ScienceDaily: Behavioral News

Fishing for memories: How long-term memories are processed to guide behavior

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:39:39 EDT

In our interaction with our environment we constantly refer to past experiences stored as memories to guide behavioral decisions. But how memories are formed, stored and then retrieved to assist decision-making remains a mystery. By observing whole-brain activity in live zebrafish, researchers have visualized for the first time how information stored as long-term memory in the cerebral cortex is processed to guide behavioral choices.

Students' diet and physical activity improve with parent communications

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:56:56 EDT

College students eat more fruits and vegetables and exercise more on days when they communicate more with their parents, according to researchers.

Using earthquake sensors to track endangered whales

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:24:24 EDT

Oceanographers used data from seafloor seismometers to analyze more than 300,000 fin-whale calls. By triangulating the position they created more than 150 tracks off the Pacific Northwest coast.

How individuality develops: Experience leads to growth of new brain cells

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:20:20 EDT

How do organisms evolve into individuals that are distinguished from others by their own personal brain structure and behavior? Scientists have now taken a decisive step towards clarifying this question. Using mice as an animal model, they were able to show that individual experiences influence the development of new neurons, leading to measurable changes in the brain.

World's most extreme hearing animal: The greater wax moth

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:28:28 EDT

Researchers have discovered that the greater wax moth is capable of sensing sound frequencies of up to 300 kHz -- the highest recorded frequency sensitivity of any animal in the natural world.

Reversal of the Black Widow myth: Some male spiders prefer to eat old females rather than mate with them

Mon, 06 May 2013 09:51:51 EDT

The Black Widow spider gets its name from the popular belief that female spiders eat their male suitors after mating. However, a new study has shown that the tendency to consume a potential mate is also true of some types of male spider. The study finds that male spiders of the Micaria sociabilis species are more likely to eat the females than be eaten.

Flight behavior of hungry malaria mosquitoes analyzed

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:51:51 EDT

Malaria mosquitoes go to work cautiously before landing on human skin and biting. Just before a mosquito lands, it reacts to both odors and heat given off by the human body. Researchers came to this conclusion after studying images made with infrared-sensitive cameras.

Tone-deaf female cowbirds change flock behavior, disrupt social networks

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:31:31 EDT

Female cowbirds incapable of recognizing high-quality male songs can alter the behavior of flock-mates of either sex and disrupt overall social structure, according to new research.

Behavior of seabirds during migration revealed

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:44:44 EDT

The behavior of seabirds during migration -- including patterns of foraging, rest and flight -- has been revealed in new detail using novel computational analyses and tracking technologies.

Biologists propose a new research roadmap for connecting genes to ecology

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:16:16 EDT

A team of researchers is proposing a new investigative roadmap for the field of evolutionary developmental biology, or "evo devo," to better understand how innovation at the genetic level can lead to ecological adaptations over time. Evo devo seeks to understand the specific genetic mechanisms underlying evolutionary change.

Sushi for peccaries?

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:59:59 EDT

It turns out the white-lipped peccary —- a piglike animal from Central and South America —- will settle for fish when fruits (its main food) are no longer on the menu, according to researchers revealing the first-ever photos of fish-eating peccaries.

Cat and mouse: One gene is necessary for mice to avoid predators

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 15:41:41 EDT

A new study involving olfactory receptors provides evidence that a single gene is necessary for a mouse to avoid a cat. A research team has shown that removing one olfactory receptor from mice can have a profound effect on their behavior. The gene, called TAAR4, encodes a receptor that responds to a chemical that is enriched in the urine of carnivores. While normal mice innately avoid the scent marks of predators, mice lacking the TAAR4 receptor do not.

Fish win fights on strength of personality

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:54:54 EDT

When predicting the outcome of a fight, the big guy doesn't always win suggests new research on fish. Scientists have found that when fish fight over food, it is personality, rather than size, that determines whether they will be victorious.

Longer days bring 'winter blues' -- for rats, not humans

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:24:24 EDT

Biologists have found that rats experience more anxiety and depression when the days grow longer. More importantly, they discovered that the rat's brain cells adopt a new chemical code when subjected to large changes in the day and night cycle.

