Differences In Behavioral Profiles Research Articles

Cross-Latitude Behavioural Axis in an Adult Damselfly Calopteryx splendens (Harris, 1780).

Simple SummaryAnimals adapt to the environment they live in. If the environment changes, animals usually adapt behaviourally as a first response. By studying behavioural profiles across long distances, we can detect environmental change reflected in shifts in behavioural profiles. This study examined variation in three behavioural axes: activity, courtship and boldness, and the association between these behaviours, i.e., behavioural syndromes, across three damselfly populations along a latitudinal gradient (i.e., climatic gradient). Our study organism was the temperate damselfly Calopteryx splendens. We predicted that behavioural expressions would gradually increase from southern to northern regions. This is because northern animals should compensate behaviourally for a brief and cold breeding season (i.e., time constraint). Activity was the only behaviour feature positively associated with latitudinal gradient. Courtship effort was highest in the central region, whereas boldness values were highest in the north but did not differ between central and south. In the southern region, an activity–boldness and a courtship—boldness syndrome were present, and in the northern region, only an activity–boldness syndrome was found. Our results confirm that environmental variability in biotic and abiotic factors across studied latitudes generates regional differences in behavioural profiles, which do not always follow latitudinal gradient.Behavioural variation is important for evolutionary and ecological processes, but can also be useful when predicting consequences of climate change and effects on species ranges. Latitudinal differences in behaviour have received relatively limited research interest when compared to morphological, life history and physiological traits. This study examined differences in expression of three behavioural axes: activity, courtship and boldness, and their correlations, along a European latitudinal gradient spanning ca. 1500 km. The study organism was the temperate damselfly Calopteryx splendens (Harris). We predicted that the expression of both behavioural traits and behavioural syndromes would be positively correlated to latitude, with the lowest values in the southern populations, followed by central and the highest in the north, because animals usually compensate behaviourally for increasing time constraints and declining environmental conditions. We found that behavioural expression varied along the latitudinal cline, although not always in the predicted direction. Activity was the only behaviour that followed our prediction and gradually increased northward. Whereas no south-to-north gradient was seen in any of the behavioural syndromes. The results, particularly for activity, suggest that climatic differences across latitudes change behavioural profiles. However, for other traits such as courtship and boldness, local factors might invoke stronger selection pressures, disrupting the predicted latitudinal pattern.

Functional connectivity in reward-related networks is associated with individual differences in gambling strategies in male Lister hooded rats.

Individuals with gambling disorder display deficits in decision-making in the Iowa Gambling Task. The rat Gambling Task (rGT) is a rodent analogue that can be used to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying gambling behaviour. The aim of this explorative study was to examine individual strategies in the rGT and investigate possible behavioural and neural correlates associated with gambling strategies. Thirty-two adult male Lister hooded rats underwent behavioural testing in the multivariate concentric square field™ (MCSF) and the novel cage tests, were trained on and performed the rGT and subsequently underwent resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (R-fMRI). In the rGT, stable gambling strategies were found with subgroups of rats that preferred the suboptimal safest choice as well as the disadvantageous choice, that is, the riskiest gambling strategy. R-fMRI results revealed associations between gambling strategies and brain regions central for reward networks. Moreover, rats with risky gambling strategies differed from those with strategic and intermediate strategies in brain functional connectivity. No differences in behavioural profiles, as assessed with the MCSF and novel cage tests, were observed between the gambling strategy groups. In conclusion, stable individual differences in gambling strategies were found. Intrinsic functional connectivity using R-fMRI provides novel evidence to support the notion that individual differences in gambling strategies are associated with functional connectivity in brain regions important for reward networks.

Individual differences guide mate choice in the fighting fish (Betta splendens).

Individual differences in behavior are observed in the variety of ways animals respond to environmental challenges, interact in a social group, take risks to access a resource, and so forth. In the present study, we investigated the behavioral reactions of male and female Siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) in different contexts and how they affect female mate choice. A total of 100 females and 50 males were classified according to boldness, sociability, and aggression, and then female mate choice was observed based on male profile and body color. Our results showed sex-related differences in Siamese fighting fish behavioral profiles: Males exhibited a higher correlation with aggression and females with boldness. Both male and female behavioral profile affected female mate choice. Females preferred bold red and nonaggressive red males. Sex-related differences in behavioral profiles may reflect ecological differences between male and female Siamese fighting fish. Female mate choice could be related to behavioral profiles that indicate better parental care, as male features may influence parental care decisions and the development of offspring behavioral profiles. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Effects of Diagnostic Severity upon Sex Differences in Behavioural Profiles of Young Males and Females with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

