Publication date: November 2025 Source: Animal Behaviour, Volume 229 Author(s): F. Stephen Dobson, Hannah E. Correia, Ash Abebe, Carsten Schradin, Madison Roberts, Loren D. Hayes

The world’s oceans and rivers are currently home to at least 1,250 species of sharks (broadly including sharks, rays and chimaeras). They live in almost all marine habitats above 3,500 m depth, and they are predators, although few are dangerous to humans, despite what the media may portray. As human pressures on the ocean have increased, especially from fisheries, shark populations have been negatively affected. Today, more than a third are threatened with an elevated risk of extinction1.

by Thomas J. Stoll, Nathan D. Vandjelovic, Melissa J. Polonenko, Nadja R. S. Li, Adrian K. C. Lee, Ross K. Maddox The ability to pick out and attend to one sound in a noisy mixture underpins successful communication in many natural scenarios. Selective attention has been shown to drastically alter sound encoding in the cortex and has been hypothesized to modulate subcortical processing via an extensive efferent network. The body of work investigating this possibility in humans has not resulted in a clear consensus, possibly owing to limitations in the available methodologies. Here, we used new experimental tools that allowed distinct neural responses from across the auditory pathway to be simultaneously acquired from human listeners attending to the sound of one person talking while ignoring a second. Our series of experiments provide convergent evidence that selective attention does not influence sound encoding in the auditory periphery or brainstem, with an effect first appearing in the cortex. Humans’ ability to focus their attention on a single sound even in the presence of many others is as remarkable as it is essential. These findings add needed clarity regarding the mechanisms that make this feat possible.

Publication date: Available online 10 October 2025 Source: Animal Behaviour Author(s): Peter A. Cotton, Maisie Benham, Ashley O. Hardoin, Hannah M. Lazenby, Robert Puschendorf, Mark Briffa

Interacting in a multimodal world, including recognizing other individuals across multiple sensory modalities, is important for animals who rely on social relationships for survival. Social and sensory experiences shape how multisensory information is processed and integrated; however, we have less understanding of how multimodal recognition may be modulated by early sensory experience in a single modality. Zebra finches are gregarious songbirds that form lifelong pair-bonds with a single partner whom they recognize acoustically and visually. However, it is unknown to what extent multisensory signals might interact to enable recognition or whether this is affected by auditory exposure during development. In this paper, we tested females for responses to audio and visual stimuli from their mate or a stranger in a digital cross-modal expectancy violation paradigm. Using automated pose tracking, we determined that, like many species, zebra finches react differently when the stimuli are congruent versus incongruent. However, while birds reared in a colony setting and birds reared without exposure to adult song both detected audiovisual congruency, the degree of behaviors exhibited differed between the rearing conditions. Thus, multisensory integration appears to be important for females to identify their mates, but differences in developmental environment influence how recognition is behaviorally expressed.

Publication date: November 2025 Source: Hormones and Behavior, Volume 176 Author(s): Navina D. Liebermann-Lilie, Benedikt Schniedermeyer, Anabel Kröhnert, Sepand Riyahi, Sylvia Kaiser, Tim Schmoll, Peter Korsten

Publication date: Available online 10 October 2025 Source: Applied Animal Behaviour Science Author(s): Luca Pedruzzi, Martina Francesconi, Alessia Cudini, Paolo Oliveri, Elisabetta Palagi, Alban Lemasson

Objects differing in high-level properties often differ in corresponding lower-level features, complicating experimental interpretation. Boger and Firestone address this problem with ‘visual anagrams’: images that look like one object in one orientation but a completely different object when rotated.

Ecology and Evolution, Volume 15, Issue 10, October 2025.

Brain and Behavior, Volume 15, Issue 10, October 2025.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 122, Issue 40, October 2025. SignificancePlastids arose through ancient symbiosis between eukaryotic hosts and photosynthetic prey, yet the transition from temporary alliance to permanent organelle remains an evolutionary black box. Here, we harnessdinotoms, a rare model that ...

Fluid control protocols are widely used in neuroscience to motivate laboratory macaques to engage with behavioural tasks. Despite strong evidence that the physiology of the animals is not compromised by such protocols, fluid control remains controversial due to its potential impact on the psychological well-being of the animals. To address this concern, we investigated the effect of fluid control on the affective state of 23 socially-housed adult macaques (10 females) engaged in neuroscience experiments. The protocol involved up to five consecutive days of fluid control per week, followed by a minimum of two days with unrestricted fluid access. The affective state of the animals was primarily assessed by quantifying the frequency of pharmacologically-validated behavioural indicators of high-arousal negative affect (self-scratching, body shaking, self-grooming). The analysis was subsequently extended to validated behavioural indicators of low-arousal negative affect (Inactive not alert) and other behaviours suspected of indicate high-arousal negative affect but lacking proper validation (pacing, yawning). In total, 700 hours of video footage spanning up to seven years of intermittent fluid control per animal were analysed. Despite this extensive dataset, the study found no significant impact of fluid control on average, or any evidence of habituation or sensitization over the years on any of the affective state indicators. Additional results indicate that these null results are not due to a lack of sensitivity, supporting the view that fluid control, as implemented in this study, does not have an adverse impact on the psychological well-being of laboratory macaques. We argue that macaque welfare will be best served by focusing future refinement on other procedures.

