BehavEcolPapers

BehavEcolPapers

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#BehavioralEcology #Ethology #HumanBehavior #AnimalBehavior #LifeHistory #AnimalPhysiology papers from #PubMed & journal rss-feeds | -- MF

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Assessing larger-than rule learning in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itAssessing larger-than rule learning in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).Many animals discriminate between magnitudes (e.g., in size, quantity, volume, length) that have fitness implications. Accumulated experience may facilitate the formation of relational rules that can be applied in novel contexts. However, the extent to which animals can form a relational rule, and are able to apply it to novel contexts remains a core focus when understanding the evolution of cognition. Here, we assessed the ability of African grey parrots o acquire the relative larger-than rule in size or quantity discrimination, and if so, how this was learned. Eight captive parrots initially participated in a natural preference test (NPT) to assess their prior preference for a larger amount of seeds. Each parrot was then randomly selected to either acquire the larger-than rule in size or quantity in a basic training (BT). They then participated in transfer training (TT) to evaluate their ability to apply the learned rule to novel stimulus pairs, and a final transfer test (FTT) to assess whether the parrots could generalise the learned rule to unseen stimulus pairs beyond the training range. Six parrots successfully completed both training and the test, with only one parrot, Sensei, passing the quantity discrimination FTT. More detailed analyses showed that the parrots showed varied performance in the TT, but as a group, showed limited transfer in the TT, suggesting the use of associative learning through increased experience in BT. They also showed better performance if a stimulus pair had a larger difference (Webers law). The success of Sensei was attributed to extensive TT alongside his quick natural preference toward larger amounts. These results suggest that repeated exposure to TT stimulus pairs increases familiarity with the stimulus pairs, which can facilitate task success, but individuals vary in their ability to acquire relational rules.
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Data-driven frame-by-frame analysis of surface swimming and terrestrial walking in the coastal beetle Phaleria atriceps bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itData-driven frame-by-frame analysis of surface swimming and terrestrial walking in the coastal beetle Phaleria atricepsBackground. Inter-leg coordination of insects changes depending on environmental conditions. Although locomotor changes between terrestrial and aquatic environments have been examined in various insects, relatively little is known about coastal insects living at the boundary between these environments. We therefore compared the inter-leg coordination during terrestrial walking with that during surface swimming in the coastal beetle Phaleria atriceps. Methods. Surface swimming was recorded in 17 individuals and terrestrial walking in 10 individuals using high-speed video at 1,000 frames/s. The six leg tips and anterior and posterior body landmarks were tracked frame-by-frame using DeepLabCut, and leg movements were quantified in a body-centered coordinate system. Leg movement periods were estimated from sinusoidal fits to longitudinal leg-tip trajectories. Inter-leg phase relationships were calculated for all 15 leg pairs and integrated to reconstruct a representative six-leg phase organization for each locomotor mode. Results. Leg movement periods were significantly longer during surface swimming than during terrestrial walking for all six legs. During walking, the six-leg phase relationship closely matched an alternating tripod pattern, with a left foreleg (L1), a right middle leg (R2), and a left hind leg (L3) forming one phase group and a right foreleg (R1), a left middle leg (L2), and a right hind leg (R3) forming the opposing group. The same broad grouping was observed in the six-leg phase relationship during surface swimming, although significant differences in relative phase were detected for L1-L2, L1-R2, and R1-R2. Conclusions. Phaleria atriceps exhibited six-leg phase relationships broadly consistent with an alternating tripod pattern during both terrestrial walking and surface swimming, whereas leg movement periods and certain inter-leg phase relationships differed between the two locomotor modes. These findings provide a quantitative description of the similarities and differences in inter-leg coordination between terrestrial walking and surface swimming in a coastal beetle. Further mechanical and comparative studies will be needed to clarify the functional and evolutionary significance of these findings.
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Multi-objective incremental path planning with learning-guided sampling and heading-constrained expansion for autonomous vehicles in dynamic occupancy grid environments SciReports

