Defensive Behavior Research Articles

Relationship between Vitality and Characteristics of Coping Strategies in Deviant Adolescents

Adolescence is important in the development and formation of a personality, and the family radically influences the development of a teenager; under the family influence, foundations of intentional behavior, ways of responding to stress, level of vitality and defense mechanisms are laid, and a general direction in the formation of moral concepts and relationships emerges. And all this happens against the background of contradictions in physiological and mental development, spiritual formation. The reasons for the use of psychoactive drugs are varied, and most often chemical dependence is determined by the combined action of various factors and conditions. The purpose of the research work was to study the relationship between family structure and characteristics of the adolescents’ response to stress in undergoing inpatient treatment due to the use of psychoactive substances. The study was conducted on the basis of the Novosibirsk Regional Clinical Narcological Dispensary (teenage department). The main group included 18 young men, age: from 15 to 18 years, with experience of using psychoactive substances from one year to three or more years - “teenage addicts”. The control group, “conditionally healthy”, denying the use of psychoactive substances, was represented by high school students of one of the gymnasiums, 15 young men of the same age group. The following methods were used: the Family Adaptation and Cohesion Scale (FACES-3) questionnaire; Plutchik, Kellerman, Conte questionnaire - Life Style Index (LSI) methodology; questionnaire “Methods of coping behavior” by R. Lazarus and S. Folkman and test of vitality (S. Muddy) adapted by D.A. Leontyev. Results. It was revealed that adolescent addicts differ from adolescents without addictive behavior in the following parameters: low level of family adaptation and family cohesion; Adolescents with addictive behavior differ in their style of responding to difficult life situations: they more often use defenses and coping, which serve the function of regulating negative emotional states associated with unmet needs for communication, self-affirmation, etc., while adolescents without addictive behavior use coping and defense, which main function is to resolve the situation; Adolescents with addictive behavior have a lower level of resilience than relatively healthy adolescents. The possibilities of psychotherapeutic influences are discussed.

Peripersonal space: why so last-second?

A vast range of neurophysiological, neuropsychological and behavioural results in monkeys and humans have shown that the immediate surroundings of the body, also known as peripersonal space (PPS), are processed in a unique way. Three roles have been ascribed to PPS mechanisms: to react to threats, to avoid obstacles and to act on objects. However, in many circumstances, one does not wait for objects or agents to enter PPS to plan these behaviours. Typically, one has more chances to survive if one starts running away from the lion when one sees it in the distance than if it is a few steps away. PPS makes sense in shortsighted creatures but we are not such creatures. The crucial question is thus twofold: (i) why are these adaptive processes triggered only at the last second or even milliseconds? And (ii) what is their exact contribution, especially for defensive and navigational behaviours? Here, we propose that PPS mechanisms correspond to a plan B, useful in unpredictable situations or when other anticipatory mechanisms have failed. Furthermore, we argue that there are energetic, cognitive and behavioural costs to PPS mechanisms, which explain why this plan B is triggered only at the last second. This article is part of the theme issue 'Minds in movement: embodied cognition in the age of artificial intelligence'.

Maintenance of Spatial Distribution by Convict Cichlid Pairs Is Influenced by Parental Defense Behavior toward Conspecific and Heterospecific Parental Pairs

Maintenance of Spatial Distribution by Convict Cichlid Pairs Is Influenced by Parental Defense Behavior toward Conspecific and Heterospecific Parental Pairs

Kappa-opioid receptor blockade in the inferior colliculus of prey threatened by pit vipers decreases anxiety and panic-like behaviour.

The dorsal midbrain comprises dorsal columns of the periaqueductal grey matter and corpora quadrigemina. These structures are rich in beta-endorphinergic and leu-enkephalinergic neurons and receive GABAergic inputs from substantia nigra pars reticulata. Although the inferior colliculus (IC) is mainly involved in the acoustic pathways, the electrical and chemical stimulation of central and pericentral nuclei of the IC elicits a vigorous defensive behaviour. The defensive immobility and escape elicited by IC activation is commonly related to panic-like emotional states. To investigate the role of κ-opioid receptor of the IC in the antiaversive effects of endogenous opioid receptor blockade in a dangerous situation, male Wistar rats were pretreated in the IC with the κ-opioid receptor-selective antagonist nor-binaltorphimine at different concentrations and submitted to the non-enriched polygonal arena for a snake panic test in the presence of a rattlesnake and, after 24 h, prey were resubmitted to the experimental context. The snakes elicited in prey a set of antipredatory behaviours, such as the anxiety-like responses of defensive attention and risk assessment, and the panic-like reactions of defensive immobility and either escape or active avoidance during the elaboration of unconditioned and conditioned fear-related responses. Pretreatment of the IC with microinjections of nor-binaltorphimine at higher concentrations significantly decreased the frequency and duration of both anxiety- and panic-attack-like behaviours. These findings suggest that κ-opioid receptor blockade in the IC causes anxiolytic- and panicolytic-like responses in threatening conditions, and that kappa-opioid receptor-selective antagonists can be a putative coadjutant treatment for panic syndrome treatment.

