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Animal Learning and Intelligence

Temperature during development influences connectivity between neurons and behavior in fruit flies

The rate of development of poikilothermic animals, such as insects, fish, and reptiles, is determined by environmental temperature. A research team has recently demonstrated how temperature can affect brain development in fruit flies. They found more synapses and postsynaptic partners in the brain of Drosophila melanogaster correlating to lower environmental temperature during pupal development.

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Temperature plays a crucial role in determining the rate of development in poikilothermic animals, such as insects, fish, and reptiles. Researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have investigated how temperature influences brain development in fruit flies, specifically Drosophila melanogaster.

Dr. Carlotta Martelli, head of the team at the Institute of Developmental Biology and Neurobiology of JGU, stated that “in the area of the brain we examined, neurons formed more synapses and connected to more synaptic partners at lower temperatures.” The researchers focused on the olfactory circuit, as it determines important behavioral patterns in these flies and is essential for their survival.

The study found that the temperature to which the insects are exposed during the pupal stage has an impact not only on brain development but also on odor-driven behavior. Metabolic theory suggests that temperature affects the rates of biophysical reactions, including development and neural connectivity.

In the case of Drosophila, it was discovered that the number of synapses between neurons in the visual system increased when the temperature during their development was lower. Dr. Martelli’s team decided to study the insects’ olfactory circuit and determine the effect of different temperatures.

For this purpose, flies were developed at either 18°C or 25°C during the pupal stage, which is when brain wiring happens. The researchers used genetic techniques to detect the synaptic partners of a specific type of neuron in the adult fly brain. A count showed that the animals that had developed at 18°C had more than twice as many postsynaptic neurons as those flies that had developed at 25°C.

Greater numbers of connections were apparent at all levels of the olfactory circuit in the insects’ brains. To explain this outcome, Dr. Martelli and her team devised a theory based on the assumption that there are slightly divergent metabolic conditions for the growth of the insect body as a whole and the development of the brain.

The researchers assumed that metabolism is more rapid in the brain at lower temperatures than in other parts of the body. However, direct evidence to support this hypothesis regarding the role of metabolism is still lacking. The team is currently analyzing the expression of relevant genes during development to find an answer.

Furthermore, the researchers reported that if temperature is lowered during the pupal stage, this affects the odor-driven behavior of the adult flies. For the purpose of the experiment, flies aged ten days were exposed to a tiny quantity of butanone, a liquid with a pungent odor that attracts the insects. Flies that developed at 18°C during the pupal phase exhibited greater attraction to this odor than those pupal fruit flies kept at 25°C.

The research was financed by the German Research Foundation (DFG) through the Research Unit RobustCircuit — From Imprecision to Robustness in Neural Circuit Assembly (FOR 5289) and the Institute for Quantitative and Computational Biosciences (IQCB), which was established in early 2024 at Johannes Gutenberg Mainz University. The corresponding article has been published in Science Advances.

Animal Learning and Intelligence

Can Dogs See Through a Person’s Kindness? A Surprising Study Says No

Despite our strong belief in dogs’ ability to sense good from bad in people, new research shows they may not actually judge human character, at least not in the way we think. When dogs watched how humans treated other dogs, they didn’t favor the kinder person later. Even direct interactions didn’t sway their behavior. The study suggests dogs’ reputational judgments might be more nuanced—or harder to study—than we realized.

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As we often assume that dogs can gauge a person’s character based on their behavior towards them, scientists have long been fascinated by this aspect of canine cognition. However, a recent study conducted at Kyoto University in Japan has revealed that dogs may not be as perceptive as we think.

The researchers involved 40 pet dogs in the study to investigate how age and development influence their ability to form reputations of humans. The dogs were first exposed to observing another dog’s interactions with two humans, one of whom provided food while the other did not. After this indirect experience, the dogs then interacted directly with both humans.

Surprisingly, the results showed that the dogs did not display a significant preference for the generous person who fed them compared to the selfish person who refused to feed them. The dogs’ behavior towards both humans was random and did not exceed chance levels following either indirect observation or direct interaction.

“This study highlights the methodological challenges in accurately capturing dogs’ understanding and evaluation of humans,” said corresponding researcher Hoi-Lam Jim, who recently joined the faculty at Kyoto University. “It’s clear that reputation formation may be more complex than previously thought, even for animals like dogs that closely cooperate with humans.”

While this study did not provide conclusive evidence of dogs forming reputations of humans, it emphasizes the need for further research to better understand what influences their sociocognitive abilities. Future studies should aim to systematically compare dogs of all ages from different populations and life experiences.

In conclusion, while we often assume that dogs can see through a person’s kindness, this study suggests that our furry friends may not be as perceptive as we think. Perhaps it’s time to reevaluate how we understand canine cognition and give them the benefit of the doubt.