dlvr.itMulti-objective incremental path planning with learning-guided sampling and heading-constrained expansion for autonomous vehicles in dynamic occupancy grid environmentsScientific Reports, Published online: 27 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-77284-0Multi-objective incremental path planning with learning-guided sampling and heading-constrained expansion for autonomous vehicles in dynamic occupancy grid environments
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Same-sex sexual #behavior reduces reproductive success but mitigates aggression in a subsocial insect bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itSame-sex sexual #behavior reduces reproductive success but mitigates aggression in a subsocial insectSame-sex sexual behaviour (SSB) is widely observed across taxa, yet its evolutionary maintenance remains debated and its fitness consequences remain surprisingly understudied. Here, we quantified the fitness consequences of male SSB in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides and tested three prominent hypotheses about its function: (i) that it provides practice for future mating, (ii) that it reduces tension through dominance assertion, and (iii) that it arises indirectly from indiscriminate mating. Males were observed in same-sex pairings to quantify SSB and then paired with females to measure their subsequent mating behaviour and reproductive success. Same-sex sexual behaviour was common, occurring in 55% of same-sex pairs, and was associated with reduced reproductive success driven by higher brood failure rates. Both males that initiated, and those that received, mounting attempts from other males suffered reduced fitness. Contrary to the practice hypothesis, SSB did not increase mating speed with females and was associated with reduced mating frequency. However, SSB was associated with reduced aggression, supporting the hypothesis that SSB reduces tension through dominance establishment. Our findings show that SSB can reduce reproductive success but may be maintained due to a beneficial reduction in aggression.
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Synthesis-by-design of ferroelectric Dion–Jacobson two-dimensional hybrid organic–inorganic perovskites @natcomms.nature.com

dlvr.itSynthesis-by-design of ferroelectric Dion–Jacobson two-dimensional hybrid organic–inorganic perovskitesNature Communications, Published online: 27 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-78928-5This study presents a staged, physically guided synthesis-by-design workflow that integrates learning from scarce ferroelectric data with structure-aware screening, leading to the synthesis and validation of a Dion–Jacobson ferroelectric perovskite.
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Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 16, Pages 1908: Physical Exercise and Mobile Social Media Dependence Among University Students: Exploratory Conditional-Process Patterns Involving Loneliness and Self-Control BehSciMDPI

dlvr.itBehavioral Sciences, Vol. 16, Pages 1908: Physical Exercise and Mobile Social Media Dependence Among University Students: Exploratory Conditional-Process Patterns Involving Loneliness and Self-ControlPhysical exercise may be associated with less problematic digital use, but the evidence is heterogeneous, and the interpersonal and self-regulatory correlates of this association remain uncertain. We examined the observed-score relationships among exercise, loneliness, self-control, and mobile social media dependence in 205 non-physical-education undergraduates in Jiangxi, China. Item-level questionnaire data were rescored using published keys. Exercise was associated with lower dependence (r = −0.823), lower loneliness (r = −0.799), and higher self-control (r = 0.723; all p < 0.001). However, loneliness and dependence remained extremely highly correlated, and a targeted diagnostic CFA estimated a boundary-level latent correlation of approximately 0.999, indicating inadequate discriminant validity. An exploratory PROCESS-equivalent Model 15 showed significant exercise × self-control (B = 0.0133, p < 0.001) and loneliness × self-control (B = 1.0042, p < 0.001) interactions; the conditional product-of-coefficients index was −0.0177, 95% bootstrap CI [−0.0244, −0.0113]. HC3 and influential-case sensitivity analyses preserved the interaction pattern. The data therefore support a robust observed-score association between greater exercise and lower dependence, but they do not establish a distinct loneliness-mediated mechanism or causal ordering. These findings highlight the importance of integrating behavioral, interpersonal, and self-regulatory perspectives while prioritizing construct differentiation and measurement validity in research on university students’ digital well-being.
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A broad-host-range Rhizobium rhizogenes strain enables transient expression across diverse crop species @PLOSBiology.org

