scholarly journals Rapid spatial learning controls instinctive defensive behavior in mice

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruben Vale ◽  
Dominic A. Evans ◽  
Tiago Branco
Keyword(s):  
Defensive Behavior ◽  
Escape Behavior ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Defensive Strategy ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Defensive Behaviors ◽  
Spatial Environment ◽  
Defensive Action ◽  
Access To Food ◽  
Innate Behaviors

SummaryInstinctive defensive behaviors are essential for animal survival. Across the animal kingdom there are sensory stimuli that innately represent threat and trigger stereotyped behaviors such as escape or freezing [1-4]. While innate behaviors are considered to be hard-wired stimulus-responses [5], they act within dynamic environments, and factors such as the properties of the threat [6-9] and its perceived intensity [1, 10, 11], access to food sources [12-14] or expectations from past experience [15, 16], have been shown to influence defensive behaviors, suggesting that their expression can be modulated. However, despite recent work [2, 4, 17-21], little is known about how flexible mouse innate defensive behaviors are, and how quickly they can be modified by experience. To address this, we have investigated the dependence of escape behavior on learned knowledge about the spatial environment, and how the behavior is updated when the environment changes acutely. Using behavioral assays with innately threatening visual and auditory stimuli, we show that the primary goal of escape in mice is to reach a previously memorized shelter location. Memory of the escape target can be formed in a single shelter visit lasting less than 20 seconds, and changes in the spatial environment lead to a rapid update of the defensive action, including changing the defensive strategy from escape to freezing. Our results show that while there are innate links between specific sensory features and defensive behavior, instinctive defensive actions are surprisingly flexible and can be rapidly updated by experience to adapt to changing spatial environments.

scholarly journals Action selection based on multiple-stimulus aspects in the wind-elicited escape behavior of crickets

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nodoka Sato ◽  
Hisashi Shidara ◽  
Hiroto Ogawa
Keyword(s):  
Escape Behavior ◽  
Movement Direction ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Stimulus Velocity ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Defensive Behaviors ◽  
Multiple Stimulus ◽  
Stimulus Parameters ◽  
Direction Control ◽  
Escape Responses

ABSTRACTAnimals detect approaching predators via sensory inputs through various modalities and immediately show an appropriate behavioral response to survive. Escape behavior is essential to avoid the predator’s attack and is more frequently observed than other defensive behaviors. In some species, multiple escape responses are exhibited with different movements. It has been reported that the approaching speed of a predator is important in choosing which escape action to take among the multiple responses. However, it is unknown whether other aspects of sensory stimuli, that indicate the predator’s approach, affect the selection of escape responses. We focused on two distinct escape responses (running and jumping) to a stimulus (short airflow) in crickets and examined the effects of multiple stimulus aspects (including the angle, velocity, and duration) on the choice between these escape responses. We found that the faster and longer the airflow, the more frequently the crickets jumped, meaning that they could choose their escape response depending on both velocity and duration of the stimulus. This result suggests that the neural basis for choosing escape responses includes the integration process of multiple stimulus parameters. It was also found that the moving speed and distance changed depending on the stimulus velocity and duration during running but not during jumping, suggesting higher adaptability of the running escape. In contrast, the movement direction was accurately controlled regardless of the stimulus parameters in both responses. The escape direction depended only on stimulus orientation, but not on velocity and duration.Summary statementWhen air currents triggering escape are faster and longer, crickets more frequently jump than run. Running speed and distance depend on stimulus velocity and duration, but direction control is independent.

Sequential arousal and airway-defensive behavior of infants in asphyxial sleep environments

1997 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna S. Lijowska ◽  
Nevada W. Reed ◽  
Barbara A. Mertins Chiodini ◽  
Bradley T. Thach
Keyword(s):  
Defensive Behavior ◽  
Complete Sequence ◽  
Bedding Material ◽  
Limb Movements ◽  
Defensive Responses ◽  
Defensive Behaviors ◽  
Stereotyped Behaviors ◽  
Motor Activities ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Multiple Measurements

Lijowska, Anna S., Nevada W. Reed, Barbara A. Mertins Chiodini, and Bradley T. Thach. Sequential arousal and airway-defensive behavior of infants in asphyxial sleep environments. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(1): 219–228, 1997.—Infants are prone to accidental asphyxiation. Therefore, we studied airway-defensive behaviors and their relationship to spontaneous arousal behavior in 41 healthy sleeping infants (2–26 wk old), using two protocols: 1) infant was rebreathing expired air, face covered by bedding material; and 2) infant was exposed to hypercarbia, face uncovered. Multiple measurements of respiratory and motor activities were recorded (video, polygraph). The infants’ response to increasing hypercarbia consisted of four highly stereotyped behaviors: sighs (augmented breaths), startles, thrashing limb movements, and full arousal (eyes open, cry). These behaviors occurred abruptly in self-limited clusters of activity and always in the same sequence: first a sigh coupled with a startle, then thrashing, then full arousal. Incomplete sequences (initial behaviors only) occurred far more frequently than the complete sequence and were variably effective in removing the bedding covering the airway. In both protocols, as inspired CO2increased, incomplete arousal sequences recurred periodically and with increasing frequency and complexity until the infant either succeeded in clearing his/her airway or was completely aroused. Spontaneous arousal sequences, identical to those occurring during hypercarbia, occurred periodically during sleep. This observation suggests that the infant’s airway-defensive responses to hypercarbia consist of an increase in the frequency and complexity of an endogenously regulated, periodically occurring sequence of arousal behaviors.

