Articles tagged with Ethology
A study of mice in semi-natural settings reveals that oxytocin can increase aggressive behavior as well as friendliness, depending on the environment. The findings suggest a more nuanced view of oxytocin's effects and highlight the need for complex environments to translate research findings to human behavior.
A team of researchers from the University of Bristol developed an ant-inspired method for mathematical sampling, which outperforms traditional methods. The study found that ants' collective behavior can be used to create a more efficient way of exploring complex probability distributions.
A study found that dog breeds labeled as 'cooperative' and 'independent' do not exhibit different responses to unfair outcomes, contrary to previous hypotheses. Dogs from both breed groups displayed inequity aversion, with some differences in behavior observed between the groups.
Researchers found that male guinea pigs' hormone systems adjust after being transferred from colony housing to pair housing with an unfamiliar female. This adaptation allows them to exhibit more aggressive behavior in defense of the partner, similar to those in prior pair-housing conditions.
Researchers found that animals' movement across their territories can lower the number of infected but increase disease persistence within populations. This finding challenges traditional views on disease transmission and highlights the importance of considering individual animals' movement in studies.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute discovered that dopamine signaling plays a crucial role in coordinating distinct behavioral outputs in C. elegans, enabling the animals to disperse eggs efficiently across a nutrient-rich environment. By analyzing high-frame-rate videos of nematodes using a custom microscopy platform, the team ide...
Researchers found that microswimming particles can be made to organize into different collective states, supporting the hypothesis of critical behavior. The study demonstrates a close link between collectivity and critical behaviour, suggesting a physical principle underlying complex animal group behavior.
Zebrafish studies reveal that isolation causes sensitivity to stimuli and increased brain activity related to stress and anxiety. The results suggest that social isolation can result in a decreased desire for social interaction, contradicting the assumption that loners are simply anti-social.
Monk parakeets seem to understand where they fit in a dominance hierarchy and pick their fights accordingly, improving or maintaining their status. This ability helps animals make aggression decisions by processing different types of information.
New video technique reveals altered nursing behaviour and retarded larval development in neonicotinoid-treated honey bees. This affects their social interactions and increases the risk of parasite infestation, such as Varroa mite.
A study of 175 reports found that 32.3% of North American perching birds defend their territories against other species, with hybridizing species more likely to do so. Resource competition is a key driver of territorial behavior in these birds.
Researchers used noninvasive pulses of ultrasound waves to control macaque monkeys' choices in an experiment widely used to investigate choice behaviors. The technique successfully influenced which target the monkeys looked at, regardless of reward, suggesting its potential for studying addiction and compulsive behaviors.
Researchers at Max-Planck-Gesellschaft have created a miniature microscope that can capture neural activity in all cortical layers of freely behaving rats. This breakthrough technology allows for continuous imaging of neuron populations, even during complex behaviors, providing insights into the brain's circuit dynamics.
A team of scientists developed an innovative method to study eye movements in mice, revealing two types of eye movement coupled to head movement: 'head tilt compensation' and 'saccade and fixate'. These findings validate using mice to study human brain disorders, including schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and stroke.
Researchers found that pingers significantly reduced harbour porpoise detection, with a 37% decrease near active devices, while having no impact on long-term use or feeding grounds. The study suggests an effective solution to reduce bycatch in gill-net fisheries.
Research by Marta Moita and her team found that social animals acquire fear of freezing through auto-conditioning, which requires both pain and immobility. The team discovered a neural map in the brain's fear-learning center and auditory system that underlies this learning mechanism.
Scientists found a correlation between pack hunting and dietary diversity, which is rare in animals that hunt in groups. The study suggests raptors likely only hunted solo or with limited cooperation.
Common shrews have a high metabolic rate and quickly deplete their fat reserves in winter. However, they do not need to increase their metabolism in response to colder temperatures, thanks to their unique adaptation of shrinking in autumn and growing in spring.
A five-year study reveals that flamingos consistently spend time with specific close 'friends', forming complex social bonds, including 'married' couples and same-sex friendships. Flamingos' long-lasting friendships are stable over years, suggesting they play a crucial role in survival.