dlvr.itA broad-host-range Rhizobium rhizogenes strain enables transient expression across diverse crop speciesby Freddie King, Juan Carlos Lopez-Agudelo, Christopher Stephens, May Htet Aung, Tarhan Ibrahim, Enoch Lok Him Yuen, Ao Chen, Nick Eilmann, Saskia Jenkins, Cristina Vuolo, Yueh-Ning Swee, Wei-Jia Liu, Samuel Bruty, AmirAli Toghani, Chih-Horng Kuo, Erh-Min Lai, Jiorgos Kourelis, Lida Derevnina, Chih-Hang Wu, Tolga Bozkurt Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression has revolutionised plant research, enabling numerous landmark discoveries across diverse areas of plant biology. Yet this powerful approach remains largely confined to solanaceous species, leaving most economically important crop families without a comparable rapid assay platform. Here, we show that an engineered Rhizobium rhizogenes strain, AS109, mediates efficient transient expression across diverse dicot species spanning multiple taxonomic families, consistently outperforming commonly used laboratory agrobacterial strains. Leveraging the broad host range of AS109, we establish a suite of functional assays in faba bean (Vicia faba), including protein localisation, RNA interference-mediated gene silencing, cell-surface elicitor recognition screens, nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat receptor (NLR) activation, and infection cell biology at the host-pathogen interface. We further demonstrate that both singleton NLRs and sensor-helper NLR pairs from Solanaceae retain effector recognition and cell death activity when transferred into faba bean, establishing a rapid platform for evaluating cross-family transferability of disease-resistance genes. AS109 thus provides an accessible and versatile chassis for functional genomics in non-model crops, bridging the widening gap between hypothesis generation and experimental validation across diverse plant species.
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COGNITIVE HETEROGENEITY AND AGING: AN AGE-INDEPENDENT CILIARY GENE PROGRAM TRACKS COGNITIVE RESILIENCE IN #mice bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itCOGNITIVE HETEROGENEITY AND AGING: AN AGE-INDEPENDENT CILIARY GENE PROGRAM TRACKS COGNITIVE RESILIENCE IN #miceCognitive decline with age is often viewed as inevitable, yet older animals show striking heterogeneity in functional trajectories, with many preserving cognitive integrity despite physiological decline. The biological basis of this resilience remains poorly understood, partly due to insensitive behavioral testing paradigms. Using an automated home-cage platform and hippocampal RNA sequencing, we integrated behavioral phenotyping with transcriptomic profiling to disentangle molecular programs linked to cognitive performance from chronological age. Behavioral data from 906 C57BL/6 mice across 129 standardized studies, trajectory-based modeling, variance-partitioned correlation, and stability-driven gene prioritization identified a transcriptional signature (271 genes) linked to cognitive state independent of age. Preserved cognition was associated with higher expression of genes governing ciliary structure and motility, neurite organization, and synaptic architecture, while impairment was associated with neuroimmune and metabolic-stress programs. A 38-gene cilia structural module score remained associated with resilience after controlling for age (partial rho = -0.81), with consistent effects across leave-one-out resampling. Because the constituent genes were selected on this same outcome, the module-level magnitude is not an unbiased effect-size estimate; recalibration against a null that reapplies the full selection procedure gave an empirical p of 0.026. This divergence emerged among genetically identical mice, indicating non-genetic, discrete hippocampal molecular signatures underlying individual differences. Cell-type attribution against the Allen Brain Cell Atlas localized the module predominantly to ependymal cells, with 27 of 38 genes ependymal-restricted (median detection 90.2% in ependymal cells versus 1.1% in CA1 glutamatergic neurons) and three genes (Dnah9, Dnai4, Kif9) also detected in CA1. The association was not attributable to ependymal tissue content: the module score was unrelated to Foxj1 expression (rho = -0.016) and the partial correlation was unchanged after adjustment for ependymal and choroid plexus marker panels, indicating that the module reflects how strongly the ciliary program is expressed rather than how many ependymal cells each sample contained. These findings support a conceptual shift: cognitive trajectories appear shaped by intrinsic molecular set points rather than by chronological age, with expression of a motile ciliary program at the cerebrospinal fluid interface, rather than the abundance of the cells carrying it, emerging as a candidate correlate of resilience. This approach offers a generalizable strategy for dissecting functional heterogeneity from aging and identifying pathways for hypothesis-driven tests of resilience across the lifespan.
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End-to-end automation of behavioural experiments with a collaborative robot bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itEnd-to-end automation of behavioural experiments with a collaborative robotReliable behavioural measurement is critical to neuroscience discovery, but end-to-end automation of experiments using live animals is challenging. Preparation and transfer of live animals into and out of behavioural assays require skilled, dexterous, gentle and consistent handling. This is difficult to achieve without bespoke automation systems, which resist wide adoption. We present STELA, a robotic cell featuring off-the-shelf collaborative robot (cobot) that autonomously runs the complete workflow of a Drosophila behaviour experiment, from vial to data. Designed to emulate human routine fly laboratory procedures in human workspace, it performs manipulation of fly culture vials, CO2 fly anaesthesia, vision-guided sex classification, single live fly manipulation, and loading and disassembly of a behaviour assay, all in a programmed loop. In 24-h working day, STELA completed 16 experiments (1024 individual visual learning assays in flies) compared to the human who, in an 8-hour working day, completed 6 (384 assays). Retention of flies fit for analysis was similar (93.85% versus 83.33%, respectively), but with 12-fold improvement in handling consistency by the robot. In biologically matched behaviour experiments, robotic and manual handling resulted in the same mean fly behavioural outcomes, yet the robot significantly reduced inter-individual variability in baseline and learning behaviours. STELA demonstrates that it is possible to deploy standard robotic systems to flexibly automate one of the most challenging animal experiments. It provides a low-variance, high-throughput platform for scalable experimentation, and a path to closed-loop, democratized robotic acceleration of experimental discovery.
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Host–virus interactions dominate fitness and conceal additive genetic variation @PLOSBiology.org