The Neural Basis of Escape Behavior in Vertebrates

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 417-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Branco ◽  
Peter Redgrave
Keyword(s):  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Escape Behavior ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Normative Theory ◽  
Neural Systems ◽  
Adaptive Behaviors ◽  
Neural Basis ◽  
Sensory Stimuli ◽  
Evolutionarily Conserved ◽  
Escape Behaviors

Escape is one of the most studied animal behaviors, and there is a rich normative theory that links threat properties to evasive actions and their timing. The behavioral principles of escape are evolutionarily conserved and rely on elementary computational steps such as classifying sensory stimuli and executing appropriate movements. These are common building blocks of general adaptive behaviors. Here we consider the computational challenges required for escape behaviors to be implemented, discuss possible algorithmic solutions, and review some of the underlying neural circuits and mechanisms. We outline shared neural principles that can be implemented by evolutionarily ancient neural systems to generate escape behavior, to which cortical encephalization has been added to allow for increased sophistication and flexibility in responding to threat.

scholarly journals Environmental Role of National Parks

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molla Mekonnen Alemu
Keyword(s):  
National Parks ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Spiritual Values ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Access To Food

The natural ecosystems are endangered due to human behavior; the razing of forests is diminishing the world’s oxygen supply and potentially irreplaceable natural resources. Wetlands are being drained, eliminating breeding environments for millions of birds and reproducing grounds for fish; cherished fauna and flora species are being endangered from extinction. Clean water, clean air, access to food sources, buffers of weather events, cultural and spiritual values, and raw materials for consumers, are some of the ecosystem services that ensure the well-being of humanity. Well-managed protected areas are a proven mechanism in the protection and conservation of healthy ecosystems and the services they provide. National Parks are essentially planned to shelter the lasting "wilderness" of a given country and have principally dedicated on the maintenance of extraordinary areas or emblematic species. This paper is aimed at exploring the environmental role of national parks by having an extensive literature review and come up with recommendations which can help the conservation of national parks.

scholarly journals Increased burrow oxygen levels trigger defensive burrow-sealing behavior by plateau zokors

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Chu ◽  
Yongliang Tian ◽  
Jianwei Zhou ◽  
Zhuangsheng Tang ◽  
Kechi Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Defensive Behavior ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Activity Rhythm ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Subterranean Rodents ◽  
Subterranean Rodent ◽  
Sound Control ◽  
Five Factors ◽  
Defensive Behaviors ◽  
Plateau Zokor

AbstractDefensive behaviors are a response to immediate and potential threats in the environment, including abiotic and biotic threats. Subterranean rodents exhibit morphological and physiological adaptions for life underground, and they will seal with mounds and additional plugs when their burrow opened. However, little is known about the factors driving this defensive behavior. In this study, we selected a subterranean rodent, plateau zokor (Myospalax fontanieri), as a species to investigate (both in the laboratory and in the field) the possible factors responsible for burrow-sealing behavior. Our results showed that: (1) In the laboratory, the burrow-sealing frequency of plateau zokor in response to five factors were as follows: oxygen (52.63%) > light (34.58%) > temperature (20.24%) > gas flow (6.48%) > sound/control (0%). Except for light, the burrow-sealing frequency in response to other factors was significantly lower than that in response to oxygen (P < 0.05). (2) Burrow-sealing behavior in response to each treatment did not differ significantly between males and females in the laboratory experiment. (3) In the field, during the animal’s active periods in both the cold and warm season, the burrow-sealing frequency under the oxygen treatment was higher than that under the light and temperature treatments. Plateau zokors were found not to be sensitive to these treatments during their inactive periods during both the cold and warm season. (4) The latency to reseal the burrow showed no obvious differences between each treatment both in the laboratory and in the field. In conclusion, the main factor that influences the burrow-sealing behavior of plateau zokors is the variation in oxygen concentration, and this defensive behavior is related to their activity rhythm.

scholarly journals A role for cerebral cortex in the suppression of innate defensive behavior

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Natale ◽  
Maria Esteban Masferrer ◽  
Senthilkumar Deivasigamani ◽  
Cornelius T. Gross
Keyword(s):  
Cerebral Cortex ◽  
Defensive Behavior ◽  
Surgical Removal ◽  
Aversive Stimuli ◽  
Defensive Responses ◽  
Defensive Behaviors ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
Neuron Function ◽  
Stressful Stimulus