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Animal Learning and Intelligence

The Generous Giants: Unpacking the Mystery of Killer Whales Sharing Fish with Humans

Wild orcas across four continents have repeatedly floated fish and other prey to astonished swimmers and boaters, hinting that the ocean’s top predator likes to make friends. Researchers cataloged 34 such gifts over 20 years, noting the whales often lingered expectantly—and sometimes tried again—after humans declined their offerings, suggesting a curious, relationship-building motive.

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The study, conducted by researchers from Canada, New Zealand, and Mexico, has shed light on an intriguing phenomenon: killer whales in the wild have been observed sharing fish with humans over two decades. The research team analyzed 34 interactions, where orcas approached people in various settings, including boats, shorelines, and even while they were swimming in the water.

Lead author Jared Towers explained that orcas often share food with each other as a prosocial activity to build relationships within their social groups. Now, it seems they may also extend this behavior to humans, indicating an interest in relating to us as well.

The research was published in the Journal of Comparative Psychology and involved collecting information from various sources, including videos, photos, and interviews with people who had experienced these interactions. The incidents were carefully selected based on strict criteria: the orcas had to approach the people on their own and drop the item in front of them.

Some remarkable patterns emerged from this research. In most cases (21 out of 34), the encounters took place while people were on boats. On only one occasion did an orca attempt to offer food to someone standing on the shore. Notably, in many instances (11 times), the orcas waited to see what would happen after they made their offering, and some even tried again when their gift was initially refused.

This behavior bears resemblance to that of domesticated animals like dogs and cats, which sometimes share food with humans. However, this research marks one of the first detailed descriptions of similar behavior in non-domesticated animals.

The researchers suggest several possible explanations for this phenomenon: orcas may be practicing learned cultural behavior, exploring, playing, learning about, manipulating, or developing relationships with humans. Given their advanced cognitive abilities and social nature, these outcomes are considered plausible.

This groundbreaking study opens new avenues of inquiry into the fascinating world of killer whales.

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Animal Learning and Intelligence

“Breathe with Identity: The Surprising Link Between Your Breath and You”

Scientists have discovered that your breathing pattern is as unique as a fingerprint and it may reveal more than just your identity. Using a 24-hour wearable device, researchers achieved nearly 97% accuracy in identifying people based solely on how they breathe through their nose. Even more intriguingly, these respiratory signatures correlated with traits like anxiety levels, sleep cycles, and body mass index. The findings suggest that breathing isn t just a passive process it might actively shape our mental and emotional well-being, opening up the possibility of using breath training for diagnosis and treatment.

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Breathe with Identity: The Surprising Link Between Your Breath and You

Imagine if your breath could reveal not only your health but also your identity. Sounds like science fiction? Think again! A recent study published in the journal Current Biology has shown that scientists can identify individuals based solely on their breathing patterns with an astonishing 96.8% accuracy.

The research was led by Noam Sobel and Timna Soroka from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel. They were intrigued by the connection between our brain and breathing, which is processed during inhalation in mammals. Since every brain is unique, wouldn’t each person’s breathing pattern reflect that?

To test this idea, the team developed a lightweight wearable device that tracks nasal airflow continuously for 24 hours using soft tubes placed under the nostrils. This innovative approach revealed that people’s respiratory patterns are as distinctive as fingerprints – and just as reliable.

In an experiment with 100 healthy young adults, the researchers asked them to go about their daily lives while wearing the device. The collected data allowed them to identify individuals with high accuracy, rivaling the precision of some voice recognition technologies. What’s more, the study found that these respiratory “fingerprints” correlated with various aspects of a person’s life, such as:

* Body mass index (BMI)
* Sleep-wake cycle
* Levels of depression and anxiety
* Behavioral traits

For instance, participants who scored relatively higher on anxiety questionnaires had shorter inhales and more variability in the pauses between breaths during sleep. This suggests that long-term nasal airflow monitoring may serve as a window into physical and emotional well-being.

But here’s the really interesting part: what if the way we breathe affects our mental and emotional states? Could changing our breathing patterns actually change those conditions? The researchers are already investigating this possibility, aiming to develop a more discreet and comfortable version of the device for everyday use.

Sobel notes, “We intuitively assume that how depressed or anxious you are changes the way you breathe. But it might be the other way around. Perhaps the way you breathe makes you anxious or depressed. If that’s true, we might be able to change the way you breathe to change those conditions.”

This study opens up exciting possibilities for using respiratory monitoring as a tool for improving mental and emotional well-being. And who knows? Maybe one day, your breath will be the key to unlocking a healthier, happier you!

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