dlvr.itHost–virus interactions dominate fitness and conceal additive genetic variationby Aleksei Belyi, Yiyang Du, Alastair J. Wilson, Ben Longdon, Francis M. Jiggins Host–parasite coevolution is expected to generate strong selection for resistance and infectivity that has the potential to erode genetic variation. Despite this, natural populations often retain extensive genetic variation in these traits. Genotype-by-genotype interactions on fitness can generate negative frequency-dependent selection, which helps maintain this variation by preventing any host or pathogen genotype from retaining a permanent advantage. Because these interactions place genetic variance in the interaction term rather than in additive differences among hosts or pathogens, that variance is masked from directional selection and can remain ‘cryptic’. Here we combine coevolutionary modelling with large‑scale experimental infection assays to quantify how host-pathogen interactions structure fitness variance in a vertically transmitted virus system, Drosophila melanogaster and sigma virus. Simulations show that coevolution typically erodes additive genetic variance in host and pathogen fitness, concentrating variance in host-virus interaction terms. Consistent with these predictions, experiments spanning 90 host-virus genotype combinations reveal that transmission, viral load, and virulence are overwhelmingly governed by host-virus genetic interactions rather than host or virus main effects. As a result, neither host resistance alleles nor viral genotypes confer consistently higher fitness across genetic backgrounds. Interactions tend to be sex‑specific, further limiting heritable fitness variation. Our results demonstrate that coevolution can substantially mask heritable genetic variation from directional selection by rendering fitness context-dependent. This extensive cryptic genetic variation may be revealed either when ecological or evolutionary conditions shift, or when the process of coevolution itself alters the direction of selection. This demonstrates the need to account for genotype-specific interactions when forecasting evolutionary responses.
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A multiscale framework for heme crystallization inhibition: From single-molecule step-capping to parasite suppression @PNAS.org

dlvr.itA multiscale framework for heme crystallization inhibition: From single-molecule step-capping to parasite suppressionProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 42, October 2026. SignificanceThe crystallization of toxic heme into hemozoin is a vital survival mechanism for malaria parasites and a primary target for clinical intervention. This work identifies “step-capping,” whereby lattice strain, induced by single drug molecules, ...
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Bats Could Learn Three-Dimensional Echolocation Using Echoacoustic Flow bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itBats Could Learn Three-Dimensional Echolocation Using Echoacoustic FlowEcholocating bats can find prey and avoid obstacles in three dimensions using sound alone. They infer the direction of an echo from the way the emitter, the head and the outer ears filter sound, together described by the echolocation-related transfer functon(ERTF). This filter differs between species and is likely to change as the ears grow, so it has to be calibrated by experience. Barn owls and humans recalibrate auditory space after their ears are altered, instructed by vision in the owl and by a so far unidentified teacher in humans. How a bat flying in the dark could calibrate its ERTF is unknown. Here we show that a simulated bat-like agent can learn its ERTF in azimuth and elevation from its echoes and movements alone, using echoacoustic flow, without labeled echo directions or an external teacher such as vision. The agent encodes each call into a structured latent scene, moves it with a physics-based geometric warp and predicts the next echoes through a differentiable renderer. It learns its ERTF efficiently and relearns it quickly after its outer ears change. The results form a first functional model of how bats could learn spatial hearing and yield testable hypotheses for behavioral experiments.
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ICYMI: Complementary axes of functional system integrity and integration with divergent clinical correlates characterize focal epilepsy @natcomms.nature.com

dlvr.itComplementary axes of functional system integrity and integration with divergent clinical correlates characterize focal epilepsyNature Communications, Published online: 25 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-79018-2Zhang and colleagues identify two complementary aspects of brain network topology in focal epilepsy, with system integrity showing modest preferential associations with cognition and system integration with clinical features.
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Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 16, Pages 1907: The Effects of Cognitive–Perceptual Style on the Multilevel Organization of Postural Control During Motor Imagery and Immersive Virtual Reality BehSciMDPI