'When in Rome': Monkeys found to conform to social norms

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

The human tendency to adopt the behavior of others when on their home territory has been found in non-human primates. Researchers observed 'striking' fickleness in male monkeys, when it comes to copying the behavior of others in new groups. The study has been hailed by leading primate experts as rare experimental proof of 'cultural transmission' in wild primates to date.

Why do guppies jump?

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 13:28:28 EDT

Pet guppies often jump out of their tanks. One such accident inspired a new study which reveals how guppies are able to jump so far, and suggests why they do it.

Transgenic mice ready to fight obesity, and more

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 08:13:13 EDT

Scientists have investigated mice with a very precisely modified genome. Because it is possible to turn off the Dicer gene in adult mice, they can be used to investigate the processes related to such cognitive functions such as learning and memory. Also scientists have just shown that the new transgenic mouse is suitable to study metabolic dysfunctions resulting in obesity.

Rescue me: New study finds animals do recover from neglect

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:11:11 EDT

Animal sanctuaries can play an important role in rehabilitating goats and other animals that have suffered from neglect, according to scientists.

Scientist identifies protein molecule used to maintain adult stem cells in fruit flies

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 15:49:49 EDT

Understanding exactly how stem cells form into specific organs and tissues is the holy grail of regenerative medicine. Now a researcher has added to that body of knowledge by determining how stem cells produce different types of "daughter" cells in Drosophila (fruit flies).

Can the friend of my friend be my enemy? Choice affects stability of the social network, animal study shows

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:29:29 EDT

Just as humans can follow complex social situations in deciding who to befriend or to abandon, it turns out that animals use the same level of sophistication in judging social configurations, according to a new study that advances our understanding of the structure of animal social networks.

More evidence berries have health-promoting properties

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 15:34:34 EDT

Adding more color to your diet in the form of berries is encouraged by many nutrition experts. The protective effect of berries against inflammation has been documented in many studies. Diets supplemented with blueberries and strawberries have also been shown to improve behavior and cognitive functions in stressed young rats.

Neural activity in bats measured in-flight

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:23:23 EDT

Scientists have, for the first time, measured the activity of place cells in the brains of bats as they navigated in three-dimensional space.

Learned helplessness in flies and the roots of depression

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:48:48 EDT

When faced with impossible circumstances beyond their control, animals, including humans, often hunker down as they develop sleep or eating disorders, ulcers, and other physical manifestations of depression. Now, researchers show that the same kind of thing happens to flies.

Love at first sniff: Male moths go by first impressions

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:17:17 EDT

Entomologists now have an explanation for why we see so many hybrid moths in nature. The team closely examined the behavior and the olfactory circuitry of male moths and found an answer in female-produced pheromones.

Disappearing nannies force parents to accept their duties

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:24:24 EDT

Large helpers (nannies) in a cichlid fish allow the dominant male and female to reduce their personal contribution to their offspring and territory, according to new research.

Molecular techniques are 'man's new best friend' in pet obesity research

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:30:30 EDT

Molecular biology technologies are making the mechanisms underlying the pet obesity epidemic more easily understood.

'Strikingly similar' brains of human and fly may aid mental health research

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:29:29 EDT

Scientists have revealed deep similarities in how the brain regulates behavior in arthropods (such as flies and crabs) and vertebrates (such as fish, mice and humans). The findings shed new light on the evolution of the brain and behavior and may aid understanding of disease mechanisms underlying mental health problems.

Self-medication in animals much more widespread than believed

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:27:27 EDT

It's been known for decades that animals such as chimpanzees seek out medicinal herbs to treat their diseases. But in recent years, the list of animal pharmacists has grown much longer, and it now appears that the practice of animal self-medication is a lot more widespread than previously thought, according to ecologists.

Chickens with bigger gizzards are more efficient

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:02:02 EDT

According to animal scientists, farmers could further protect the environment by breeding chickens with larger digestive organs. This research could solve a major problem in poultry production.

Lady flies can decide who will father their young

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 11:01:01 EDT

Female flies choose whose sperm they want based on male mating effort. Females in the animal kingdom have many methods available to them to help bias male paternity. One such process is displayed by Euxesta bilimeki, a species of Ulidiid fly, whose females expel and then consume male ejaculate after copulation.

Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:15:15 EDT

Biologists have explored the behaviors of Great white sharks scavenging on dead whales in South Africa. The team documented as many as 40 different sharks scavenging on a carcass over the course of a single day, revealing unique social interactions among sharks.