Neural decoding and feature selection methods for closed-loop control of avoidance behavior

Objective.Many psychiatric disorders involve excessive avoidant or defensive behavior, such as avoidance in anxiety and trauma disorders or defensive rituals in obsessive-compulsive disorders. Developing algorithms to predict these behaviors from local field potentials (LFPs) could serve as the foundational technology for closed-loop control of such disorders. A significant challenge is identifying the LFP features that encode these defensive behaviors.Approach.We analyzed LFP signals from the infralimbic cortex and basolateral amygdala of rats undergoing tone-shock conditioning and extinction, standard for investigating defensive behaviors. We utilized a comprehensive set of neuro-markers across spectral, temporal, and connectivity domains, employing SHapley Additive exPlanations for feature importance evaluation within Light Gradient-Boosting Machine models. Our goal was to decode three commonly studied avoidance/defensive behaviors: freezing, bar-press suppression, and motion (accelerometry), examining the impact of different features on decoding performance.Main results.Band power and band power ratio between channels emerged as optimal features across sessions. High-gamma (80-150 Hz) power, power ratios, and inter-regional correlations were more informative than other bands that are more classically linked to defensive behaviors. Focusing on highly informative features enhanced performance. Across 4 recording sessions with 16 subjects, we achieved an average coefficient of determination of 0.5357 and 0.3476, and Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.7579 and 0.6092 for accelerometry jerk and bar press rate, respectively. Utilizing only the most informative features revealed differential encoding between accelerometry and bar press rate, with the former primarily through local spectral power and the latter via inter-regional connectivity. Our methodology demonstrated remarkably low training/inference time and memory usage, requiring<310 ms for training,<0.051 ms for inference, and 16.6 kB of memory, using a single core of AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 5995WX CPU.Significance.Our results demonstrate the feasibility of accurately decoding defensive behaviors with minimal latency, using LFP features from neural circuits strongly linked to these behaviors. This methodology holds promise for real-time decoding to identify physiological targets in closed-loop psychiatric neuromodulation.

The role of NMDA receptors in fish stress response: Assessments based on physiology of the caudal neurosecretory system and defensive behavior.

Stress strongly influences the physiology and behavior of animals, and leads into a pathological condition and disease. NMDA receptors (NMDARs) play a crucial role in the modulation of neural activity. To understand the role of NMDARs in fish stress response, we used NMDARs agonist aspartate to test the functional role of its input on the Dahlgren cell population in the caudal neurosecretory system (CNSS) of the olive flounder. In addition, the effect of the NMDARs antagonist D-AP5 on the expression of genes of the main secretory products of the CNSS after stress was investigated by using qPCR technology and the effect of the NMDARs antagonist D-AP5 on post-stress behavior was explored by behavioral methods. Ex vivo electrophysiological experiments showed that the NMDARs agonist aspartate enhanced the firing frequency of Dahlgren cells. Additionally, aspartate treatment increased the incidence of cells exhibiting bursting firing pattern, this result is corroborated by the observed upregulation in the expression of ion channels and major hormone genes in the CNSS. Furthermore, the excitatory influence of aspartate was effectively counteracted by NMDARs antagonist D-AP5. Interestingly, NMDARs antagonist D-AP5 treatment also significantly decreased the plasma cortisol levels and the expression of CRH, UI, and UII in CNSS after acute stress. Treatment with D-AP5 effectively attenuated the stress response, as evidenced by alterations in respiratory metabolism, sand-burying behavior, swimming distance, simulated capture, and escape response. In conclusion, modulation of Dahlgren cell excitability in the CNSS by NMDARs contributes to the regulation of the stress response, NMDARs antagonist D-AP5 can effectively suppress stress response in flounder by regulating the stress hormone expression and secretion. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Project code SHOU-DW-2022-032.

