Behavioral Responses Research Articles

Long-term salinity exposure reveals site-specific physiological and behavioral responses in coastal and inland toads.

Salinization is a global phenomenon affecting many coastal and inland water bodies at unprecedented rates, and having multiple consequences for wildlife, mostly due to the high metabolic cost of osmoregulation. Most research on salinity effects has focused on juvenile life stages and short-term exposures. In this study, we evaluated the impact of chronic exposure (7 months) to environmental salinity (0, 2 or 4 g.l-1) in adult individuals of a widespread amphibian species, the spined toad (Bufo spinosus), originating either from coastal (salt-exposed) or inland (naïve to salinity) environments. Coastal and inland individuals, irrespective of exposure to salinity, differed post-exposure in telomeres length, cutaneous permeability, defensiveness and foraging behaviors, but unexpectedly not in triiodothyronine and testosterone levels, and mass-specific metabolic rates. As pre-exposure data were unavailable for some of these traits (metaolic rate, cutaneous permeability, and behavior), these differences may reflect either intrinsic population-level variation or population-specific responses to treatment. Coastal individuals exhibited compensatory growth in freshwater, suggesting differential energy allocation. Chronic exposure to moderate salinity increased osmolality and triiodothyronine levels while reducing growth and preferred temperature. Interestingly, defensiveness and thermal preference were more affected by exposure to salinity in coastal individuals. Despite their saline environment, they also showed higher cutaneous evaporative water loss, potentially facilitating water uptake to counter salinity stress. Our study demonstrates that salinization can have negative effects on critical traits of adult anurans, and emphasizes the importance to increase research effort on the impact of salinity on wildlife including both experimental and long-term field studies.

Behavioural responses to air temperature change in helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris

Deciphering the behavioural responses of helmeted guineafowl Numida meleagris (Linnaeus, 1758) to temperature variation is key to understanding its eco-ethology and implementing sound management strategies. Here, we tested the ‘warmer together’ hypothesis, which states that thermoregulatory cost reduction (i.e. body heat conservation) is achieved by individuals grouping in winter. Time-scan sampling data were extracted from a live-stream webcam in Madikwe Game Reserve (South Africa) from September 2020 to August 2021, recording thermoregulatory postures, group size and social distance. We also characterised guineafowl behaviour and habitat use along with environmental variables to further investigate the leading hypothesis. We found that thermoregulatory postures are mainly used to maintain homeostasis since no relationship emerged between variation in group size and air temperature. Moreover, roosting occurred with birds clumped in family units and no physical contact. Our data suggest that body heat loss due to low winter temperatures might spur guineafowl to forage on dry vegetable matter to maintain homeostasis. In addition, drinking frequency and air temperature were strongly related, with their relationship being negative in presence of high windspeed. Based on these findings, we reject the ‘warmer together’ hypothesis in favour of food finding and vigilance as drivers of grouping behaviour in the helmeted guineafowl. We also suggest that habitat heterogeneity is crucial for guineafowls’ daily budget activities, and that, therefore, managing food availability and vegetation cover might be more important than water resources to secure population viability and sustainable hunting of this valuable game species.

Cross-Conjugated Polymer Semiconductors.

Cross-conjugated polymer semiconductors represent an unconventional yet promising class of materials with distinct structural and electronic characteristics compared to their linear conjugated counterparts. These systems introduce branched π-electron delocalization, enabling unique optical, electronic, and redox behaviors not accessible through traditional conjugated frameworks. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of representative cross-conjugated polymer systems, emphasizing the structure-property relationships and their implications for optoelectronic performance. We highlight recent advances in the design and application of these materials in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), sensors, electrochromic devices, solar cells, and energy storage. While these polymers typically exhibit lower charge carrier mobilities, several notable examples demonstrate that high mobility can be achieved via structural transformation into linearly conjugated systems through electrical, chemical, or tautomerization mechanisms. Overall, cross-conjugated polymers offer significant potential in emerging applications that demand multifunctionality, environmental responsiveness, and tunable redox behavior.

Behavioural response of prey to repeated attacks by non-coordinating predators

Collective behaviour is a ubiquitous phenomenon entailing the emergence of fascinating pattern formations in organisms. Reduction of predation risk is presumed to be a major factor contributing towards the evolution of such behaviour. However, the effect of persistent attacks by multiple predators on the behavioural response of the prey remains largely unexplored. The current work aims to address this issue using an agent-based approach employing an underdamped Langevin model. A continuous transition in prey response from a cohesive escape to split-and-escape is discussed with respect to the angular configuration of the predators before the attack. The statistics show that the attack on the nearest prey is the most successful pursuit strategy, while alternative strategies, such as attacking the centre of the group, have conspicuous ancillary effects, such as group splitting. A long-term temporal study of the system indicates a counter-intuitive faster decay of prey numbers at higher intensity of prey coordination, hinting at possible excess alignment and its detrimental effects in the case of successive predator attacks. The effect of predation is found to be non-additive even if non-coordinating predators are considered, highlighting the non-scalability of predator-prey systems and urging further scrutiny of the dynamics of group hunting in such systems.

