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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

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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Animal Learning and Intelligence

Whales Speak Their Minds: Decoding the Secret Language of Bubble Rings

Humpback whales have been observed blowing bubble rings during friendly interactions with humans a behavior never before documented. This surprising display may be more than play; it could represent a sophisticated form of non-verbal communication. Scientists from the SETI Institute and UC Davis believe these interactions offer valuable insights into non-human intelligence, potentially helping refine our methods for detecting extraterrestrial life. Their findings underscore the intelligence, curiosity, and social complexity of whales, making them ideal analogues for developing communication models beyond Earth.

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As we delve into the fascinating world of marine mammals, a team of scientists from the SETI Institute and the University of California at Davis has made a groundbreaking discovery. For the first time, they’ve documented humpback whales producing large bubble rings, akin to a human smoker blowing smoke rings, during friendly interactions with humans. This previously little-studied behavior may represent play or communication.

Humpback whales are already known for using bubbles to corral prey and creating bubble trails and bursts when competing to escort a female whale. These new observations show humpback whales producing bubble rings during friendly encounters with humans. This finding contributes to the WhaleSETI team’s broader goal of studying non-human intelligence to aid in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, analyzed 12 bubble ring-production episodes involving 39 rings made by 11 individual whales. According to Dr. Laurance Doyle, SETI Institute scientist and co-author on the paper, “Because of current limitations on technology, an important assumption of the search for extraterrestrial intelligence is that extraterrestrial intelligence and life will be interested in making contact and so target human receivers.” This assumption is certainly supported by the independent evolution of curious behavior in humpback whales.

Dr. Fred Sharpe, co-lead author and UC Davis Affiliate, notes, “Humpback whales live in complex societies, are acoustically diverse, use bubble tools, and assist other species being harassed by predators. Now, akin to a candidate signal, we show they are blowing bubble rings in our direction in an apparent attempt to playfully interact, observe our response, and/or engage in some form of communication.”

The team’s findings have significant implications for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. By studying intelligent, non-terrestrial (aquatic), nonhuman communication systems, they aim to develop filters that aid in parsing cosmic signals for signs of extraterrestrial life.

Other team members and coauthors of the paper include Dr. Josephine Hubbard, Doug Perrine, Simon Hilbourne, Dr. Joy Reidenberg, and Dr. Brenda McCowan, with specialties in animal intelligences, photography, behavior of humpback whales, whale anatomy, and the use of AI in parsing animal communication.

An earlier paper by the team was published in PeerJ, entitled “Interactive Bioacoustic Playback as a Tool for Detecting and Exploring Nonhuman Intelligence: ‘Conversing’ with an Alaskan Humpback Whale.” The authors would like to acknowledge the Templeton Foundation Diverse Intelligences Program for financial support of this work.

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