To determine if diagnostic severity of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affected sex differences in the detailed ASD-related behavioural profiles of young males and female, two samples of males and females with a diagnosis of ASD, aged between 6 and 17years, were compared across the 65 items of the Social Responsiveness Scale (2nd ed.). Results are reported for a sample of males and females matched on age and IQ (n = 51 pairs) and a smaller sample matched on age, IQ and ADOS-2 severity (n = 32 pairs). ASD-related behaviours from the SRS-2 that were significantly and meaningfully different across sexes were identified for both samples. ADOS-2 diagnostic severity was associated with different sets of sex-based differences in SRS-2 item scores.

Hormonal correlates of behavioural profiles and coping strategies in captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus)

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that individual differences in behavioural profiles correlate to differences in stress-related behaviours and hormonal levels in captive brown capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus). Based on a sample of 25 animals, 143 h of behavioural data collection and 518 faecal samples, principal component analyses indicated the existence of four components that characterize the individuals´ Genus Normative Behaviour (GNB) (KMO = 0.531, X2 = 127.672, p < 0.001): ‘Feeding’, ‘Sociability’, ‘Exploration’, and ‘Activity’. Other four components are related to stress coping styles (based on Behaviour Potentially Indicative of Stress – BPIS) (KMO = 0.550, X2 = 329.303, p < 0.001): ‘Self-directed’; ‘Restless’, ‘Ingestion/Self-Scratching’, and ‘Stereotyped’. More active individuals exhibit rapid stress-related behaviours (r = 0.443; p = 0.044) while less active individuals exhibit more stationary stress-related behaviours (r = -0.519; p = 0.013). Akaike information criteria indicated that the best linear regression model to predict the physiological profile (Faecal Glucocorticoid Metabolites - FGM) included three GNB and three BPIS components. ‘Sociability’ (p < 0.05), ‘Exploration’ (p < 0.05), and ‘Ingestion/Self-scratching’ (p < 0.05) predicted lower FGM levels. ‘Activity’ (p < 0.05), ‘Self-directed’ (p < 0.05), and ‘Stereotyped’ (p < 0.05) predicted higher FGM levels. ‘Feeding’ and ‘Restless’ factors were not included in the models. Our results support previous studies indicating that animals within the same population differ in the way they behave and react to stressful conditions, and these are correlated to different physiological profiles. Mapping inter-individual differences in stress coping strategies may help clarify the long-term reported incongruity between behavioural and physiological indicators of welfare in captive animals, supporting better management practices and assisting translational models of the development of psychopathologies.

Born to win or bred to lose: aggressive and submissive behavioural profiles in crickets

Aggression between conspecific males is widespread in the animal kingdom, as is the fact that some individuals are far more aggressive than others. Consistent interindividual differences in behavioural profiles are generally regarded as a hallmark for animal ‘personality’ in both vertebrates and invertebrates, but their proximate causes are poorly understood. While the social experiences of winning and losing are known to lead to heightened and depressed aggressiveness, respectively, and that different fighting experiences can lead to changes in other behaviours, the extent to which interindividual variation in aggression and correlated behaviours are determined alone by fighting experience, environmental factors or inherited predisposition is unclear. In this study, we video tracked individual, virgin adult male crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus, to quantify their general motility, exploratory behaviour and attraction to conspecific males after 48 h of social isolation, and compared this with their performances 24 h later, immediately after a fighting tournament that yielded cohorts of aggressive winners and submissive losers. Although all known behavioural effects of previous social experience in crickets last only a few hours at most, we found significant behavioural differences between the 48 h isolated future winners and losers, i.e. before the fight tournament. However, the experiences of winning and losing led to more pronounced and some additional changes in behaviour. We discuss whether these different behavioural profiles associated with the chances of winning and losing (‘personalities’) could arise from factors other than fighting experience, or possibly from dominance and subjugation experiences gathered under crowded culture conditions before social isolation with cumulative effects that may persist longer than those presently known.

Using the PDD Behavior Inventory as a Level 2 Screener: A Classification and Regression Trees Analysis.