dlvr.itBehavioral Sciences, Vol. 16, Pages 1907: The Effects of Cognitive–Perceptual Style on the Multilevel Organization of Postural Control During Motor Imagery and Immersive Virtual RealityUnderstanding the central nervous system responses to different threats of balance loss is instrumental for developments in behavioral neurophysiology and rehabilitation. Motor imagery (MI) and virtual reality (VR) are used to model postural threats. Cognitive–perceptual style, specifically field independence and field dependence, is known to modulate the postural response. However, data comparing responses to MI (internally generated threat) and VR (externally induced multisensory conflict) while accounting for cognitive–perceptual style remain insufficient. The degree of visual dependence, assessed using the Rod-and-Frame Test (RFT), was evaluated in 55 healthy young adults. Stabilographic parameters and surface electromyography were recorded during four stances (open eyes, closed eyes, MI of free fall, and VR simulation of free fall). At the systemic level, VR induced the most pronounced destabilization (q < 0.001). Greater RFT error (indicative of field dependence) was associated with the greatest instability (q < 0.01). At the neuromuscular level, VR was accompanied by increased gastrocnemius medialis activity (q < 0.0001). Micro-level analysis revealed significant changes in EMG signal complexity during VR and in association with RFT (q < 0.05 and q < 0.0001), suggesting differences in neuromuscular signal complexity. MI and VR differentially modulated postural control, with VR inducing stronger effects. Adaptations were detectable at multiple levels of adaptation, ranging from systemic destabilization to changes in neuromuscular coordination and micro-level muscle activity. Visual dependence was associated with greater instability. These data point to the potential value of accounting for individual variations in visual information use and highlight the need to further investigate these effects in clinical populations.
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Dynamism under the hood: Coevolutionary maintenance of variation in hosts and parasites @PLOSBiology.org

dlvr.itDynamism under the hood: Coevolutionary maintenance of variation in hosts and parasitesby Andrea L. Graham, David A. Chang van Oordt Why do hosts and parasites vary so much? A new study in PLOS Biology reveals that infection outcomes strongly depend upon interacting effects of host and parasite genotypes, offering an evolutionary explanation for profound and persistent variability. Why do hosts and parasites vary so much? This Primer explores a new study in PLOS Biology revealing that infection outcomes strongly depend upon interacting effects of host and parasite genotypes, offering an evolutionary explanation for profound and persistent variability.
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Breaking Symmetry in Walking: Drosophila Recruits Task- and Leg-Specific Motor Modules for Curve Walking bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itBreaking Symmetry in Walking: Drosophila Recruits Task- and Leg-Specific Motor Modules for Curve WalkingWalking animals must continuously reorient to navigate their environment, yet how leg kinematics are reconfigured to produce directional changes of varying magnitude remains poorly understood. Here, we used high-resolution leg tracking to characterize steering behavior in freely walking Drosophila. We focus our analysis on two major strategies, arcs and turns. Although arc and turn trajectories are statistically separable, several parameters suggest an underlying spatial continuum spanning both behavioral categories, involving a change in the steering mechanism rather than a discontinuity in the kinematic space. Arcs, representing shallow curves, and were generated primarily through: (1) graded shifts in the posterior extreme position (PEPs) of the front and inside middle legs, and bilateral asymmetries in stance amplitude, lengthening on the outside (2) and shortening on the inside (3) while step timing and ipsilateral coordination remained at straight-walking baseline. Turns, in contrast, were associated with higher steering demands and relied on: (4) progressive displacement of the anterior extreme positions (AEPs) in front and middle legs, (5) extreme reduction of inside middle and hind leg amplitudes to anchor the turning pivot, (6) skipped steps of inside middle and hind legs, (7) lateral steps of inside middle legs, and (8) spontaneous appearance of synchronized backward-stepping in particular legs beyond a critical turning threshold. Finally, a common kinematic configuration emerges at maximal turning demand. These results suggest a hierarchical, bipartite organization of steering: PEP- and AEP-driven mechanisms operating across moderate and severe trajectory curvatures, and a shared saturated motor state at the behavioral extreme that links descending steering commands to segment-specific leg kinematics in a freely walking insect
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Camus: a video-based framework for continuous behavioral monitoring in the mouse home-cage bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itCamus: a video-based framework for continuous behavioral monitoring in the mouse home-cageHome-cage activity is a window into the spontaneous behavioral repertoire of mice. These behaviors are organized across the circadian cycle, and disruptions in their duration, frequency, or organization may provide sensitive measures of neurological or psychiatric dysfunction. While continuous monitoring can help track the dynamics of spontaneous behavior, video recording in conventional laboratory cages is limited by compact cage geometry, opaque cage tops, and obstructed views of animals, food, and water. We therefore developed Camus, a Camera for home-cage recordings of Mus musculus mice. Camus integrates off-the-shelf USB cameras with infrared illumination and custom 3D-printed components for access to food and water without obstructed views. The modular design pairs continuous video acquisition with a manually validated computer-vision model to quantify locomotion, feeding, drinking, and nesting-related behavior across multiday recordings. A single desktop computer can record as many as 20 cages in parallel at an incremental cost of approximately $250 per cage, recording more than 99% of expected frames at 640x360-pixel resolution and 30 frames per second. Camus captured circadian structure in locomotion, feeding, and drinking. Camus also captured nest-building and sex-specific differences in nest dynamics. Using Camus with transgenic 5xFAD mice overexpressing amyloid revealed selective, age-progressive deficits in nesting behavior. Camus provides a scalable, open-source platform that combines accessible hardware, automated video monitoring, and machine-learning based analysis for continuous and potentially longitudinal behavioral phenotyping.
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An Early Jurassic soft eggshell provides insights into the evolutionary history of dinosaur eggs @natcomms.nature.com

