social behavior and may provide insights into mental diseases l...
Research found that brain activity in pairs of mice synchronizes during social behavior, with individual cells responding to self and social partner behaviors. The level of synchronization predicted the amount of interaction between the animals.
Researchers used computer simulations to study Ediacaran organisms' feeding habits, showing they engaged in complex suspension feeding and oriented themselves to amplify nutrient-rich currents. This work helps place Ediacarans on the tree of life alongside modern sea creatures, providing new insights into their evolution.
A study by the University of Bristol found that dog owners' perceptions of effectiveness and confidence in using behaviour modification techniques are crucial in predicting their adoption of positive reinforcement-based solutions. Positive reinforcement-based techniques are humane and effective, while punishment-based methods can exace...
Researchers found that male broad-horned flour beetles selectively bred for shorter loser effects still didn't improve their fighting prowess. The study suggests a disconnect between the duration of the loser effect and actual fighting ability, with animals using past experience to decide whether to engage in behavior.
A CNRS and University of La Rochelle research team studied the impact of a fishing operation on orca populations. The study found that orcas who lost family members due to the fishing operation adopted erratic social behavior, leading to reduced access to food and ultimately higher mortality rates.
The study reveals seven distinct patterns of muscle activity and demonstrates that individual muscle cells can participate in multiple patterns with different kinetics. This coordination of many cells working together enables the creation of complex behaviors not present in single cells.
Researchers discovered a brain circuit that helps break decisions down into smaller pieces, allowing for more confident reasoning about probable causes of failure. The circuit enables individuals to navigate hierarchical decisions and adjust their approach based on confidence levels.
Researchers developed flying robots inspired by hummingbirds, trained with machine learning algorithms to mimic natural bird behavior. The robots can fly silently, maneuver through cluttered spaces, and even teach themselves new skills without human intervention.
A study found that transplanting gut bacteria from vulnerable rats to non-stressed rats altered depressive-type behaviors, while also causing brain inflammation. The researchers believe this may lead to probiotic treatments for human psychiatric disorders like depression.
Researchers found that Zebra Finches preferentially visit nests with large broods, based on chick calls, and not visual cues. This study provides the first evidence that wild birds can use calls from chicks as a social signal to infer breeding success.
A study found that individuals residing near protected areas in France exhibit higher levels of pro-environmental behavior, including increased support for environmental associations and participation in citizen science programs. The research attributes this trend to the inspirational impact of wilder landscapes on nature awareness.
A model by theoretical biologists demonstrates how superstitious beliefs can become established in a society's social norms, guiding the behavior of large groups. The research suggests that even irrational beliefs can be beneficial when correlated with others' actions, leading to coordinated behaviors.
A fossilized beetle, Promyrmister kistneri, found to be the oldest-known example of an animal in a behaviorally symbiotic relationship with ants. The beetle's extreme adaptations allow it to infiltrate ant colonies, suggesting that freeloaders can persist over vast expanses of evolutionary time.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh found that a beetle's diet during sexual development affects its adult breeding habits. Females prefer to mate with well-fed males to optimize offspring health.
A new study found that leaders in groups of animals are more vulnerable to attack from predators due to their riskier position within the group. Researchers used virtual prey in aquarium tanks and found leaders were more likely to be attacked than followers, with isolated individuals also being at higher risk.
A machine learning model can reproduce the swarming behavior of locusts by integrating methods from philosophical action theory and quantum optics. The 'Projective Simulation' learning model was successfully applied to a locust's specific swarming behavior, demonstrating its potential for realistic application to biological systems.
Researchers observed mountain gorillas gathering around the bodies of deceased group members, spending time in contact with their corpses, and even grooming them. These behaviors were surprisingly similar across different gorilla groups and suggest a complex understanding of death among these animals.
Researchers developed a behavior recognition model using biomechanical principles to accurately determine an animal's activity, such as resting or searching for food. The model uses wearable accelerometer signals to provide detailed information about specific behaviors, which can inform conservation efforts.
Researchers developed a new 'multi-z' confocal microscopy system for imaging large groups of cells, enabling fast and detailed imaging across a wide field of view. The instrument captured cellular details at high speeds over a large 3D volume, providing unprecedented insights into how neurons interact during various behaviors.
New research by McMaster behavioural scientists reveals evolution can work backwards to benefit related members of the same group. Selfless traits like sharing food and keeping watch are mathematically equivalent to decreased evolution of individually beneficial traits.
A recent study by Vetmeduni Vienna reveals that wolves and dogs cooperate intensively with humans but differ in their approach. Wolves show more initiative, leading the interaction, while dogs follow human behaviour. The study proposes that dogs' submissive tendencies are a result of domestication, which helped minimize conflicts.
Female spotted hyenas can increase their dominance rank by forming alliances with other females, ultimately improving their lifetime reproductive success. The offspring of these individuals inherit their mother's acquired rank, leading to a decline in individual rank within clans over time.
Researchers developed 'Autonomouse' system, allowing for up to 18 months of minimally disturbed mouse behavioral research. The 'smart house' combines animal welfare and efficient research findings, published in PLOS ONE.
A new study on African chimpanzee communities reveals human impact significantly reduces behavioral diversity, with communities near human habitats experiencing 88% lower occurrence of specific behaviors.
A deficiency in the SHANK3 protein, which regulates synaptic communication between brain cells, is associated with various neurological conditions. Researchers have identified kinases that can regulate SHANK3 stability, offering hope for developing treatments by increasing its abundance.
Princeton University researchers Olivia Chu and Corina Tarnita investigate how cooperation emerges in human populations, finding that smaller groups allow cooperation to thrive while limiting destructive influence. They also find that allowing for lone individuals with barriers to group entry enhances cooperation.
Dogs' personalities change over time due to various factors, including age and environmental influences. Research found that older dogs are harder to train, while younger ones exhibit more excitable behavior. Owners with positive personality traits report more responsive dogs.
Zebras evolved striped coats to evade tabanid horse flies, which carry debilitating diseases. The study found that stripes don't deter flies at a distance, but disrupt their approach, making it harder for them to land and feed on zebras.
A new welfare tool has been developed to track the wellbeing of elephants in human care, using their behaviour and demeanour. The tool is being used by UK zoos and safari parks to assess the impact of changes in animal husbandry and develop facilities that enhance elephant welfare.
Scientists parse animal behavior into digestible chunks using an adaptive model, spotting subtleties that would have otherwise been missed. The study found that complex dynamics can be broken down into simple linear patterns, allowing for the quantification of brain states and movement behaviors in various organisms.
Research at the University of Göttingen found that mice growing up in stimulating environments transmit increased brain plasticity to their offspring, even if the young mice were raised in less enriching conditions. This transgenerational transmission affects primary sensory areas of the cerebral cortex.
In a new study, researchers found that male livebearer fish evolved larger dorsal fins for fighting before using them in courtship displays to attract females. This evolution went hand-in-hand with the enlargement of the male dorsal fin, leading to rapid evolution in some species.
Researchers developed a new method to identify significant ties in social networks, controlling for individual activity levels. This approach accurately mimics real-life school class clusters and has applications in various complex networks, including interbank markets and face-to-face interactions.
A new study reveals that astrocytes can lead the tempo of the body's internal clock and control daily behavior patterns in mammals. The discovery could pave the way for new treatments to manage circadian rhythm disruptions related to health conditions like jet lag, sleep disorders, and dementia.
Researchers investigate the impact of skill levels on animal contests, focusing on hermit crab behavior. They aim to understand factors that influence fighting skill and its relationship with aggression, which can have implications for sports science and human training.