In order to improve discrimination accuracy between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and similar neurodevelopmental disorders, a data mining procedure, Classification and Regression Trees (CART), was used on a large multi-site sample of PDD Behavior Inventory (PDDBI) forms on children with and without ASD. Discrimination accuracy exceeded 80%, generalized to an independent validation set, and generalized across age groups and sites, and agreed well with ADOS classifications. Parent PDDBIs yielded better results than teacher PDDBIs but, when CART predictions agreed across informants, sensitivity increased. Results also revealed three subtypes of ASD: minimally verbal, verbal, and atypical; and two, relatively common subtypes of non-ASD children: social pragmatic problems and good social skills. These subgroups corresponded to differences in behavior profiles and associated bio-medical findings.

Profiles of College Drinkers Defined by Alcohol Behaviors at the Week Level: Replication Across Semesters and Prospective Associations With Hazardous Drinking and Dependence-Related Symptoms.

Types of college drinkers have been identified using traditional measures (e.g., 12-month drinking frequency). We used an alternative multidimensional approach based on daily reports of alcohol behaviors to identify college drinker statuses, each with a unique behavioral profile. The current study aimed to (a) identify drinker statuses at the week level across four semesters, (b) examine the predictive utility of drinker status by testing associations with senior-year hazardous drinking and dependence symptoms, and (c) identify concurrent predictors (gender, drinking motivations, hazardous drinking, any dependence symptoms) of senior-year drinker status. We also compared the week-level drinker statuses with drinker statuses identified using traditional measures. A multi-ethnic sample of U.S. college students completed 14-day bursts of daily web surveys across college (91%-96% completed ≥6 daily reports of the sampled week). Analyses focus on nine alcohol-related behaviors (including estimated blood alcohol concentration, pregaming, and drinking games) assessed daily in spring/sophomore year to fall/senior year and drinking motivations, hazardous drinking, and dependence symptoms assessed fall/senior year (n = 569; 56% women). Four week-level drinker statuses were replicated across semesters: Nondrinker, Light Weekend, Heavy Weekend, and Heavy Frequent. Across semesters, drinker status was associated with senior-year hazardous drinking and any dependence symptoms. Senior-year fun/social motivations were also associated with senior-year drinker status. Differences in behavioral profiles between week-level drinker statuses and those identified using traditional measures were found. Replicable week-level drinker statuses were identified, suggesting consistency in possible types of drinking weeks. Drinker statuses were predictive of senior-year hazardous drinking and dependence symptoms.

Correspondence of parent report and laboratory measures of inattention and hyperactivity in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure

Clinical research and practice support a multi-method approach to validating behavioral problems in children. We examined whether parent-reported symptoms of hyperactivity and inattention (using the Disruptive Behavior Disorder Rating Scale) were substantiated by objective laboratory measures [hyperactivity measured by wrist-worn actigraphy (ACT) and inattention assessed using a 20-minute continuous performance task (CPT)] in three age- and demographically-matched groups of school-age children: children with prenatal alcohol exposure (AE), non-exposed children with idiopathic ADHD (ADHD), and controls (CON). Results indicated that the clinical groups (AE, ADHD) had significantly higher parent-reported levels for both domains compared to the CON group, and did not differ from each other. On the laboratory measures, the clinical groups were more inattentive than controls on the CPT, but did not differ from each other. In contrast, the ADHD group had higher objective activity on the ACT than AE and CON, which did not differ from each other. Thus, laboratory measures differentially validated parent reports in a group-dependent manner. Actigraphy substantiated parent-reported hyperactivity for children in the ADHD group but not for children in the AE group, while the CPT validated parent-reported inattention for both clinical groups. Although the majority of children in the AE group met the criteria for ADHD, objective activity levels were not different from controls, indicating that hyperactivity may be a less prominent feature in the AE group. Thus, while there is considerable overlap between the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and ADHD, differences in behavioral profiles may be clinically useful in differential diagnosis. Further, these data indicate that objective measures should be used to validate parent reports.

Sh-I-048A, an in vitro non-selective super-agonist at the benzodiazepine site of GABAA receptors: The approximated activation of receptor subtypes may explain behavioral effects