dlvr.itAn Early Jurassic soft eggshell provides insights into the evolutionary history of dinosaur eggsNature Communications, Published online: 26 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-78709-0Fossil dinosaur eggs are extremely rare, and there is uncertainty about their ancestral anatomy and evolution. A newly described Early Jurassic sauropodomorph soft-shelled egg offers valuable insights into the reproductive biology of dinosaurs.
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Toxicity of zinc(II), cadmium(II), and mercury(II) salts in the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris assessed by automated imaging and deep neural networks ZoolJ_LinnSoc

dlvr.itToxicity of zinc(II), cadmium(II), and mercury(II) salts in the tardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris assessed by automated imaging and deep neural networksAbstractTardigrades are established model organisms in stress biology and are increasingly being explored in ecotoxicology. Here, we use the laboratory-cultured eutardigrade Hypsibius exemplaris to develop a robust and scalable workflow integrating automated low-magnification brightfield imaging in 384-well plates with deep-learning-based phenotype classification. Applying this workflow to 5 day exposures to cadmium(II), mercury(II), and zinc(II) chlorides, we show that H. exemplaris exhibits high tolerance to metal-induced stress compared with other aquatic invertebrates. To our knowledge, this is the first toxicity assessment of mercury and zinc salts in tardigrades and extends the limited existing data on cadmium toxicity.
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Competing presynaptic protein assemblies coordinate basal neurotransmission with homeostatic plasticity @PNAS.org

dlvr.itCompeting presynaptic protein assemblies coordinate basal neurotransmission with homeostatic plasticityProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 123, Issue 42, October 2026. SignificanceStable neural function requires synapses to maintain consistent levels of communication while remaining flexible enough to adapt when activity is disrupted. Failure to balance stability and adaptability is linked to numerous neurological and ...
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Reduced food accessibility enhances value-based decision-making in rats bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itReduced food accessibility enhances value-based decision-making in ratsFinding nutrients regularly is critical for survival; therefore, most animals invest a large portion of their time and energy in securing access to food. Food acquisition activates the brain's reward system, enhancing motivation and thereby increasing chances to succeed again in the future. However, little is known about the effect of food accessibility on cognition. We hypothesize that reducing food accessibility by requiring laboratory animals to get it with effort, will expose them to daily learning challenges, enhance reward system engagement and consequently have a positive impact on cognitive performance. To test whether effortful access to food confers cognitive benefits, one group of rats was housed with a food dispenser specifically designed to reduce food accessibility (Low Accessibility, LA). The comparison group had free access to food at any time (High Accessibility, HA). Both groups were trained in a value-based task in which they were required to choose between two options and, through trial and error, learn which option was more likely to deliver a reward. We found that both groups learned the task structure similarly. However, the LA group showed a higher proportion of optimal choices throughout training, indicating better task performance. We also found that LA rats were more sensitive to the outcomes of previous decisions. Collectively, our findings suggest that reducing food accessibility improves value-based decision-making, potentially by increasing sensitivity to action outcomes, highlighting a previously underappreciated link between food acquisition demands and cognitive performance.
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ICYMI: Education-related polygenic scores show different associations with youth mental health in parent-offspring trios @natcomms.nature.com

