Adaptive Behavioural Strategies Research Articles

Adaptive behavioural coping strategies as reaction to COVID-19 social distancing in Italy.

Social distancing, as experienced by the Italian population during the COVID-19 outbreak, generated the long-term activation of stress-response in individuals. This has been a crucial opportunity to study the coping strategies that people put in place to adapt their lives and habits to such a unique condition. For this reason, we have investigated both emotion-focused and problem-oriented coping strategies among the Italian population by relating them to other structural factors, such as social, economic and cultural conditions. More than 140,000 online interviews were collected in Italy from March 22 to April 2, 2020. This large dataset was used to carry out multivariate statistical data analysis with the aim of creating behavioral profiles, starting from coping parameters and other information. This technique has produced an association, showing a good level of statistical significance, between coping strategies and reactions to social distancing, due to the health emergency, during the data collection phase. Two coping indicators - problem-oriented and focused on positive emotions coping strategies - were selected as objective variables in a "decision tree" modelling. The results have shown a link between individual factors (i.e., atmosphere at home) and educational and social factors (i.e., compliance with restrictions during the health emergency). The reduction of social interaction had quite a significant impact on people's behavior; furthermore, coping strategies have played a crucial role in facing this stressor. For both the selected coping indicators, the best predictor was the atmosphere perceived at home. Moreover, the respondents' previous experiences have played a relevant role in the acceptance of new rules imposed by the government. This information can be useful in planning future social policies, both at national and international level, during such peculiar times.

To continue or to switch strategy?

Neuroscience Successful behavior in an uncertain, changing, and open-ended environment critically relies on the ability to decide between continuing with the ongoing strategy or exploring new options. Neuroimaging studies have shown that the human medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is the part of the brain that primarily deals with this dilemma. However, the contribution of the different mPFC regions remains largely unknown. Domenech et al. recorded neuronal activity in six epileptic patients with depth electrodes in this brain area (see the Perspective by Steixner-Kumar and Glascher). The ventral mPFC inferred the reliability of the ongoing action plan according to action outcomes. It proactively flagged outcomes either as learning signals to better exploit this plan or as potential triggers to explore new ones. The dorsal mPFC then evaluated action outcomes and generated an adaptive behavioral strategy. Science , this issue p. [eabb0184][1]; see also p. [1056][2] [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abb0184 [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.abd7258

Neural mechanisms resolving exploitation-exploration dilemmas in the medial prefrontal cortex.

Everyday life often requires arbitrating between pursuing an ongoing action plan by possibly adjusting it versus exploring a new action plan instead. Resolving this so-called exploitation-exploration dilemma involves the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Using human intracranial electrophysiological recordings, we discovered that neural activity in the ventral mPFC infers and tracks the reliability of the ongoing plan to proactively encode upcoming action outcomes as either learning signals or potential triggers to explore new plans. By contrast, the dorsal mPFC exhibits neural responses to action outcomes, which results in either improving or abandoning the ongoing plan. Thus, the mPFC resolves the exploitation-exploration dilemma through a two-stage, predictive coding process: a proactive ventromedial stage that constructs the functional signification of upcoming action outcomes and a reactive dorsomedial stage that guides behavior in response to action outcomes.

The better the bond, the better we cope. The effects of place attachment intensity and place attachment styles on the link between perception of risk and emotional and behavioral coping