Les violences conjugales dans les couples appartenant aux « minorités sexuelles » : quelles causes traumatologiques ?

IntroductionMost prevention and awareness-raising programs are heteronormative and do not take into account the presence of violence in sexual minority couples. MethodThe aim of this study is to review the literature on domestic violence in sexual minority couples in relation to any traumatic experiences that may be causes and/or consequences. ResultsA link between childhood trauma, stress or a combination of the two in the perpetration of domestic violence in sexual minorities is highlighted just like the recent creation of typologies in these couples. DiscussionSuffering from significant methodological biases, nevertheless, these studies, which are all too rare, deserve to highlight phenomena that should be better appreciated. Although domestic violence in minority couples appears to be similar to violence in heterosexual couples, two-way violence is more prevalent. This bidirectional violence could largely be the result of a cyclical process of violence from childhood to adulthood, moving from intrafamilial trauma in childhood to societal stress related to sexual orientation in adolescence and finally to mutual violence within the couple in adulthood. ConclusionThe origins of the perpetration of domestic violence in a sexual minority couple appear to be linked to: the consequences, particularly psychological, of stress related to sexual minorities, which mediate the subsequent violence; the cycle of violence with the internalisation of an appropriate violent relationship model, thus representing a generational transmission and a pattern of repetition; the presence of bidirectional violence, also involving defence and reaction behaviours, accentuated by traumatic experiences or stress related to minorities.

Microbial diversity and biogeography across gastrointestinal tracts of Takifugu pufferfish revealed by full-length 16S amplicon sequencing

Fish, which are vital for both aquatic ecosystem functionality and global food supply, rely heavily on their gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota for the digestion that underpins their growth and health. Takifugu pufferfish, which are an example of species evolved through adaptive radiation, possess a GIT that is specialized for antipredator defense and gluttonous feeding behaviors, offering a unique model to explore the effects of GIT compartmentalization and host genetics on gut microbial communities. Here we compiled 78 full and partial-length 16S rRNA amplicon datasets across three anteroposteriorly distinct intestinal sites in a cohort of cohabitating artificial hybrid and purebred Takifugu pufferfishes. Our findings reveal a compositional and functional biogeography of pufferfish gut microbiota along the GIT and between host genetics. Additionally, the differential abundance of specific amplicon sequence variants and their correlation with host genetic backgrounds and intestinal sections highlight the role of environmental filtering in shaping microbial communities, with certain bacterial taxa exhibiting strong preferences for particular intestinal sites or genetic backgrounds, suggesting potential localized adaptation or functional specialization. This study enhances our understanding of the intricate interplay between host genetics, gut anatomy, and microbiota in fish, underscoring the importance of detailed microbial profiling in conservation efforts and aquaculture practices, and emphasizing the necessity of integrating full-length 16S rRNA sequencing with partial-length datasets to comprehensively understand microbial diversity and function, paving the way for improved fish health management and sustainable aquaculture strategies.

Neuroethology: A Review of Studies on Combat Behavior in Mice

Optogenetics has revolutionized neuroscience, enabling precise control and monitoring of neural circuits. This study focuses on the neural mechanisms underlying combat behaviors in mice, particularly the roles of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) in freezing, jumping escape, and defensive attack behaviors. The research employed a combination of optogenetic tools, behavioral assays, and high-resolution imaging techniques. Genetically modified mice expressing channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) and halorhodopsin (NpHR) were used. Viral vectors were injected into specific brain regions, and optogenetic stimulation was performed to activate or inhibit neuronal populations. Behavioral responses were documented and analyzed using specialized software, and brain tissues were prepared for histological examination. Activation of VMH neurons increased jumping escape behavior, while inhibition reduced defensive attack behaviors, highlighting the VMH's critical role in these responses. High-resolution video analysis provided detailed metrics on behavior, and histological examination confirmed precise targeting and expression of optogenetic proteins in the brain. The results demonstrated the direct influence of specific neural circuits on combat behaviors. The study elucidated the roles of VMH and associated neural circuits in mediating combat behaviors in mice. Optogenetic techniques provided precise control over neuronal activity, revealing critical insights into the neural mechanisms underlying these behaviors. The findings support the VMH's central role in regulating instinctual defensive actions and offer potential applications for developing therapeutic strategies for anxiety and pain disorders.