dlvr.itEducation-related polygenic scores show different associations with youth mental health in parent-offspring triosNature Communications, Published online: 24 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-78790-5Education and youth mental health are linked, but education-related polygenic associations are heterogeneous. Here, the authors show that cognitive and noncognitive scores differ in within-family links with youth mental health.
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Assessing larger-than rule learning in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus). bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itAssessing larger-than rule learning in African grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus).Many animals discriminate between magnitudes (e.g., in size, quantity, volume, length) that have fitness implications. Accumulated experience may facilitate the formation of relational rules that can be applied in novel contexts. However, the extent to which animals can form a relational rule, and are able to apply it to novel contexts remains a core focus when understanding the evolution of cognition. Here, we assessed the ability of African grey parrots o acquire the relative larger-than rule in size or quantity discrimination, and if so, how this was learned. Eight captive parrots initially participated in a natural preference test (NPT) to assess their prior preference for a larger amount of seeds. Each parrot was then randomly selected to either acquire the larger-than rule in size or quantity in a basic training (BT). They then participated in transfer training (TT) to evaluate their ability to apply the learned rule to novel stimulus pairs, and a final transfer test (FTT) to assess whether the parrots could generalise the learned rule to unseen stimulus pairs beyond the training range. Six parrots successfully completed both training and the test, with only one parrot, Sensei, passing the quantity discrimination FTT. More detailed analyses showed that the parrots showed varied performance in the TT, but as a group, showed limited transfer in the TT, suggesting the use of associative learning through increased experience in BT. They also showed better performance if a stimulus pair had a larger difference (Webers law). The success of Sensei was attributed to extensive TT alongside his quick natural preference toward larger amounts. These results suggest that repeated exposure to TT stimulus pairs increases familiarity with the stimulus pairs, which can facilitate task success, but individuals vary in their ability to acquire relational rules.
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Behavioral Sciences, Vol. 16, Pages 1897: The Effectiveness of a Technology-Supported Behavioral Intervention Package for Teaching Earthquake Safety Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Multiple-Probe Single-Case Evaluation BehSciMDPI

dlvr.itBehavioral Sciences, Vol. 16, Pages 1897: The Effectiveness of a Technology-Supported Behavioral Intervention Package for Teaching Earthquake Safety Skills to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Multiple-Probe Single-Case EvaluationChildren with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at heightened risk during earthquakes, yet behavioral interventions targeting disaster preparedness in this population remain scarce. This study evaluated the effects of a multicomponent, technology-supported behavioral intervention package on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of earthquake safety skills—declarative knowledge of pre- and post-earthquake actions and a five-step drop–cover–hold chain under stimulus control—in children with ASD. Three male children with ASD (aged 8–12 years) took part in a probe-condition multiple-probe across-participants single-case experimental design. The package combined video modeling, slide-based concept presentation, conditional discrimination training, and in vivo rehearsal with least-to-most prompting and reinforcement schedule thinning. All three participants reached the maximum score after three to four instructional sessions and met the mastery criterion (three consecutive maximum scores) within six to seven daily probes. Performance was maintained at 2-, 4-, and 8-week follow-up probes, with one score of 4 at 4 weeks, and generalized to a novel setting, materials, and implementer. Visual analysis indicated three within-study replications of effect, one per participant, produced by the staggered introduction of the intervention across the three tiers of the design, and Tau-U effect sizes were 0.80 to 0.87 (large to very large). Within the limits of a three-participant design meeting What Works Clearinghouse standards with reservations, these findings indicate that structured behavioral instruction can establish earthquake safety responding in children with ASD; replication is required before wider instructional use.
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Deficiency of placental GDF15 causes fetal growth restriction by inhibiting fetal hepatic STAT3-IGF2 axis @PLOSBiology.org

dlvr.itDeficiency of placental GDF15 causes fetal growth restriction by inhibiting fetal hepatic STAT3-IGF2 axisby Xiao Peng Liu, Xiao Zhang, Chun Xia Cai, Miao Miao Qin, Xiang Kai Leng, Jia Hao Chen, Yi Fan Han, Jun Ying Xiao, Jia He Huang, Jiang Wei Wu Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality, yet its underlying mechanism remains elusive. Here, we show that growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) levels are significantly reduced in the placenta and fetal circulation in mouse and pig FGR models and correlate positively with fetal weight. Placenta-specific GDF15 deficiency causes FGR, while placenta-specific Gdf15 mRNA delivery through targeted lipid nanoparticle (LNP) effectively alleviates FGR. Mechanistically, placental GDF15 is a major contributor to the fetal circulating GDF15 pool and enters the fetal compartment, where it activates the hepatic STAT3 signaling pathway to stimulate IGF2 production during pregnancy. Placental GDF15 deficiency decreases hepatic STAT3 phosphorylation and IGF2 levels in fetuses. Inhibition of STAT3 in primary mouse fetal hepatocytes blocks GDF15-induced IGF2 upregulation. Placenta-specific Gdf15 mRNA-LNP administration rescues the decreased hepatic p-STAT3 and IGF2 levels in FGR fetuses. Collectively, our findings identify a placenta-fetal liver metabolic axis where placental GDF15 promotes fetal growth by activating the fetal hepatic STAT3-IGF2 pathway, revealing a potential therapeutic target for FGR.
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Development and validation of an interpretable machine learning model for early prediction of refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia: a multi-center study SciReports