The general aim is to advance the understanding of the role of both place attachment intensity and place attachment styles for adaptive coping strategies with flood risk. Place attachment styles are operationalized as secure, preoccupied, and fearful-avoidant. Risk coping strategies are conceptualized as emotional (i.e., distress), and behavioral coping strategies (i.e., positive, negative, and avoidant).Two main cross-sectional studies were conducted in both high and low-risk areas: one study in Italy (N = 100) and one study in Romania (N = 391). The first study aims to test the moderating effect of place attachment intensity and place attachment styles both on the relation between perception of risk and distress; and on the relation between perception of risk and positive, avoidant and negative behavioral coping. The second study tests the effects of place attachment styles on the relation between the objective risk level and both emotional and behavioral coping.Results show that, in the high-risk context, people with a higher place attachment or having a secure bond with the place, are more likely to feel distress, and less likely to use avoidant coping strategies when the perceived risk is high. As for the low-risk context, people having a fearful-avoidant bond are more inclined to choose avoidant coping when the perceived risk is high. When taking into account the actual risk level, and not the perceived risk, people with a secure bond will more likely choose positive coping, as opposed to people with a fearful-avoidant place attachment when exposed to a higher risk. Place attachment style can thus be a relevant variable affecting strategies of environmental risk coping, at both emotional and behavioral level: specifically, a secure place attachment style, though favoring psychological distress, can improve a more constructive and adaptive behavioral strategy in face of higher perceived or objective flood risk.

M129. PATTERNS OF CHILDHOOD TEMPERAMENT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ADULT PSYCHOTIC DISORDER IN A PROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY

BackgroundChildhood temperament has previously been shown to be associated with mood and anxiety disorders later in life. Studies have also suggested possible links between childhood temperament and later psychosis.AimTo investigate the association between childhood temperament and its individual component factors, measured at age 5, and later psychiatric disorders including psychosis.MethodsUsing a sample from a Finnish birth cohort (N=1014), we used logistic regression models to examine associations between maternal reported childhood temperament at age 5, and later psychiatric diagnoses, ascertained through linkage with the Finnish Hospital Discharge Register.ResultsIndividuals with a childhood temperament rated as difficult at age 5 had almost 5-times the odds of developing a psychotic disorder in adulthood compared to those with a temperament rated as average by their mothers (OR = 4.91, 95% CI = 1.51 – 15.91). The individual temperament factors of approach withdrawal, adaptability and quality of mood were each independently associated with later psychotic disorder while different temperament components were associated with increased risk of mood disorders.DiscussionEarly childhood temperament could be used in combination with other early life indicators to identify those at greatest risk for the development of psychosis later in life, and to inform the implementation of early interventions such as parent-training programs and school-based interventions to support children in developing more adaptive behavioural and self-regulatory strategies. Additionally, intervening early in a child’s life to support more optimal temperament development, such as better adaptability to new stressful situations through specific skills training, could be a viable target for early intervention to reduce psychosis risk.

Potential for Resting-State fMRI of the Amygdala in Elucidating Neural Mechanisms of Adaptive Self-Regulatory Strategies: A Systematic Review.

Evolutionary-developmental theories consider the evolved mechanisms underlying adaptive behavioral strategies shaped in response to early environmental cues. Identifying neural mechanisms mediating processes of conditional adaptation in humans is an active area of research. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI) captures functional connectivity theorized to represent the underlying functional architecture of the brain. This allows for investigating how underlying functional brain connections are related to early experiences during development, as well as current traits and behaviors. This review explores the potential of RS-fMRI of the amygdala (AMY) for advancing research on the neural mechanisms underlying adaptive strategies developed in early adverse environments. RS-fMRI studies of early life stress (ELS) and AMY functional connectivity within the frame of evolutionary theories are reviewed, specifically regarding the development of self-regulatory strategies. The potential of RS-fMRI for investigating the effects of ELS on developmental trajectories of self-regulation is discussed.

Experimental study of micro-habitat selection by ixodid ticks feeding on avian hosts