Researchers identify celastrol as a potential therapeutic target for treating winter depression, a condition characterized by low mood and social withdrawal. The study uses medaka fish as an animal model to understand the underlying mechanisms of winter depression.
Researchers found that mantis shrimps rely on external cues from the sun, followed by polarization patterns in light, before using their internal navigation system when other options are unavailable. These findings provide new insights into the complex behaviors of these fascinating creatures.
A UK-China project develops wearable biosensors and a portable diagnostic test to monitor dairy cow health and detect brucellosis early. This technology aims to prevent disease spread and improve animal welfare.
Researchers at Arizona State University found that activating the anterior insula restored prosocial behaviors in animals with opioid addiction, a potential breakthrough in treating social behavioral deficits. The study used chemogenetic methods to selectively activate the brain region involved in both prosocial and addictive behaviors.
Researchers attach backpacks with sensors to tiny animals like vampire bats, enabling precise mapping of their social networks and flight trajectories. The system conserves energy and provides robust results for studying animal behavior and conservation.
Red-winged blackbirds respond aggressively to a specific 'seet' call from yellow warblers when they detect the presence of brown-headed cowbirds. The birds also respond to other calls that signal general danger to their nests, including blue jay and cowbird chatter.
A recent study in Genome Biology and Evolution explores the genetic underpinnings of spider sociality, revealing rapidly evolving genes involved in behavior, immunity, and brain-specific expression. The analysis found differences in metabolic processes between solitary and social spiders, hinting at distinct hunting and feeding behaviors.
Researchers found that allied male bottlenose dolphins synchronize their vocal behavior when cooperating together, promoting cooperative behavior and regulating stress. This behavior helps reduce tension between males in a context that requires them to work together successfully.
Studies have shown that turtle ant soldiers exhibit a four-fold difference in head shapes, adapted to different tunnel sizes. The research suggests that evolution can be dynamic and reversible, with some species evolving back into more generalist stages.
A new study reveals that random variation in brain development generates behavioral diversity in fruit flies, contradicting the nature vs nurture debate. The origin of unique behavioral idiosyncrasies lies in individual differences in neural circuit wiring, which significantly influence behavior.
A team of researchers has shown that fish school by copying each other and changing directions randomly, rather than calculating and adapting to an average direction of the group. This new model proposes that noise-induced ordering is responsible for schooling behavior, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers investigated the effects of neonicotinoids and sulfoximines on locusts' collision avoidance behavior. The study found that neonicotinoids inhibit tuning of visual sensory circuits, leading to impaired motion detection at sublethal doses.
Research in animal models shows that social isolation during adolescence can lead to disruptions in social behavior and activity patterns of inhibitory neurons involved in social approach. Increasing activity of these neurons in adult animals restores normal social behavior. The study highlights the importance of social experience duri...
Researchers discovered bumblebees use two modes of flight to optimize energy usage, including the 'economy mode' that allows heavier loads with minimal extra flapping frequency. This behavioral choice reveals flexibility in bee behavior and challenges previous assumptions about insect physiology.
A new study suggests that human cooperativity is an outcome of competition between cultural groups. Researchers found that culturally different groups compete, leading to the spread of traits that give groups a competitive edge, including cooperation.
Wild grey seals can clap their flippers underwater during breeding season, using the loud high-frequency noise to warn off competitors and advertise themselves to potential mates. This unique form of communication may help protect the species from human noise pollution.
Pre-clinical studies reveal that cortical spreading depression and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) play significant roles in migraine. Botox, CGRP, and PACAP-38 show promise as potential treatments.
Researchers identified a tiny gene fragment impacting brain development and information processing in individuals with autism. The finding may lead to new treatments by targeting a specific microexon that contributes to social behavior and learning deficits.
Researchers discovered that fruit flies use fly-fly interactions to establish regular spacing in clusters, driven by a balance between congregating and maintaining personal space. Depriving the flies of their senses results in abnormal responses and high failure rates in cluster formation.