Psychological distance and pro-environmental behavior: Insights from wildfire-affected PCT hikers

IntroductionAs wildfires and extreme weather events increase in frequency and severity, understanding individuals’ psychological and behavioral responses to these rising climate change impacts is necessary to cultivate pro-environmental behavior (PEB). Based on a theoretical model grounded in construal level theory and the theory of reasoned action, we propose that exposure to wildfires is associated with psychological distance of climate change, climate change and wildfire attitudes, and PEB; that psychological distance is associated with climate change attitudes and PEB; and that subjective norms are associated with PEB.MethodWe assess these associations through an a priori content analysis of 66 semi-structured interviews with Pacific Crest Trail hikers during the 2022 wildfire season, illustrated through quotes responding to interview questions asking about such associations.Results and discussionThe analyses and quotes provide initial support for the proposed model, nuanced insights into the subdimensions of each construct, and a basis for possible wildfire and climate change messaging.

Examination of the consistency effect between physical activity levels and approach-avoidance behaviors.

Examination of the consistency effect between physical activity levels and approach-avoidance behaviors.

ВЛИЯНИЕ ПРОБИОТИЧЕСКОГО МИКРОБНОГО КОНСОРЦИУМА НА ПОВЕДЕНЧЕСКИЕ РЕАКЦИИ КРЫС С АЛЛОКСАН-ИНДУЦИРОВАННЫМ САХАРНЫМ ДИАБЕТОМ

In recent years, a direction studying the relationship between the state of intestinal microbiota and brain functioning, the so-called “microbiome-gut-brain” axis, has been actively developing. It has been shown that the gut microbiota can influence brain function through various mechanisms such as synthesis of neurotransmitters, regulation of inflammation and modulation of the immune system. Probiotics, especially probiotic microbial consortia (PMCs) capable of modulating the composition of the microbiota, are considered as potential correctors of not only metabolic but also behavioral disorders. They produce anxiolytic and antidepressant effects characterized by positive changes in emotional, cognitive, systemic and nervous spheres. However, studies aimed at evaluating behavioral responses in diabetes under conditions of probiotic administration remain insufficient. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the effect of probiotic microbial consortium on behavioral responses of alloxan-induced diabetic rats in the infrared actimeter test. The total sample consisted of 30 healthy rats, weighing 280–330 g, divided into 3 experimental groups of 10 animals each. The animals of the first group (K) were kept in standard vivarium conditions and served as biological control. The rats of the second (Al) and third (Al+Pb) groups were modeled diabetes mellitus by intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (mesoxalylurea, C4O4H2N2×H₂O, Diaem Company, Russia) at a dosage of 100 mg/kg for three days. Alloxan is a relatively inexpensive and readily available chemical compound. Diabetes develops within a few days after its administration, which allows for rapid research. To determine the occurrence of diabetes during the experiment, the concentration of glucose in blood taken from the tail incision of rats was monitored using an “iCheck” glucometer. On the 10th day, the animals of the third group (Al+Pb) were intragastrically administered 1% PMC solution by 3 ml for the next 21 days. Animals of the first (K) and second (Al) groups were administered an equivalent volume of drinking water. The results of the study demonstrate a pronounced negative effect of alloxan-induced diabetes mellitus on the behavioral activity of rats, which is manifested by a decrease in total activity, a reduction in the distance covered, a decrease in the average speed of movement and an increase in resting time. These changes indicate the development of general hypodynamia associated with a complex of metabolic and neurological disorders typical of the diabetic state. At the same time, a steady and statistically significant decrease in all key behavioral indices is especially pronounced on the 14th day of observation, when the greatest drop in both total activity (by 270 units), as well as in the distance traveled (by 513.95 units) and average speed (by 3.15 cm/s) was recorded. This may indicate a peak of destructive metabolic disturbances associated with prolonged energy deficit and increasing neuroinflammation. Diabetic neuropathy, hyperglycemia and oxidative stress, increase at this stage, which is reflected in the behavior of the animals. In the Al+Pb group, where rats were administered PMC against alloxan diabetes on the background of 14 days on the contrary, a partial recovery of behavioral reactions was observed: total activity, distance covered and average speed approached the values of the control group and significantly exceeded the similar parameters of the Al group. This may indicate a positive effect of PMC on the metabolic state of animals due to the normalization of intestinal microbiota and reduction of inflammation at the level of the axis “microbiome-intestine-brain”. It is known that probiotics can reduce the level of systemic inflammation, oxidative stress and increase tissue sensitivity to insulin. Against the background of alloxan diabetes, administration of PMC can contribute to the restoration of energy metabolism and reduce the neurotoxic effects of chronic hyperglycemia, which, in turn, is expressed in the increase in motor activity of animals. However, on the 21st day of the experiment, a secondary decrease in all behavioral parameters is observed, although they do not reach the values recorded in animals of the Al group. The possible reason may be the depletion of compensatory mechanisms. Thus, administration of PMC has a modulating and partially restorative effect on behavioral responses of alloxan-induced diabetic rats, contributing to the reduction of the degree of motor depression characteristic of the diabetic state, and can be considered as a promising direction in adjuvant therapy of diabetes mellitus aimed at the correction of behavioral disorders.