Mechanisms of on-host habitat selection of parasites are important to the understanding of host-parasite interactions and evolution. To this end, it is important to separate the factors driving parasite micro-habitat selection from those resulting from host anti-parasite behaviour. We experimentally investigated whether tick infestation patterns on songbirds are the result of an active choice by the ticks themselves, or the outcome of songbird grooming behaviour. Attachment patterns of three ixodid tick species with different ecologies and host specificities were studied on avian hosts. Ixodes arboricola, Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes frontalis were put on the head, belly and back of adult great tits (Parus major) and adult domestic canaries (Serinus canaria domestica) which were either restricted or not in their grooming capabilities. Without exception, ticks were eventually found on a bird’s head. When we gave ticks full opportunities to attach on other body parts – in the absence of host grooming – they showed lower attachment success. Moreover, ticks moved from these other body parts to the host's head when given the opportunity. This study provides evidence that the commonly observed pattern of ticks feeding on songbirds’ heads is the result of an adaptive behavioural strategy. Experimental data on a novel host species, the domestic canary, and a consistent number of published field observations, strongly support this hypothesis. We address some proximate and ultimate causes that may explain parasite preference for this body part in songbirds. The link found between parasite micro-habitat preference and host anti-parasite behaviour provides further insight into the mechanisms driving ectoparasite aggregation, which is important for the population dynamics of hosts, ectoparasites and the micro-pathogens for which they are vectors.

The Impact of Emotional Regulation Strategies on Pain Catastrophizing in the Context of Interpersonal Relationships.

The Communal Coping Model suggests that pain catastrophizing may serve to elicit support from others. What is not known is how emotional regulation, namely emotional inhibition, impacts pain catastrophizing within the context of an interpersonal relationship. Individuals who have a greater tendency to emotionally inhibit may have a greater likelihood to use catastrophizing as a means for seeking support, particularly in relationships characterized by satisfaction and emotional validation. Data were collected from 50 undergraduate couples at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Participants were videotaped during the completion of an acute pain cold pressor task and completed measures involving pain catastrophizing, emotional inhibition, and relationship dynamics (ie, Ambivalence Over Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire, White Bear Suppression Inventory, Dyadic Adjustment Scale). In addition, the videotaped interactions were coded for both invalidation/validation and overt expressions of pain catastrophizing. Emotional inhibition, and both validation and invalidation were associated with pain catastrophizing. Observed validation and invalidation were not, however, directly associated with relationship satisfaction. Hierarchical linear regression showed a significant interaction between thought suppression and relationship satisfaction to predict pain catastrophizing. Results show relationship satisfaction moderates the association between pain catastrophizing and thought suppression in a manner in which couples with high levels of relationship satisfaction who also engage in thought suppression are more likely to use pain catastrophizing as a cognitive strategy to elicit support. This study offers direction into treatment and suggests that couples based cognitive-behavioral treatments that aim to utilize adaptive cognitive and behavioral coping strategies, as well as emotional exploration and validation, may be beneficial.

AUTONOMOUS POSITION OF THE STUDENT’S PERSONALITY IN LEARNING ACTIVITY

The article describes the manifestations of the autonomous position of the students personality in the educational process. Autonomy, manifested in the ability to make an informed, subject and responsible choice, is considered as the main prerequisite for future professional success. The study of manifestations of the students autonomous position in the educational process was carried out over two years. The level of student autonomy was determined through the ability to set goals, individual responsibility, and subject activity in the educational process. The study allowed us to identify explicit and implicit forms of autonomy. Explicitly, the measure of autonomy is determined through the setting of goals and priorities in the educational process, the degree of synchronization of actions, the construction of prospective plans for self-realization and development. The implicit basis of the autonomous position of the students personality is reflection and awareness of the significance of the events.The study describes the factors that determine the autonomous, responsible and independent behavior of the student in learning activities. Statistical data processing reveals differences in the signs of successful and not successful groups of students. The relationship between academic performance and the level of autonomy of the students personality is defined. Specific manifestations of autonomy in behavior are described.The autonomous position of a students personality is manifested in responsible and independent behavior, interest in current learning outcomes, the ability to independently make decisions, exercise control, show initiative and criticality when studying educational material; high adaptive activity, focus on the interests of others, desire to plan their actions, taking into account group tasks. A low level of student autonomy in learning activity is manifested through the strategy of subordinate adaptive behavior: the desire to live without conflict in the professional community, lack of initiative, avoidance of independent actions; desire to be careful and pragmatic when making decisions; propensity to avoid problem tasks, to receive support and encouragement for the efforts made, rather than the result achieved.The autonomous position of a students personality influences the quality of learning outcomes due to the ability to align learning objectives with individual interests and needs.

