Deep in the midbrain, one type of neuron has two crucial jobs when it comes to acting while anticipating a reward—a state also known as Pavlovian conditioning. Called dopaminergic (DA) neurons, they can link a signal, such as a sound … Continue reading
Journal Club
Highlighting recently published papers selected by Academy members
Tag Archives: behavior
Journal Club: Neural circuits and social status spur zebrafish to swim or flee
Should I stay or should I go? In the zebrafish (Danio rerio), two competing neural circuits determine whether an animal swims or turns tail and escapes. Social status can tip the balance between these circuits, leading dominant and subordinate animals … Continue reading
Categories: Animal Behavior | Cell Biology | Journal Club | Neuroscience | Systems Biology
Tagged behavior, neural circuit, social hierarchy, social status, zebrafish
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Journal Club: Fruit fly hybrids make poor foragers, offering insight into how species remain distinct
When one fruit fly species meets another, they sometimes interbreed. And yet despite this genetic mixing, distinct species still persist—over 2,000 of them. Evolutionary biologist Daniel Matute of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is one of … Continue reading
Categories: Ecology | Evolution | Genetics | Journal Club | Uncategorized
Tagged behavior, drosophila, evolution, fruit fly, hybrid, speciation, species
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Journal Club: Even in honeybees, early aggression makes for angry adults
A childhood of violence can make humans and other animals violent later on. Now scientists unexpectedly find the same holds true for even the simple honeybee. Unlike people, however, greater aggression in honeybees was not associated with later health problems. … Continue reading
Categories: Ecology | Genetics | Journal Club | Psychological and Cognitive Sciences
Tagged aggression, behavior, honeybee
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Selfless decisions linked with reduced depression in teenagers
Life is dangerous as a teenager. At the same time as we’re learning to drive, we’re prone to risker behavior and more likely to make impulsive decisions than when we are children or adults. Neurologists have noticed that a small … Continue reading
Cheaters always prosper, to a point
Is it better to cooperate or cheat? To work for the good of others, or focus on yourself? This classic self vs. group conflict is a common musing of game theorists and experimental economics known as the “public goods dilemma.” … Continue reading
Categories: Ecology | Evolution
Tagged ants, behavior, game theory, insects, social insects
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Predicting cooperative behavior from genes
If only the fittest members of a species survive, then cooperative behavior doesn’t make sense. It is costly to individuals and benefits others. Over the past few years, however, many researchers have shown how cooperative behavior plays nicely with evolutionary … Continue reading
Categories: Evolution | Genetics | Psychological and Cognitive Sciences
Tagged adaptability, behavior, cooperation, genetics, psychopathology, public good, punishment, serotonin
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