Paralytic shellfish toxins and seabirds: evaluating sublethal effects, behavioral responses, and ecological implications of saxitoxin ingestion by common murres (Uria aalge)

Paralytic shellfish toxins and seabirds: evaluating sublethal effects, behavioral responses, and ecological implications of saxitoxin ingestion by common murres (Uria aalge)

Translation, validation and extended factor models of the German State Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (S-DERS)

BackgroundDifficulties in emotion regulation are a key transdiagnostic factor in mental health disorders. While much research has focused on emotion regulation difficulties as stable, trait-like constructs, emotion regulation is inherently dynamic, unfolding over time. This highlights the need for state-like measures to capture these temporal dynamics in both laboratory and real-world contexts, such as the State Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (S-DERS). The present study aimed to (a) translate the S-DERS into German, (b) validate its psychometric properties, and (c) provide novel examinations whether state-based emotion regulation difficulties share an underlying general factor or are interconnected but distinct sub-components, complemented with an exploratory network approach.MethodsA sample of 214 participants, predominantly young females, completed the 21-item German version of the S-DERS following a negative mood induction procedure. Participants also completed a broader battery of psychological assessments. Factor structure, reliability, and construct validity were examined using confirmatory factor analysis and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) with cross-loadings. These were compared to bi-factor, higher-order, and network models.ResultsThe German S-DERS demonstrated a robust four-factor structure, high reliability, and strong construct validity, consistent with the original English version. ESEM indicated that extensive cross-loadings were necessary to achieve good model fit. A four-factor correlated model outperformed both bifactor and higher-order models, suggesting that emotion regulation difficulties are best conceptualized as four distinct but interrelated constructs without a shared general factor: (a) Non-acceptance of Current Emotions, (b) Limited Ability to Modulate Current Emotional and Behavioral Responses, (c) Lack of Awareness of Current Emotions, and (d) Lack of Clarity about Current Emotions.ConclusionsThe German version of the S-DERS is a reliable and valid tool for assessing state-like difficulties in emotion regulation. The extended factor models highlight the multidimensional nature of emotion regulation difficulties, with complex interrelations among distinct but related constructs. These insights can inform future research on emotion dysregulation and support efforts to validate the S-DERS in clinical populations.

Anti-epileptic and gut-protective effects of trioctanoin and the critical role of gut microbiota in a mouse model of epilepsy.

Anti-epileptic and gut-protective effects of trioctanoin and the critical role of gut microbiota in a mouse model of epilepsy.

Behavioral and psychophysiological responses of initial pilots in collaboration with an experienced but risky captain: A flight-simulation study based on the social facilitation

Behavioral and psychophysiological responses of initial pilots in collaboration with an experienced but risky captain: A flight-simulation study based on the social facilitation

Effects of early life stress on network and behavioral states.

Effects of early life stress on network and behavioral states.

Conscious and unconscious perception of pitch shifts in auditory feedback during vocalization: Behavioral functions and event-related potential correlates.

During vocalization, mismatches between expected and perceived auditory feedback are processed rapidly and automatically, suggesting that feedback control of vocalization operates unconsciously. However, whether consciousness modulates speech feedback control remains little studied. To address this question, we concurrently measured behavioral vocal responses and electroencephalography (EEG) in 30 participants while they vocalized and their auditory feedback was perturbed with individually calibrated perceptual threshold level pitch shifts. Following each vocalization trial, participants rated if they consciously detected a pitch shift in their auditory feedback. We analyzed the data on a trial-by-trial basis to test if vocal responses to pitch perturbations were modulated by conscious perception. Our results revealed that even on trials where the participants reported not noticing the pitch shift at all, a compensatory vocal response to the altered auditory feedback was generated. Conscious detection of a pitch shift was associated with an increased magnitude of vocal responses roughly 500-700 ms after the pitch shift compared to the unconscious trials. Conscious detection of the pitch shift correlated with early (Auditory awareness negativity, AAN) and late (Late positivity, LP) neural responses as indexed by the modulation of event-related potentials (ERPs). Source localization of the ERPs suggested that conscious pitch shift detection was associated with increased neural activity within the temporal, frontal and parietal cortical networks known to be involved in speech motor control. These findings emphasize the importance of investigating the role of consciousness in regulating speech feedback control, and their effect on the underlying neural and behavioral functions.