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy behavioral learning strategy for effective decision making in the fuzzy-based cloud service negotiation framework

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy behavioral learning strategy for effective decision making in the fuzzy-based cloud service negotiation framework

Genetic relatedness delineates the social structure of southern Australian bottlenose dolphins

AbstractSocial relationships represent an adaptive behavioral strategy that can provide fitness benefits to individuals. Within mammalian societies, delphinids are known to form diverse grouping patterns and show a variety of social systems. However, how ecological and intrinsic factors have shaped the evolution of such diverse societies is still not well understood. In this study, we used photo-identification data and biopsy samples collected between March 2013 and October 2015 in Coffin Bay, a heterogeneous environment in South Australia, to investigate the social structure of southern Australian bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops cf. australis). Based on the data from 657 groups of dolphins, we used generalized affiliation indices, and applied social network and modularity methods to study affiliation patterns among individuals and investigate the potential presence of social communities within the population. In addition, we investigated genetic relatedness and kinship relationships within and between the communities identified. Modularity analysis revealed that the Coffin Bay population is structured into 2 similar sized, mixed-sex communities which differed in ranging patterns, affiliation levels and network metrics. Lagged association rates also indicated that nonrandom affiliations persisted over the study period. The genetic analyses suggested that there was higher relatedness, and a higher proportion of inferred full-sibs and half-sibs, within than between communities. We propose that differences in environmental conditions between the bays and kinship relationships are important factors contributing to the delineation and maintenance of this social structure.

Incentive hope: A default psychological response to multiple forms of uncertainty.

Our target article proposes that a new concept - incentive hope - is necessary in the behavioral sciences to explain animal foraging under harsh environmental conditions. Incentive hope refers to a specific motivational mechanism in the brain - considered only in mammals and birds. But it can also be understood at a functional level, as an adaptive behavioral strategy that contributes to improve survival. Thus, this concept is an attempt to bridge across different research fields such as behavioral psychology, reward neuroscience, and behavioral ecology. Many commentaries suggest that incentive hope even could help understand phenomena beyond these research fields, including food wasting and food sharing, mental energy conservation, diverse psychopathologies, irrational decisions in invertebrates, and some aspects of evolution by means of sexual selection. We are favorable to such extensions because incentive hope denotes an unconscious process capable of working against many forms of adversity; organisms do not need to hope as a subjective feeling, but to behave as if they had this feeling. In our response, we carefully discuss each suggestion and criticism and reiterate the importance of having a theory accounting for motivation under reward uncertainty.

The Dark Triad and framing effects predict selfish behavior in a one-shot Prisoner's Dilemma.

What causes us to display selfish behaviors? We explored the extent to which Dark Triad traits (sub-clinical psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism) support a selfish behavioral strategy. We related performance on a hypothetical Prisoner’s Dilemma (an economic game that simulates a two-person social dilemma) to participants’ (N = 1400) Dark Triad scores. Because contextual factors also impact selfish behaviors, we tested how framing (gain vs. loss; and social vs. nonsocial) shaped performance in the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Participants with high Dark Triad scores were more likely to behave selfishly in the Prisoner’s Dilemma. Participants were also most likely to betray their partner in loss-framed and non-socially framed contexts. These effects did not interact with Dark Triad scores. Our data are consistent with the view that seemingly negative personality traits (like those associated with the Dark Triad traits) that persist in the population may serve as evolutionarily adaptive behavioral strategies.