Enormous progress in understanding the role of four populations of benzodiazepine-sensitive GABAA receptors was paralleled by the puzzling findings suggesting that substantial separation of behavioral effects may be accomplished by apparently non-selective modulators. We report on SH-I-048A, a newly synthesized chiral positive modulator of GABAA receptors characterized by exceptional subnanomolar affinity, high efficacy and non-selectivity. Its influence on behavior was assessed in Wistar rats and contrasted to that obtained with 2mg/kg diazepam. SH-I-048A reached micromolar concentrations in brain tissue, while the unbound fraction in brain homogenate was around 1.5%. The approximated electrophysiological responses, which estimated free concentrations of SH-I-048A or diazepam are able to elicit, suggested a similarity between the 10mg/kg dose of the novel ligand and 2mg/kg diazepam; however, SH-I-048A was relatively more active at α1- and α5-containing GABAA receptors. Behaviorally, SH-I-048A induced sedative, muscle relaxant and ataxic effects, reversed mechanical hyperalgesia 24h after injury, while it was devoid of clear anxiolytic actions and did not affect water-maze performance. While lack of clear anxiolytic actions may be connected with an enhanced potentiation at α1-containing GABAA receptors, the observed behavior in the rotarod, water maze and peripheral nerve injury tests was possibly affected by its prominent action at receptors containing the α5 subunit. The current results encourage further innovative approaches aimed at linking in vitro and in vivo data in order to help define fine-tuning mechanisms at four sensitive receptor populations that underlie subtle differences in behavioral profiles of benzodiazepine site ligands.

Влияние пренатального стресса и 17β-эстрадиола на тревожность и депрессивное поведение овариоэктомированных самок крыс

The present study evaluated the ability of 17beta-estradiol to induce anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like action in adult ovariectomized female offspring of dams that were restrained under lights for 1 h on gestational days 15-19. There were no differences in behavioral profile of ovariectomized prenatal stressed and control female rats. Injections of 17beta-estradiol (0.5 microg/rat) in the course of two week had minimal behavioral effects in control rats, but produced a decrease of immobility in the forced swimming test and anxiety level in the elevated plus maze in prenatal stressed rats. These findings suggest that ovariectomized prenatal stressed female rats demonstrate more sensitivity to estrogen-replacement.

Dominance-Popularity Status, Behavior, and the Emergence of Sexual Activity in Young Adolescents

In this paper, we investigated the sexual activity levels of several subtypes of middle adolescents (age 14-15 years). The subtype profiles were based on dominance-popularity status and a range of behaviors associated with dominance and popularity. In addition, gender differences in behavioral profiles were examined among dominant-popular, sexually active young adolescents. Results showed that socially dominant and popular young adolescent boys who exhibited a highly aggressive profile were more sexually active than their low-status and non-aggressive male peers; dominant-popular girls who were very attractive and gossips were more sexually active than their female peers. The results are discussed from an evolutionary psychological framework.

Behavioural differences between EEG-defined subgroups of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Objective This study investigated the presence and nature of EEG clusters within a clinically-referred sample of children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), and whether behavioural differences exist between clusters. Method Participants were 155 boys with AD/HD and 109 age- and gender-matched controls. EEG was recorded during an eyes-closed resting condition and Fourier transformed to provide estimates for total power, and relative delta, theta, alpha, and beta. EEG data were grouped into 3 regions, and subjected to Cluster Analysis. Behavioural data for each cluster were compared against the remaining AD/HD subjects. Results Four EEG clusters were found. These were characterised by (a) elevated beta activity, (b) elevated theta with deficiencies of alpha and beta, (c) elevated slow wave with less fast wave activity, and (d) elevated alpha. An exploratory analysis of behavioural correlates with these EEG subtypes indicated the presence of interesting trends that need further investigation. Conclusions This study found that the AD/HD EEG profiles reported in past studies are robust and not substantially affected by the inclusion of children with other comorbid conditions. The observed group differences in behavioural profiles indicated that different patterns of EEG activity have importance in determining behaviour. Significance This is the first study to link behavioural profiles of children with AD/HD to specific EEG abnormalities.

A royal road to understanding the mechanisms underlying person-in-context behavior

The structure of individual differences in behavioral profiles across situations constitutes a royal road to understanding the mechanisms underlying person-in-context behavior. I want to go beyond partial accounts of this structure in terms of cross-situational consistency coefficients and estimated percentages of variance accounted for by person–situation interactions. For this purpose I propose a small set of empirically testable questions that underlie a basic typology of contextualized individual differences structures. The answers to these questions and the resulting classes of the typology relate to a broad range of concepts and theoretical frameworks, including synergistic interactions, ability accounts of personality dispositions, stress-diathesis models within the psychopathology domain, individual differences in discriminative facility, and Traits As Situational Sensitivities models. Tools from the two-mode clustering domain (old as well as recently proposed ones) can be used to detect the type of individual differences structure that constitutes the gist of a person by situation data set at hand. I illustrate with data on individual differences in helping behavior in a set of emergency situations.