by Matthew J. Stower, Richard C. V. Tyser, Shifaan Thowfeequ, Felix Zhou, Marta Portela, Konstantinos Miti, Jacintha Sugnaseelan, Xin Lu, Shankar Srinivas Anterior–posterior axis formation in the mouse embryo requires the active migration of the DVE cell population at E5.5. While intracellular Ca2+ signaling has been shown to control cell migration in multiple cell contexts, it is unknown whether it is required for DVE migration. The pattern of Ca2+ activity in the mouse embryo at early peri-implantation stages is also unknown. Using the GCaMP6f Ca2+ reporter line, we performed a detailed assessment of Ca2+ dynamics between E0.5 and E5.5 using live imaging. We find that prior to implantation, Ca2+ transients are rare, but at E5.5 widespread, periodic, Ca2+ transients in extraembryonic tissues can be observed, including in the VE and ExE. In contrast, cells of the E5.5 epiblast remain relatively quiescent but show sporadic large-scale multicellular waves. Inhibition of SERCA at E5.5 abolishes Ca2+ transients and leads to DVE arrest, indicative that these transients are required for axial patterning. Together, these results reveal the pattern of Ca2+ handling in the early mouse embryo and a novel requirement in anterior–posterior axis formation.

The existence of behavioural syndromes, or suites of correlated behaviours, means that animals may not be able to act optimally in every situation, as they can constrain plasticity. Therefore, understanding links between different behaviours is critical for understanding why animals sometimes fail to respond appropriately to environmental challenges. In this study, we assessed whether beak wiping, a stereotyped anxiety-linked behaviour where birds wipe their beaks on a perch in a ''windshield wiper'' motion, was correlated with another anxiety-linked behavior, neophobia towards novel objects presented with food, in captive house sparrows (Passer domesticus). We predicted that more neophobic sparrows would also exhibit more beak-wiping stereotypies. We analyzed 1 h long control videos (when sparrows were presented with a normal food dish only; n=54) from three previous neophobia studies to assess beak wiping frequency, mean beak wiping bout duration, and total bout duration. Sparrows' reluctance to feed in the presence of novel objects was significantly correlated with the mean duration of beak wiping bouts during control trials. We also found that simple enrichment (rubber perches, manzanita branch perches, and/or artificial pine branches) decreased both the frequency and duration of beak wiping. These findings suggest that neophobia and stereotypies may arise due to similar neuroendocrine mechanisms as part of a ''high anxiety'' behavioural syndrome. This work also highlights the importance of providing species-appropriate environmental enrichment to decrease the prevalence of stereotypic behaviours in captive songbirds.

Publication date: November 2025 Source: Hormones and Behavior, Volume 176 Author(s): Marilou Poitras, Adèle Labonté, Aliya F. Qureshi, Cassandra Blackburn, Zoé M.I. Gracovetsky, Rutaaba Fasih, Hélène Plamondon

Publication date: Available online 9 October 2025 Source: Behavioural Processes Author(s): Brett W. Gelino, Madison E. Graham, Justin C. Strickland, Matthew W. Johnson, Derek D. Reed

Mothers exhibit an increased appetite to cope with the energetic demands of lactation. A new study has identified a neural circuit that interfaces between food seeking and pup caring.

Actively avoiding threatening stimuli or situations is an adaptive defensive strategy that minimizes the risk of potential harm. Despite the prominent role avoidance plays in our daily lives, the mechanisms that reinforce avoidance behavior remain incompletely understood. Accumulating evidence implicates the mesolimbic dopamine reward system in the acquisition of avoidance, suggesting that the omission of an aversive event may acquire rewarding properties and function as a positive reinforcer of avoidance behavior. In a series of six experiments (N = 246 male Wistar rats), we examined whether safety signals that coincide with successful avoidance responses in a two-way active avoidance (2WAA) task facilitate avoidance acquisition and acquire reward-like properties, by assessing whether they elicit approach behavior and support the acquisition of a novel instrumental response. Although the presentation of a safety signal accelerated avoidance learning in some experiments, the effect was not consistent. Furthermore, the safety signal neither elicited approach behavior nor supported the acquisition of a novel instrumental response. Together, these findings question whether safety signals in avoidance learning acquire rewarding properties detectable through behavioral measures.

To maintain homeostasis during external and internal challenges, vertebrates activate allostatic systems, such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Additionally, animals can use behavioral responses to address such challenges, which may result in the reduction of allostatic processes. We assessed whether HPA activation is influenced by subgroup formation patterns during ecological and social challenges. We selected Geoffroy's spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi) as study subjects,...