The Effects of Housing Density on Social Interactions and Their Correlations with Serotonin in Rodents and Primates

Population density has been suggested to affect social interactions of individuals, but the underlying neural mechanisms remain unclear. In contrast, neurotransmission of monoamines such as serotonin (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) has been demonstrated to play important roles in social behaviors. Here, we investigated whether housing density affected social interactions of rodents and non-human primates housed in groups, and its correlations with monoamines. Japanese macaques exhibited higher plasma 5-HT, but not DA, concentrations than rhesus macaques. Similarly, C57BL/6 mice exhibited higher plasma and brain tissue 5-HT concentrations than DBA2 mice. Under crowding, C57BL/6 mice and Japanese macaques exhibited more prominent social avoidance with mates than DBA2 mice and rhesus macaques, respectively. Although DBA2 mice and rhesus macaques in crowding exhibited elevated plasma stress hormones, such stress hormone elevations associated with crowding were absent in C57BL/6 mice and Japanese macaques. Administration of parachlorophenylalanine, which inhibits 5-HT synthesis, increased social interactions and stress hormones in C57BL/6 mice under crowding. These results suggest that, animals with hyperserotonemia may exhibit social avoidance as an adaptive behavioral strategy to mitigate stress associated with crowding environments, which may also be relevant to psychiatric disorder such as autism spectrum disorder.

ВЛИЯНИЕ БЛОКАДЫ ГАМКА-РЕЦЕПТОРОВ НА ИЗМЕНЕНИЯ ОРИЕНТИРОВОЧНО-ИССЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬСКОЙ АКТИВНОСТИ И ТРЕВОЖНОСТИ, ВЫЗВАННЫХ КОРТИКОЛИБЕРИНОМ

The effect of the GABAA-receptor blockade with picrotoxin on the change in anxiety level under stress conditions induced by CRF was studied. In the T-maze test from the population of Wistar rats were selected animals with an active strategy of adaptive behavior, which in the elevated plus maze were divided into three groups: low anxiety (LA), high anxiety (HA) and mean anxiety (MA). Picrotoxin and CRF were injected intracerebroventricularly (ICV). The LA rats reacted to ICV administration of CRF with a decrease in the exploration activity, while the activity of the HA rats after the CRF injection was increased. The GABAA-receptor blockade with picrotoxin increased the exploration activity in HA and LA of rats, while simultaneously reducing the level of anxiety. After injection of CRF against of picrotoxin administration, the HA and LA rats demonstrated the decrease of exploration activity, and the level of anxiety increased only in LA rats. In animals from the MA group, the change in the behavioral response was observed only after the CRF and picrotoxin administration: the level of anxiety decreased, and the exploration activity increased. It is concluded that the vector of anxiety changes caused by CRF against the decrease in the activity of the stress-limiting GABA-ergic system depends on the initial psycho-emotional status of the animal.

SOAR: a tool for modelling optimal animal life‐history strategies in cyclic environments

Periodic environments determine the life cycle of many animals across the globe and the timing of important life history events, such as reproduction and migration. These adaptive behavioural strategies are complex and can only be fully understood (and predicted) within the framework of natural selection in which species adopt evolutionary stable strategies. We present sOAR, a powerful and user‐friendly implementation of the well‐established framework of optimal annual routine modelling. It allows determining optimal animal life history strategies under cyclic environmental conditions using stochastic dynamic programming. It further includes the simulation of population dynamics under the optimal strategy. sOAR provides an important tool for theoretical studies on the behavioural and evolutionary ecology of animals. It is especially suited for studying bird migration. In particular, we integrated options to differentiate between costs of active and passive flight into the optimal annual routine modelling framework, as well as options to consider periodic wind conditions affecting flight energetics. We provide an illustrative example of sOAR where food supply in the wintering habitat of migratory birds significantly alters the optimal timing of migration. sOAR helps improving our understanding of how complex behaviours evolve and how behavioural decisions are constrained by internal and external factors experienced by the animal. Such knowledge is crucial for anticipating potential species’ response to global environmental change.