AbstractThe cerebral cortex is involved in the control of cognition and the processing of learned information and it appears to have a role in the adaptation of behavior in response to unpredictable circumstances. In addition, the cortex may have a role in the regulation of innate responses since rodents, cats or primates with surgical removal or accidental destruction of cortical regions show excessive irritability, aggression and rage elicited by threatening stimuli. However, it remains unclear whether cortex has an acute role in suppressing innate threat responses because the imprecision and chronic nature of these lesions leaves open the possibility that compensatory processes may underlie some of these phenotypes. In the present study we used pharmacogenetic inhibition to precisely, rapidly and reversibly suppress cortical pyramidal neuron function and examine its contribution to defensive behaviors elicited by a variety of innately aversive stimuli. Inhibition of cortex caused an increase of defensive responses elicited by an aggressive conspecific, a novel prey, and a physically stressful stimulus. These findings are consistent with a role of cortex in the acute inhibition of innate defensive behaviors.

scholarly journals Induction of flight via midbrain projections to the cuneiform nucleus

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmy F Tsang ◽  
Camilla Orlandini ◽  
Rahul Sureka ◽  
Alvaro H Crevenna ◽  
Emerald Perlas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escape Behavior ◽  
Periaqueductal Gray ◽  
Flight Behavior ◽  
Optogenetic Stimulation ◽  
Dorsal Periaqueductal Gray ◽  
Defensive Behaviors ◽  
Cuneiform Nucleus ◽  
Midbrain Structure

The dorsal periaqueductal gray is a midbrain structure implicated in the control of defensive behaviors and the processing of painful stimuli. Electrical stimulation or optogenetic activation of excitatory neurons in dorsal periaqueductal gray results in freezing or flight behavior at low or high intensity, respectively. However, the output structures that mediate these defensive behaviors remain unconfirmed. Here we carried out a targeted classification of neuron types in dorsal periaqueductal gray using multiplex in situ sequencing and then applied cell-type and projection-specific optogenetic stimulation to identify projections from dorsal periaqueductal gray to the cuneiform nucleus that promoted goal-directed flight behavior. These data confirmed that descending outputs from dorsal periaqueductal gray serve as a trigger for directed escape behavior.

scholarly journals Ventromedial hypothalamic neurons control a defensive emotion state

eLife ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prabhat S Kunwar ◽  
Moriel Zelikowsky ◽  
Ryan Remedios ◽  
Haijiang Cai ◽  
Melis Yilmaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Defensive Behavior ◽  
Emotional Learning ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Hypothalamic Neurons ◽  
Behavioral Consequences ◽  
Negative Valence ◽  
Defensive Responses ◽  
Defensive Behaviors ◽  
Integral Role

Defensive behaviors reflect underlying emotion states, such as fear. The hypothalamus plays a role in such behaviors, but prevailing textbook views depict it as an effector of upstream emotion centers, such as the amygdala, rather than as an emotion center itself. We used optogenetic manipulations to probe the function of a specific hypothalamic cell type that mediates innate defensive responses. These neurons are sufficient to drive multiple defensive actions, and required for defensive behaviors in diverse contexts. The behavioral consequences of activating these neurons, moreover, exhibit properties characteristic of emotion states in general, including scalability, (negative) valence, generalization and persistence. Importantly, these neurons can also condition learned defensive behavior, further refuting long-standing claims that the hypothalamus is unable to support emotional learning and therefore is not an emotion center. These data indicate that the hypothalamus plays an integral role to instantiate emotion states, and is not simply a passive effector of upstream emotion centers.

scholarly journals Dopamine modulates visual threat processing in the superior colliculus via D2 receptors

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Quentin Montardy ◽  
Zheng Zhou ◽  
Lei Li ◽  
Qingning Yang ◽  
Zhuogui Lei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Superior Colliculus ◽  
Dopamine Receptors ◽  
Defensive Behavior ◽  
D2 Receptors ◽  
Receptor System ◽  
D2 Dopamine Receptors ◽  
Visuomotor Integration ◽  
Defensive Responses ◽  
Defensive Behaviors

AbstractDopamine (DA) system is intriguing in the aspect that distinct, typically opposing physiological functions are mediated by D1 dopamine receptors (Drd1) and D2 dopamine receptors (Drd2). Both Drd1+ and Drd2+ neurons were identified in superior colliculus (SC), a visuomotor integration center known for its role in defensive behaviors to visual threats. We hypothesized that Drd1+ and Drd2+ neurons in the SC may play a role in promoting instinctive defensive responses.Optogenetic activation of Drd2+ neurons, but not Drd1+ neurons, in the SC triggered strong defensive behaviors. Chemogenetic inhibition of SC Drd2+ neurons decreased looming-induced defensive behavior, suggesting involvement of SC Drd2+ neurons in defensive responses. To further confirm this functional role of Drd2 receptors, pretreatment with the Drd2+ agonist quinpirole in the SC impaired looming-evoked defensive responses, suggesting an essential role of Drd2 receptors in the regulation of innate defensive behavior. Inputs and outputs of SC Drd2+ neurons were investigated using viral tracing: SC Drd2+ neurons mainly receive moderate inputs from the Locus Coeruleus (LC), whilst we did not find any incoming projections from other dopaminergic structures. Our results suggest a sophisticated regulatory role of DA and its receptor system in innate defensive behavior.

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