Like sisters but not twins - vasopressin and oxytocin excite BNST neurons via cell type-specific expression of oxytocin receptor to reduce anxious arousal.

Interoceptive signals dynamically interact with the environment to shape appropriate defensive behaviors. Hypothalamic hormones arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) regulate physiological states, including water and electrolyte balance, circadian rhythmicity, and defensive behaviors. Both AVP and OT neurons project to dorsolateral bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNSTDL), which expresses oxytocin receptors (OTR) and vasopressin receptors and mediates fear responses. However, understanding the integrated role of neurohypophysial hormones is complicated by the cross-reactivity of AVP and OT and their mutual receptor promiscuity. Here, we provide evidence that the effects of neurohypophysial hormones on BNST excitability are driven by input specificity and cell type-specific receptor selectivity. We show that OTR-expressing BNSTDL neurons, excited by hypothalamic OT and AVP inputs via OTR, play a major role in regulating BNSTDL excitability, overcoming threat avoidance, and reducing threat-elicited anxious arousal. Therefore, OTR-BNSTDL neurons are perfectly suited to drive the dynamic interactions balancing external threat risk and physiological needs.

Exploring e-scooter riders' risky behaviour: survey, observation, and interview study.

This study explores e-scooter riders' risky behaviour and motivation based on survey, observation, and interview studies. 192 responses from an online survey showed that e-scooter riders' behaviours are categorised into errors, violations, defensive behaviour, and proactive safety behaviour. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in riding behaviour depending on riders' characteristics and usage patterns. Results from the observation and survey study showed a high frequency of risky behaviours such as not wearing a helmet, riding on the sidewalk against traffic flow, or riding while listening to music to be more representative. Interviews on motivation explained that those behaviours resulted from the trade-off riders found between risky behaviour and the benefits they gained regarding time or comfort. This study posits that the riders' behaviours are distinguished according to the riders' characteristics and usage patterns, as well as different motivational factors. Thus, various strategies should be applied to improve individuals' safety.

Strategic autonomy in Turkish foreign policy: Defense or offense?

Although the study of secondary state behavior has increasing scholarly attention, existing studies suffer from a serious defect: privileging defensive over offensive behaviors. This is mainly due to the problems of status-quo-bias and anarchy-centrism engulfing the discipline of International Relations. This leads scholars either to ignore offensive state behaviors or treat them as aberration. This could be corrected if the struggle for autonomy is taken as the primary motive behind state behaviors. Defensive and offensive state behaviors, then, can be given equal treatment. Defensive state behaviors aim to maintain whereas offensive state behaviors seek to expand autonomy. Secondary states may display risky offensive behaviors to expand their autonomy. I shall examine this argument against the empirical evidence provided by Turkish foreign policy after 2016. I argue that the policy of strategic autonomy determines Turkish foreign policy and in the context of this policy Turkey follows a leash-slipping strategy to expand its autonomy.

Identification of alarm pheromone components of the southern giant Asian hornet, Vespa soror, a major pest of honey bees.

The rise of biological invasions threatens biodiversity and food security, with the vespid family, including Vespa soror, being of particular concern. Our study focused on the alarm pheromone components of V. soror. By using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) chemical analyses, electroantennograms, and field bioassays, we identified 5 compounds-2-pentanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-heptanol, 2-nonanol (2-N), and isopentyl acetate (IPA)-in hornet sting venom that elicited defensive behavior from hornets. IPA and 2-N also serve as alarm pheromone components in multiple honey bee species that are important prey for V. soror. This shared chemical signaling may allow cross-detection by each species on the other's alarm cues. While it should be advantageous for bees to detect V. soror alarm pheromone, the benefits to V. soror of using IPA and 2-N are unclear. V. soror may manipulate bee behavior, potentially distracting defenders, because they mark victim bee colonies by rubbing their abdomens, which contain their sting glands, at bee hive entrances. Our findings pose new evolutionary questions about the role of manipulation in the arms races.

Interpeduncular GABAergic neuron function controls threat processing and innate defensive adaptive learning.