Power struggles are best kept out of the public eye: Audiences influence future status of quails following fights between rivals

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 08:25:25 EDT

For animals, prevailing in a fight affects their likelihood of winning future conflicts. The opposite is true of losing a fight. The sex hormone testosterone is often believed to mediate this “winner effect”. Researchers have examined whether the presence of an audience influences the behavior and the testosterone changes of Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) after a fight. The evidence shows that both winners and losers exhibit raised testosterone levels after a conflict without an audience.

New measurement of crocodilian nerves could help scientists understand ancient animals

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 15:26:26 EDT

A new study has measured the nerves responsible for the super-sensitive skin on a crocodile's face, which will help biologists understand how today's animals, as well as dinosaurs and crocodiles that lived millions of years ago, interact with the environment around them.

Bumblebees use logic to find the best flowers

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:20:20 EDT

Scientists have discovered why bees copy each other when looking for nectar -- and the answer is remarkably simple.

Satellite tagging maps the secret migration of white sharks

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:01:01 EDT

Long-life batteries and satellite tagging have been used to fill in the blanks of female white sharks' (Carcharodon carcharias) lifestyles. New research defines a two year migratory pattern in the Pacific Ocean. Pregnant females travel between the mating area at Guadalupe Island and nursery in Baja California, putting them and their young at risk from commercial fishing.

Physicists decipher social cohesion issues

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:20:20 EDT

Migrations happen for a reason, not randomly. A new study, based on computer simulation, attempts to explain the effect of so-called directional migration - migration for a reason - on cooperative behaviors and social cohesion. The authors devised a computer simulation of what they refer to as selfish individuals - those who are mainly concerned with their own interests, to the exclusion of the interests of others. In this study, they propose a new migration rule, dubbed directional migration, in existing models referred to as evolutionary game theory.

How a neurotransmitter acts to coordinate a compound movement through two different receptors in C. elegans

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:26:26 EDT

New research show at the single cell level how an external stimulus sets off a molecular chain reaction in the transparent roundworm C. elegans, a process in which a single neurotransmitter coordinates and times two separate actions.

Ozone masks plants volatiles, plant eating insects confused

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:01:01 EDT

Increases in ground-level ozone, especially in rural areas, may interfere not only with predator insects finding host plants, but also with pollinators finding flowers, according to new research.

Symbiotic bacteria program circadian-like rhythms in squid using light and chemicals

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 09:16:16 EDT

Glowing bacteria inside squid use light and chemical signals to control circadian-like rhythms in the animals, according to a new study. The results of the study show that, in addition to acting as a built-in lamp, the bacteria also control when the squid expresses a gene that entrains, or synchronizes, circadian rhythms in animals.

Robotic ants successfully mimic real colony behavior

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 09:06:06 EDT

Scientists have successfully replicated the behavior of a colony of ants on the move with the use of miniature robots.

In solving social dilemmas, vervet monkeys get by with a little patience

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 12:50:50 EDT

People could learn a lot from vervet monkeys. When vervets need to work together, they don't tell each other what to do or punish uncooperative behavior. But according to new evidence, they do get by, with a little patience.

Pesticide combination affects bees' ability to learn

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 13:33:33 EDT

Two new studies have highlighted a negative impact on bees' ability to learn following exposure to a combination of pesticides commonly used in agriculture. The researchers found that the pesticides, used in the research at levels shown to occur in the wild, could interfere with the learning circuits in the bee's brain.

Mice show innate ability to vocalize: Deaf or not, courting male mice make same sounds

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:41:41 EDT

While humans and birds must learn to vocalize, a neurophysiologist has found that deaf male mice will vocalize to females the same way as hearing mice. The finding points the way to a more finely focused, genetic tool for teasing out the mysteries of speech and its disorders.

Brain mapping reveals neurological basis of decision-making in rats

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 15:52:52 EDT

Scientists have discovered how memory recall is linked to decision-making in rats, showing that measurable activity in one part of the brain occurs when rats in a maze are playing out memories that help them decide which way to turn. The more they play out these memories, the more likely they are to find their way correctly to the end of the maze.