dlvr.itDevelopment and validation of an interpretable machine learning model for early prediction of refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia: a multi-center studyScientific Reports, Published online: 26 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41598-026-77238-6Development and validation of an interpretable machine learning model for early prediction of refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia: a multi-center study
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Decomposing alarm-calling #behavior to investigate context-dependent threat discrimination and response escalation in a social mongoose bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itDecomposing alarm-calling #behavior to investigate context-dependent threat discrimination and response escalation in a social mongoosePrey can adjust their behaviour to perceived predation risk, which may induce non-consumptive fitness effects. However, quantifying perceived risk in field studies remains challenging as anti-predator behaviours often integrate multiple processes such as encounter probability and detection capacity. Partitioning prey responses into sub-processes may therefore provide novel insights on predation risk perception. To this end, we decomposed meerkat alarm-calling behaviour into threat discrimination, and response escalation. Using 23 years of data from a wild population in the Kalahari, we evaluated the context-dependence of both components in relation to landscape features, and group composition. We defined threat discrimination as the probability to emit an alarm call at predators (eagles) relative to non-predators (vultures) and response escalation as the strength and intensity of the ensuing collective reaction. We found that discrimination varied with habitat and vegetation productivity. Furthermore, larger groups and the presence of pups increased meerkat threat discrimination, but only during the dry season. Response escalation varied with habitat and group size, but pup presence only increased reaction strength. The contrasting context-dependence among the two alarm-calling components support decomposing compound behaviours rather than quantifying perceived risk from a single behaviour. Thus, we recommend future studies to use this approach, when possible, to improve inference on prey perception and responses to risk.
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ICYMI: Phylogenomics of captured Cryptosporidium sequenced directly from patient samples identifies clade-specific genomic architecture and host-adapted lineages @natcomms.nature.com

dlvr.itPhylogenomics of captured Cryptosporidium sequenced directly from patient samples identifies clade-specific genomic architecture and host-adapted lineagesNature Communications, Published online: 24 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-78927-6The authors developed a method to sequence Cryptosporidium directly from patient samples. They identified genetic differences among parasite populations, which provide new insight into how these parasites spread between humans and animals.
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Same-sex sexual #behavior reduces reproductive success but mitigates aggression in a subsocial insect bioRxivpreprint

dlvr.itSame-sex sexual #behavior reduces reproductive success but mitigates aggression in a subsocial insectSame-sex sexual behaviour (SSB) is widely observed across taxa, yet its evolutionary maintenance remains debated and its fitness consequences remain surprisingly understudied. Here, we quantified the fitness consequences of male SSB in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides and tested three prominent hypotheses about its function: (i) that it provides practice for future mating, (ii) that it reduces tension through dominance assertion, and (iii) that it arises indirectly from indiscriminate mating. Males were observed in same-sex pairings to quantify SSB and then paired with females to measure their subsequent mating behaviour and reproductive success. Same-sex sexual behaviour was common, occurring in 55% of same-sex pairs, and was associated with reduced reproductive success driven by higher brood failure rates. Both males that initiated, and those that received, mounting attempts from other males suffered reduced fitness. Contrary to the practice hypothesis, SSB did not increase mating speed with females and was associated with reduced mating frequency. However, SSB was associated with reduced aggression, supporting the hypothesis that SSB reduces tension through dominance establishment. Our findings show that SSB can reduce reproductive success but may be maintained due to a beneficial reduction in aggression.
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A cortical semantic map integrates fractions and integers in the human #brain @PLOSBiology.org

dlvr.itA cortical semantic map integrates fractions and integers in the human #brainby Daniela Valério, Samuel Debray, Alireza Karami, Maxime Cauté, Nicolás Gravel, Stanislas Dehaene How does the human brain represent the meaning of abstract symbols? Some theories postulate the existence of semantic spaces where concepts occupy positions that reflect their conceptual relationships. In the number domain, psychological evidence suggests that integers are represented along a mental number line which, with education, integrates higher-level number concepts such as fractions. To test this hypothesis, we recorded whole-brain 7T fMRI responses to integer and fraction symbols during an active magnitude comparison task designed to engage magnitude processing. Consistent with predictions, we found both behavioral and neural numerical distance effects. Activation vectors in intraparietal, inferior temporal, prefrontal, hippocampal, and parahippocampal cortices formed a two-dimensional semantic space organized by numerical magnitude and domain (fractions versus integers). Gaussian fits revealed a topographic map of numerical preferences in the anterior inferior parietal cortex, common to both domains. Our results suggest that, when educated adults engage in an explicit magnitude comparison task, their brain can construct an ordered representation that integrates fractions and integers, with a topographic organization in the anterior IPS/IPL.