The selection of appropriate defensive behaviors in the face of potential threat is fundamental to survival. However, after repeated exposures to threatening stimuli that did not signal real danger, an animal must learn to adjust and optimize defensive behaviors. Despite extensive research on innate threat processing, little is known how individuals change their defensive behaviors when presented with recurrent threat exposures without evidence of a real risk. Insight into this process is critical as its dysregulation may contribute to neuropsychiatric conditions, such as anxiety disorders. Here, we used the visual looming stimulus (VLS) paradigm in mice to investigate innate threat processing and adaptive defensive learning. Repeated exposure to VLS over consecutive sessions reduced immediate freezing responses and time spent inside a sheltered area upon VLS events, leading to an increase in foraging behaviors. Fiber photometry recordings and optogenetic manipulations revealed that VLS innate adaptive defensive learning is associated with reduced recruitment of the midbrain interpeduncular nucleus (IPN), a structure associated with fear and anxiety-related behaviors. Functional circuit-mapping identified a role for select IPN projections to the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus in gating defensive learning. Finally, we uncovered a subpopulation of IPN neurons that express the neuropeptide somatostatin and encode safety- and avoidance signals in response to VLS. These results identify critical behavioral signatures of innate defensive responses and a circuit that regulates the essential features of threat processing.

Dealing with special supervisors: a typology of coping strategies toward accountability to customers in gig work

Numerous studies have explored the situations of gig workers in the ‘new’ gig economy. While the existing literature focuses on intermediary platforms’ algorithmic control over workers, this paper emphasizes the interpersonal and negotiable aspects of gig worker-customer interactions through an accountability perspective. We posit that algorithmic control and accountability to customers constitute two coordination mechanisms for platform HRM. The latter has gained significance as intermediary platforms adopt algorithmic management and empower customers as visible supervisors. Algorithm-mediated customer control assigns customers direct influence, thereby positioning them as prominent accountability sources and compelling gig workers to meet their expectations. Nevertheless, how gig workers navigate their behaviors under these conditions remains unknown. This study employs a typological approach to explore gig workers’ coping strategies in response to accountabilities, providing micro-level insights into the functionality and dysfunctionality of HRM with gig platforms. Drawing from a qualitative study in the Chinese online delivery industry, we integrate metaphors from cognitive research (i.e. intuitive psychologists and intuitive economists) with the metaphor derived from accountability theory (i.e. intuitive politicians) to develop a fourfold typology grounded in two dimensions (i.e. cognitive modes and economic motives). Our findings reveal both the inevitability and possibility of accountability to customers, identifying four coping strategies (i.e. obedient, ingratiatory, defensive, and cooperative behaviors). This paper offers novel insights into the fields of accountability and HRM research, along with practical implications.

Contributions of associative and non-associative learning to the dynamics of defensive ethograms.

Defensive behavior changes based on threat intensity, proximity, and context of exposure, and learning about danger-predicting stimuli is critical for survival. However, most Pavlovian fear conditioning paradigms focus only on freezing behavior, obscuring the contributions of associative and non-associative mechanisms to dynamic defensive responses. To thoroughly investigate defensive ethograms, we subjected male and female adult C57BL/6J mice to a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm that paired footshock with a serial compound stimulus (SCS) consisting of distinct tone and white noise (WN) stimulus periods. To investigate how associative and non-associative mechanisms affect defensive responses, we compared this paired SCS-footshock group with four control groups that were conditioned with either pseudorandom unpaired presentations of SCS and footshock, shock only, or reversed SCS presentations with inverted tone--WN order, with paired or unpaired presentations. On day 2 of conditioning, the paired group exhibited robust freezing during the tone period with switching to explosive jumping and darting behaviors during the WN period. Comparatively, the unpaired and both reverse SCS groups expressed less tone-induced freezing and rarely showed jumping or darting during WN. Following the second day of conditioning, we observed how defensive behavior changed over two extinction sessions. During extinction, the tone-induced freezing decreased in the paired group and mice rapidly shifted from escape jumping during WN to a combination of freezing and darting. The unpaired, unpaired reverse, and shock-only groups displayed defensive tail rattling and darting during the SCS, with minimal freezing and jumping. Interestingly, the paired reverse group did not jump to WN, and tone-evoked freezing was resistant to extinction. These findings demonstrate that non-associative factors promote some defensive responsiveness, but associative factors are required for robust cue-induced freezing and high-intensity flight expression.

GABAergic Retinal Ganglion Cells Projecting to the Superior Colliculus Mediate the Looming-Evoked Flight Response.