Flexible ability-willingness trade-offs in cooperative partner choice: Evidence from a drift-diffusion model and ERP data.

Flexible ability-willingness trade-offs in cooperative partner choice: Evidence from a drift-diffusion model and ERP data.

Acidification alters anxiety-like behaviour and brain gene expression in zebrafish.

Acidification alters anxiety-like behaviour and brain gene expression in zebrafish.

Fire ants exhibit self-medication but lack preventive behavioral immunity against a viral pathogen.

Fire ants exhibit self-medication but lack preventive behavioral immunity against a viral pathogen.

A comparative study on the acute-phase behavioral and pathological responses of closed head injury induced by cranial vertex and temporal lobe impacts in male rats.

A comparative study on the acute-phase behavioral and pathological responses of closed head injury induced by cranial vertex and temporal lobe impacts in male rats.

Nonlinear association between weekend sleep recovery (WSR) and insulin resistance: benefits in males and short weekday sleepers.

Weekend sleep recovery (WSR), often referred to as "weekend catch-up sleep (WCS)" in prior literature, may represent a behavioral response to accumulated weekday sleep loss. This study aimed to investigate the association between WSR duration and insulin resistance, measured by HOMA-IR. We analyzed 4,036 adults from NHANES 2017-2020. HOMA-IR was calculated as an indicator of insulin resistance. WSR duration was categorized as ≤0 hours, 0-2 hours, or >2 hours. We used multivariable linear regression, stratified subgroup analyses (by sex, weekday sleep duration ≤7 vs. >7 hours and different age groups), threshold effect modeling, and interaction analysis to assess associations. Participants with WSR >0 hours had significantly lower HOMA-IR levels compared to those with WSR ≤0 hours (β = -1.16, 95% CI: -1.74 to -0.58, P = 0.0001), with the greatest benefit observed in the 0-2 hour group (β = -1.14, 95% CI: -1.74 to -0.53, P = 0.0002). A nonlinear threshold effect was identified at 2 hours of WSR, beyond which metabolic benefits plateaued. Stratified analyses revealed stronger effects in males (β = -0.68, P = 0.0132) and in participants with weekday sleep ≤7 hours (β = -0.39, P = 0.0182). No significant associations were observed in females or in those with >7 hours of weekday sleep. Moderate WSR (0-2 hours) is associated with lower insulin resistance, particularly among males and individuals with weekday sleep restriction. These findings suggest that modest weekend sleep recovery may offer metabolic benefits in specific populations.

Behavioral Lateralization and Boldness Traits Across Eight Teleost Fish Species

Understanding inter-species differences in behavioral lateralization and exploration patterns is crucial for advancing the study of animal behavior. In this study, we standardized the experimental procedure to minimize methodological variability and examined the behavioral responses of eight fish species (Girardinus falcatus, Poecilia reticulata, Paracheidon axelrodi, Kriptoterus bichirris, Hyphessobrycon megalopterus, Danio rerio, Corydoras aeneus, and Xenopoecilius sarasinorum) in a novel, circular environment. We focused on boldness-related measures (latency to explore and freezing time) and motor activity (circular vs. linear swimming). Significant inter-species differences were observed in the boldness measures. Fish also showed a preference for circular swimming over linear swimming. However, no lateralization bias (clockwise vs. counterclockwise) was detected in any species. These findings may establish a baseline for future research on the spontaneous behaviors of eight teleost species and offer valuable insights for the design of future behavioral studies focusing on these species.

The Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex: A High-level Hub for Allostatic Cardiovascular Control.

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) is increasingly targeted by various noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial current stimulation protocols in a range of neuropsychiatric and other brain disorders. The rationale for this therapeutic modulation remains elusive. A model is proposed, and up-to-date evidence is discussed, suggesting that the dlPFC is a high-level cortical centre where uncertainty management, movement facilitation, and cardiovascular control processes are intertwined and integrated to deliver optimal behavioural responses in particular environmental or emotional contexts. A summary of the state-of-the-art in the field is provided to accelerate the development of emerging neuromodulation technologies for brain stimulation and recording for patients with mood, sleep, and cognitive disorders in our ageing population.