Researchers successfully tracked brain activity of zebrafish larvae to predict decisions, revealing a major role for the cerebellum in cognitive functions. The study used light field microscopy to track neuronal activity and identified specific patterns that predicted correct or incorrect turns.
Researchers found that African grey parrots voluntarily help each other achieve a goal without immediate benefit, showing innate helping behavior. The parrots' ability to understand when help is needed and transfer tokens to others demonstrates their complex social intelligence.
A new study shows that chimpanzees using complex tools to gather termites are more likely to share tools with novices and teach them skills. This behavior has implications for the evolution of human cultural abilities, suggesting a greater role for social learning in transferring complex tool traditions.
Researchers used high-speed cameras and computer algorithms to analyze the movements of larval zebrafish, identifying three distinct components of their prey capture behavior: orientation, approach, and capture. The study provides new insights into how the brain generates complex behaviors.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine found that specific neurons in the CeA contribute to reward-like behaviors and alcohol drinking. By selectively lesioning or ablating these neurons, animals drank less alcohol without affecting anxiety-like behavior.
Researchers found that strong social connections, especially with favored partners, increase a macaque's survival chances by 11%. Macaques on Monkey Island showed better survival rates with stronger social ties.
Research on Trinidadian guppies reveals that leadership tendencies are partly inherited, with around a third of the variation explained by pedigree. Males bred for high leadership exhibit lower aggression and increased sociability compared to those bred for low leadership. In contrast, female leadership does not appear to be linked to ...
A new study by Anglia Ruskin University finds that crows in larger social groups have lower parasite loads and are healthier. The research reveals a correlation between sociability and health, suggesting that strong social bonds reduce stress levels and make crows less susceptible to parasites.
A study on mice has created a set of objective measurements for personality, revealing the connection between genes, behavior, and individual traits. The researchers found that each mouse had a unique personality that consistently informed its behavior.
Researchers observed vampire bats developing strong social bonds during captivity that persisted in the wild, suggesting shared history plays a role in maintaining relationships. The study used pioneering technology to track bat interactions and found test bats had stronger bonds with each other than control bats.
Researchers at Pitt and CMU are developing an all-in-one implantable device that can record neural activity, identify cell type, and determine cell function through chemical stimulation. This innovation aims to provide more information on brain function and reduce invasive methods.
Research finds that UK vets need special training to report suspected animal abuse, boosting their confidence and skills in overcoming client confidentiality and earning loss fears. The study suggests that perceived self-efficacy is a key factor in reporting animal abuse.
Researchers at Kyoto University found that bottlenose dolphins can coordinate their behavior in a rope-pulling task, with initiators waiting for followers to reach the task and followers matching the initiator's swimming speed. This flexible coordination is likely rooted in their patterns of affiliative behavior.
Researchers studied blue bottle fly landing behaviors using high-speed videography, uncovering a wide range of rotational maneuvers. The results suggest the flies may use neural processes and sensory cues for inverted landings, informing efforts to engineer small robotic fliers.
A new study published in PLOS Biology reveals that it takes about 3 million years for aggression levels to decline when males are exposed to songs from distant populations in Amazonia. In contrast, temperate North America species exhibit a quicker response time of around half a million years.
New research reveals that immune cells called microglia are active during sleep, rewiring brain connections and repairing damage. Microglia's interaction with neurotransmitters like norepinephrine regulates their activity, suggesting a link between sleep and brain health.
Researchers studied fossilized Moroccan Ampyx trilobites and found evidence of orderly lines during storms, suggesting ancient group behavior. This discovery implies that group behavior may have conferred an evolutionary advantage on early animals, allowing them to survive environmental stress.
A recent study from University of Alberta researchers suggests there may be no relationship between near misses and continued play, contrary to widely held beliefs. The study found that despite brain activity changes and subjective measurements, conclusive evidence for a near-miss effect on gambling persistence is lacking.
Research reveals that human medicines influencing serotonin and dopamine systems alter the boldness and explorative behaviour of three-spined sticklebacks, highlighting potential consequences for aquatic ecosystems. The study confirms the role of these signal substances in individual personality differences and stress resilience.
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.