Behavioral and neurophysiological hallmarks of simian immunodeficiency virus infection in macaque monkeys

Macaque monkeys infected with various neurovirulent forms of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) represent highly effective models, not only of systemic acquired immunodeficiency virus (AIDS), but also neuroAIDS. Behavioral studies with this model have clearly established that SIV-infected monkeys show both cognitive and motor impairments resembling those that have been reported in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected humans. This paper combines data from a number of behavioral studies in SIV-infected macaque monkeys to obtain an overall estimate of the frequency of impairments in various motor and cognitive domains. The results were then compared to similar data from studies of HIV-infected humans. Whereas cognitive functions are most commonly impaired in HIV-infected humans, motor function is the domain most commonly impaired in SIV-infected monkeys. Electrophysiological studies in SIV-infected macaques have revealed deficits in motor-, somatosensory-, visual-, and auditory-evoked potentials that also resemble abnormalities in human HIV infection. Abnormalities in motor-evoked potentials were among the most common evoked potential deficits observed. Although differences in behavioral profiles of human HIV disease and SIV disease in monkeys exist, the results, nevertheless, provide strong validation for the use of macaque models for translational studies of the virology, immunology, pathophysiology, and treatment of neuroAIDS.

Stage-Specific Prevalence of Behavioral Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease in a Multi-Ethnic Community Sample

The authors extended previous studies of the stage-specific prevalence of behavioral pathology to members of ethnic minority groups. Behavioral symptoms and their relationship to severity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) were examined in 125 heterogeneous minority elderly patients interviewed with a modified CERAD protocol, with behavioral symptoms scored on the caregiver-rated BEHAVE-AD Rating Scale. Behavioral disturbances were extremely common, occurring in 98% of the sample; the most common was activity disturbances (89%), followed by paranoid and delusional ideation (72%), aggressivity (64%), anxieties and phobias (61%), depressive symptoms (50%), sleep disturbances (43%), and hallucinations (34%). As in white patients, overall behavioral symptoms were most frequent among patients with moderate and severe dementia. Preliminary evidence supports the possibility of ethnic differences in behavioral profiles; Blacks showed lower affective, anxiety, and sleep symptoms than Asians and Hispanics, and lower total BEHAVE-AD scores than Hispanics. Inquiry in larger, population-based samples will be needed to determine whether the ethnic differences in behavioral symptoms of AD found here are robust and replicable.

Behavioural Effects in Mice of Subchronic Chlordiazepoxide, Maprotiline, and Fluvoxamine. I. Social Interactions

The present study compares the effects of subchronic administration (daily, 21 days) of chlordiazepoxide (CD), maprotiline and fluvoamine on the behavior of male mice during dyadic social interactions. Maprotiline, like chlordiazepoxide, stimulated aggression at 4 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg respectively (intermediate dose levels), whereas effects of fluvoxamine (3–8 mg/kg) were mainly sedative. Non-social activity was reduced by CD at 4 and 8 mg/kg and by maprotiline at 0.5 mg/kg. At the highest dose tested (10 mg/kg), maprotiline increased immobility, resembling the effects of fluovoxamine, while at 2 mg/kg, it reduced social investigation. Thus, despite some commonalities, there were several differences in behavioral profile of the compounds tested. Data are discussed in relation to the efficacy of each of these compounds in treating anxiety and depressive disorders.

Behavioral adjustment of latency age children with cystic fibrosis.

One hundred and twenty-six 6 to 11-year-old latency age children with Cystic Fibrosis regularly attending the CF clinic of the Hospital for Sick Children were asked to complete the Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale and the Children's Health Locus of Control. Their parents were requested to complete the Child Behavior Checklist and the Family Assessment Measure. One hundred and eight (86%) participated in the study. Twenty-three percent of the children were found to have sufficient behavior problems to indicate a significant degree of maladjustment. Latency-age CF children show an increase in problems compared to a pre-school group, suggesting that leaving the protection of the family is problematic for a child with a chronic physical disorder. Males show more behavior problems than females. Males' behavior is characterized by somatic complaint profile. In spite of difficulties, CF latency children are able to maintain good social competence and self-concept suggesting compensatory mechanisms. These mechanisms are different for males and females. Females' self-concept and social competence are supportive of each other, whereas for males, this is not the case. Similarly, female behavior is relevant to family functioning. Males and females adjust to difficulty as indicated by differences in behavior profiles.