Studying vocal coordination in a cooperative setting provides insights into how animals process social information, coordinate their actions, and make decisions in complex social settings. It can also reveal how animals use vocal signals to navigate complex social interactions that might not be apparent in solitary or non-cooperative contexts. To our knowledge, experimental evidence for intentional vocal communication in controlled experiments has been demonstrated only in dolphins. Here, we investigate whether peach-fronted conures (Eupsittula aurea) can use vocal communication to coordinate behaviour in a cooperative task. We chose parrots due to their complex social systems, their vocal learning and mimicry skills, and their advanced cognitive abilities. We tested four individuals pairwise in all combinations in the loose string paradigm, which requires synchronization of the two individuals to retrieve a food reward by simultaneously pulling a string. To verify that the parrots used vocal communication to solve the task, we tested them first under three control conditions where visual information and simple behaviour sufficed to solve the tasks. We then compared their vocal behaviour in the control conditions with their vocal behaviour in a task without visual information. During performance of the latter task, the birds demonstrated significantly higher call rates and variability and specific associations between call types and trial outcome compared to the control conditions. After the performance of the task, the birds used vocal convergence more often after failed trials, potentially as a reconciliation mechanism. Our results indicate that peach-fronted conures can use vocalizations to coordinate the solving of a cooperative task, and that vocal convergence may serve as a bonding mechanism following unsuccessful cooperative efforts.

Publication date: November 2025 Source: Hormones and Behavior, Volume 176 Author(s): Juliane Damm, Pedro A.D. Dias, Ariadna Rangel-Negrín, Colleen M. Schaffner, Fabrizio Dell'Anna, Filippo Aureli

Background: While LLM chatbots are gaining popularity in medical education, their pedagogical impact remains under-evaluated. This study examined the effects of a domain-specific chatbot on performance, perception, and cognitive engagement among medical students. Methods: Twenty first-year medical students completed two academic tasks using either a custom-built educational chatbot (Lenny AI by qVault) or conventional study methods in a randomised, crossover design. Performance was assessed through Single Best Answer (SBA) questions, while post-task surveys (Likert scales) and focus groups were employed to explore user perceptions. Statistical tests compared performance and perception metrics; qualitative data underwent thematic analysis with independent coding (κ = 0.403–0.633). Results: Participants rated the chatbot significantly higher than conventional resources for ease of use, satisfaction, engagement, perceived quality, and clarity (p < 0.05). Lenny AI use was positively correlated with perceived efficiency and confidence, but showed no significant performance gains. Thematic analysis revealed accelerated factual retrieval but limited support for higher-level cognitive reasoning. Students expressed high functional trust but raised concerns about transparency. Conclusions: The custom chatbot improved usability; effects on deeper learning were not detected within the tasks studied. Future designs should support adaptive scaffolding, transparent sourcing, and critical engagement to improve educational value.

The important role of pollinators in floral evolution has been well established through centuries of research. A new study combining micrometeorological and behavioral experiments demonstrates that abiotic conditions also play a key role in shaping floral morphology and function in relation to insect visitors.

Publication date: November 2025 Source: Animal Behaviour, Volume 229 Author(s): Xiang Gong, Yuqi Sun, Jinling Sui

by Charlotte R. Taylor, Vincent Tse, Drew D. Willoughby, Maxine Levesque, Trisha V. Vaidyanathan, Jeanne T. Paz, Kira E. Poskanzer Classical neuromodulators regulate arousal states, spanning deep sleep to vigilant wakefulness, primarily by activating cortical neurons. However, cortical astrocytes also express neuromodulatory G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). While astrocytic noradrenergic receptors have been shown to modulate two critical regulators of arousal—cortical synchrony and extracellular adenosine levels—how other neuromodulatory signaling pathways similarly shape arousal remains unclear. Astrocytes in mammalian cortex express particularly high levels of the wake-promoting, Gq-coupled histamine-1-receptor (H1R), yet little is known about how astrocytic H1R contributes to regulation of arousal. To address this gap, we used pharmacological and genetic approaches in murine cortex to test how astrocyte-H1R signaling affects astrocyte calcium (Ca2+), cortical neural activity across sleep/wake, and extracellular adenosine—an astrocytic output that regulates cortical arousal. Using ex vivo two-photon Ca2+ imaging in acute cortical slices, we show that H1R mediates cell-autonomous astrocyte Ca2+ responses to histamine (HA) and attenuates responses to norepinephrine (NE). Next, in vivo fiber photometry and electrophysiology results show that H1R deletion in cortical astrocytes disrupts local astrocyte Ca2+ during wake and extracellular adenosine dynamics specifically around REM sleep transitions, when HA release is minimal. Further, astrocyte-specific H1R deletion in cortex promotes wakefulness and reduces REM sleep time. Our results indicate that H1R activity modulates astrocyte responses to non-histaminergic inputs by inducing lasting changes in astrocyte physiology that modulate extracellular adenosine and REM sleep. Our findings contribute to an emerging model in which neuromodulator GPCRs synergistically shape astrocyte physiology to regulate arousal behavior and adenosine signaling in the cortex.