Becoming a parent: Brain changes that underlie transition from aggressive to parental behavior in male mice described

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 20:20:20 EDT

Sexually naïve male mice respond differently to the chemical signals emitted by newborn pups than males that have mated and lived with pregnant females, according to a new study. The findings may help scientists to better understand the changes that take place in the brains of some mammals during the transition into parenthood.

Tourist-fed stingrays change their ways

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:29:29 EDT

Study of world-famous Stingray City finds human interaction drastically alters stingray behavior.

Male lions use ambush hunting strategy

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:26:26 EDT

It has long been believed that male lions are dependent on females when it comes to hunting. But new evidence suggests that male lions are, in fact, very successful hunters in their own right. A new report shows that male lions use dense savanna vegetation for ambush-style hunting in Africa.

Putting the clock in 'cock-a-doodle-doo'

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:26:26 EDT

Of course, roosters crow with the dawn. But are they simply reacting to the environment, or do they really know what time of day it is? Researchers have evidence that puts the clock in "cock-a-doodle-doo.

Unhealthy eating can make a bad mood worse

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 20:27:27 EDT

Taking part in unhealthy eating behaviors may cause women who are concerned about their diet and self-image to experience a worsening of their moods, according to researchers.

Swarm intelligence: New collective properties of swarm dynamics uncovered

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 09:59:59 EDT

A new study of animal swarms uncovers some new features of their collective behavior when overcrowding sets in. Swarming is the spontaneous organized motion of a large number of individuals. It is observed at all scales, from bacterial colonies, slime molds and groups of insects to shoals of fish, flocks of birds and animal herds. Now physicists have uncovered new collective properties of swarm dynamics.

Fluorescent neural cells from monkey skin mature into several types of brain cells in monkeys

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:46:46 EDT

For the first time, scientists have transplanted neural cells derived from a monkey's skin into its brain and watched the cells develop into several types of mature brain cells, according to a new study. After six months, the cells looked entirely normal, and were only detectable because they initially were tagged with a fluorescent protein.

Pig brain models provide insights into human cognitive development

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 12:43:43 EDT

A mutual curiosity about patterns of growth and development in pig brains has brought two research groups together. Animal scientists have now developed a model of the pig brain that they plan to use to answer important questions about human brain development.

Social bees mark dangerous flowers with chemical signals

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 08:51:51 EDT

Scientists already knew that some social bee species warn their conspecifics when detecting the presence of a predator near their hive, which in turn causes an attack response to the possible predator. Researchers have now demonstrated that they also use chemical signals to mark those flowers where they have previously been attacked.

Drug treatment corrects autism symptoms in mouse model

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 18:20:20 EDT

Autism results from abnormal cell communication. Testing a new theory, researchers have used a newly discovered function of an old drug to restore cell communications in a mouse model of autism, reversing symptoms of the devastating disorder.

Heat-stressed cows spend more time standing

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:47:47 EDT

Animal scientists have found that cows stand for longer bouts of time on hot days. Standing allows cows to cool off, but standing also uses up more energy. If cows are encouraged to lie down, they may be more healthy and productive.

Scientists identify why some fathers are left holding the baby

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:18:18 EDT

A century old mystery as to why, for some animals, it's the father rather than the mother that takes care of their young has been cracked by scientists.

Spiders, not birds, may drive evolution of some butterflies

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 10:25:25 EDT

Butterflies are among the most vibrant insects, with colorations sometimes designed to deflect predators. New research shows some of these defenses may be driven by enemies one-tenth their size.

Prairie dogs disperse when all close kin have disappeared

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:54:54 EST

Prairie dogs pull up stakes and look for a new place to live when all their close kin have disappeared from their home territory -- a striking pattern of dispersal that has not been observed for any other species.

Support cells found in human brain make mice smarter

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:53:53 EST

Glial cells -- a family of cells found in the human central nervous system and, until recently, considered mere "housekeepers" -- now appear to be essential to the unique complexity of the human brain. Scientists reached this conclusion after demonstrating that when transplanted into mice, these human cells could influence communication within the brain, allowing the animals to learn more rapidly.

Sniff, sniff: New form of animal communication discovered

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 14:51:51 EST

Sniffing has been observed to also serve as a method for rats to communicate —- a fundamental discovery that may help scientists identify brain regions critical for interpreting communications cues and what brain malfunctions may cause some complex social disorders.