Использование проективной методики для исследования внутриличностной конфликтности курсантов и слушателей образовательных организаций системы МВД России

This paper is devoted to a comparative study of the level of intrapersonal conflicts between cadets and listeners of the Moscow regional branch of the Moscow University of the Ministry of the Interior of Russia named after V.Ya. Kikotya. Comparative analysis was based on the projective methodology "Whatever bewitched me." In the article it is shown that unstable value orientations, inadequate motives for choosing a profession, external socio-psychological factors of professional intentions, "strategy of adaptive behavior" in professional activity, inadequately formed internal image of the profession serve as specific reasons for the emergence of intrapersonal conflicts among cadets and listeners.

Inter-individual variability in the foraging behaviour of traplining bumblebees

Workers of social insects, such as bees, ants and wasps, show some degree of inter-individual variability in decision-making, learning and memory. Whether these natural cognitive differences translate into distinct adaptive behavioural strategies is virtually unknown. Here we examined variability in the movement patterns of bumblebee foragers establishing routes between artificial flowers. We recorded all flower visitation sequences performed by 29 bees tested for 20 consecutive foraging bouts in three experimental arrays, each characterised by a unique spatial configuration of artificial flowers and three-dimensional landmarks. All bees started to develop efficient routes as they accumulated foraging experience in each array, and showed consistent inter-individual differences in their levels of route fidelity and foraging performance, as measured by travel speed and the frequency of revisits to flowers. While the tendency of bees to repeat the same route was influenced by their colony origin, foraging performance was correlated to body size. The largest foragers travelled faster and made less revisits to empty flowers. We discuss the possible adaptive value of such inter-individual variability within the forager caste for optimisation of colony-level foraging performances in social pollinators.

Interoception and the Neurovisceral Axis as a Modal Basis for Computational Neuroecology

The defining parameters of neuroecology stand to benefit from a phenomenological expansion that includes the role of affect qua interoception as entailing a multimodal storehouse for specialized signal processing and brain architecture within the neurovisceral axis. The relationship between the gut and the brain represents an integral axis of communication drawing from the ecosystem of the microbiome as an environment for nerve-cell processes reflecting our habits of living and the influence of the luminal environment in higher-ordered cognition. This is shown to apply in both feedforward and inferential models of interoception. A surplus of evidence in recent years indicates that interoception and interoceptive awareness play a key role in influencing adaptive behavioral strategies, cognition, homeostatic regulation, decision-making, social relations and action. The groundwork for this expansion has already been positioned by preliminary efforts to offer a physiological basis for computational neuroecology and emotion qua somatic markers. Building off of their maiden report, this paper develops the richer neuroscientific landscape underwriting somatic markers in the context of the neurovisceral axis qua interoception and biological intuition. In the process we encounter an evolutionarily-rare and morphologically-specialized type of neuron conjectured to provide an advantage for social processing that eclipses the rudimentary notion of somatic markers, alone, and thereby enriches the descriptive landscape of neuroecological phenomena. Finally, we examine the inherent signal processing dynamics in cortical laminar layers as rendered in a newly-fashioned predictive coding account of interoception as a “limbic workspace theory” that interfaces with sensory signals between agranular and granular cells. Advances in predictive coding models and the free-energy principle stand poised to provide a unified model of neural signal processing encompassing sensory coding as well as adaptation in neurons, mood and behavior.The incorporation of interoceptive inference sheds critical light on anticipatory (feedback) signal-processing mechanisms in the brain. This suggests that an incorporation of interoceptive affect-in combination with cognition and adaptation-will shed critical light on further efforts to organize the driving epistemic structure and phenomenology associated with neuroecology.

Адаптація і толерантність в екстремальних ситуаціях

Автором досліджено роль адаптації та толерантності в умовах екстремальної ситуації, в самопізнанні, самореалізації творчих потенціалів людини, що важливо в процесі соціалізації особистості. Аналізується сутність поняття «стрес», «соціально-педагогічна адаптація», називаються фактори, що сприяють появі стресу, розглядаються стратегії толерантної поведінки.