The looming stimulus-evoked flight response to approaching predators is a defensive behavior in most animals. However, how looming stimuli are detected in the retina and transmitted to the brain remains unclear. Here, we report that a group of GABAergic retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) projecting to the superior colliculus (SC) transmit looming signals from the retina to the brain, mediating the looming-evoked flight behavior by releasing GABA. GAD2-Cre and vGAT-Cre transgenic mice were used in combination with Cre-activated anterograde or retrograde tracer viruses to map the inputs to specific GABAergic RGC circuits. Optogenetic technology was used to assess the function of SC-projecting GABAergic RGCs (scpgRGCs) in the SC. FDIO-DTA (Flp-dependent Double-Floxed Inverted Open reading frame-Diphtheria toxin) combined with the FLP (Florfenicol, Lincomycin & Prednisolone) approach was used to ablate or silence scpgRGCs. In the mouse retina, GABAergic RGCs project to different brain areas, including the SC. ScpgRGCs are monosynaptically connected to parvalbumin-positive SC neurons known to be required for the looming-evoked flight response. Optogenetic activation of scpgRGCs triggers GABA-mediated inhibition in SC neurons. Ablation or silencing of scpgRGCs compromises looming-evoked flight responses without affecting image-forming functions. Our study reveals that scpgRGCs control the looming-evoked flight response by regulating SC neurons via GABA, providing novel insight into the regulation of innate defensive behaviors.

Influence of School Bullying on Motivation in Physical Education Classes

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to identify gender and age differences in motivation toward physical education (PE) and to explore the relationship between bullying roles, in PE and in the educational context in general, and motivation toward PE. A total of 1352 schoolchildren (49.7% girls) from 5th year of Compulsory Primary Education to 1st year of Baccalaureate, completed 3 questionnaires to determine their attitude toward bullying and their motivation toward PE. The findings showed that being a girl and being older provoked a lower self-determined motivation toward PE. Regarding the attitude toward bullying, active defense behavior was a significant predictor of higher self-determined motivation. Conversely, victimization predicted lower self-determined motivation and increased demotivation toward PE. Motivation toward PE is influenced by gender, age, and bullying behavior, underscoring the need to implement programs that promote active defense behaviors and reduce victimization in the educational setting through PE.

The effect of air pollution on defensive expenditures: Evidence from individual commercial health insurance in China

To mitigate the substantial losses incurred by air pollution, individuals undertake defensive behaviors in the form of health insurance expenses. Leveraging data from the 2011–2017 China Household Finance Survey (CHFS) encompassing 3033 residents, we estimate the causal impact of air pollution on defensive expenditures. Our findings are as follows: (1) Air pollution exhibits a significantly favorable effect on individual commercial health insurance expenses, with a 1% increase in PM2.5 concentration correlating to an 11.02% rise in personal commercial health insurance expenditure. (2) Demographics such as younger individuals, married populations, lower educational attainment cohorts, and urban residents, displaying higher sensitivity to air pollution, tend to purchase more insurance coverage. (3) Risk perception emerges as a pivotal channel through which air pollution affects commercial health insurance expenditure. Our conclusions underscore the significance of risk perception in defensive expenditures, thereby optimizing individual risk mitigation strategies.

Preliminary analysis of acoustic detection of the Red-throated Caracara in northern Costa Rica

The noisy Red-Throated Caracara (Ibycter americanus) is a species whose population has inexplicably declined across much of its range and is now rare in the Pacific and Caribbean slopes of Costa Rica. Advances in automatic acoustic detection have transformed bird ecology, allowing researchers to analyze bird populations using pattern matching algorithms, machine learning, and random forest models. Although these studies are limited in the country, it represents an area with great interdisciplinary potential for technological advances. This study focused on the use of Pattern Matching to detect the presence of the Red-Throated Caracara in northern Costa Rica using a large number of sound recordings and its validation with metrics such as Accuracy, Precision Negative predictive value, Sensitivity, Specificity and Unweighted average recall. The results showed a moderate performance of the model by obtaining accuracy and precision values of 0.71 compared to the values obtained in other investigations in which the reported model was used. Therefore, we suggest exploring new techniques and methods to improve the detection of the species, considering the particular acoustic structure, the repertoire of sounds of the species and similarities with vocalizations of other species. This similarity could indicate a supposed anti-predator defense behavior by “imitating” the sounds of other species with which it shares habitat. To optimize this acoustic detection, we recommend using complementary techniques such as noise filters that improve the quality and precision of the data.