Creativity in the Wild: Improving Creative Reasoning through Immersion in Natural Settings

Many animal species across taxa spontaneously form aggregations that exhibit collective behaviour. In the wild, these collective systems are unavoidably influenced by ubiquitous environmental perturbations such as wind gusts, acoustic and visual stimuli, or the presence of predators or other animals. The way these environmental perturbations influence the animals' collective behaviour, however, is poorly understood, in part because conducting controlled quantitative perturbation experiments in natural settings is challenging. To circumvent the need for controlling environmental conditions in the field, we study swarming midges in a laboratory experiment where we have full control over external perturbations. Here, we consider the effect of controlled variable light exposure on the swarming behaviour. We find that not only do individuals in the swarm respond to light changes by speeding up during brighter conditions but also the swarm as a whole responds to these perturbations by compressing and simultaneously increasing the attraction of individual midges to its centre of mass. The swarm-level response can be described by making an analogy to classical thermodynamics, with the state of the swarm moving along an isotherm in a thermodynamic phase plane.

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Multimodal Human and Environmental Sensing for Longitudinal Behavioral Studies in Naturalistic Settings: Framework for Sensor Selection, Deployment, and Management (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.12832 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Brandon M Booth ◽

Karel Mundnich ◽

Tiantian Feng ◽

Amrutha Nadarajan ◽

Tiago H Falk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Human Behavior ◽

Well Being ◽

Sensor Selection ◽

Sensor Data ◽

Unexpected Events ◽

Minimal Impact ◽

In The Wild ◽

Natural Settings

BACKGROUND Recent advances in mobile technologies for sensing human biosignals are empowering researchers to collect real-world data outside of the laboratory, in natural settings where participants can perform their daily activities with minimal disruption. These new sensing opportunities usher a host of challenges and constraints for both researchers and participants. OBJECTIVE This viewpoint paper aims to provide a comprehensive guide to aid research teams in the selection and management of sensors before beginning and while conducting human behavior studies in the wild. The guide aims to help researchers achieve satisfactory participant compliance and minimize the number of unexpected procedural outcomes. METHODS This paper presents a collection of challenges, consideration criteria, and potential solutions for enabling researchers to select and manage appropriate sensors for their research studies. It explains a general data collection framework suitable for use with modern consumer sensors, enabling researchers to address many of the described challenges. In addition, it provides a description of the criteria affecting sensor selection, management, and integration that researchers should consider before beginning human behavior studies involving sensors. On the basis of a survey conducted in mid-2018, this paper further illustrates an organized snapshot of consumer-grade human sensing technologies that can be used for human behavior research in natural settings. RESULTS The research team applied the collection of methods and criteria to a case study aimed at predicting the well-being of nurses and other staff in a hospital. Average daily compliance for sensor usage measured by the presence of data exceeding half the total possible hours each day was about 65%, yielding over 355,000 hours of usable sensor data across 212 participants. A total of 6 notable unexpected events occurred during the data collection period, all of which had minimal impact on the research project. CONCLUSIONS The satisfactory compliance rates and minimal impact of unexpected events during the case study suggest that the challenges, criteria, methods, and mitigation strategies presented as a guide for researchers are helpful for sensor selection and management in longitudinal human behavior studies in the wild.

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Diversity of Olfactory Responses and Skills in Astyanax Mexicanus Cavefish Populations Inhabiting different Caves

Diversity ◽

10.3390/d12100395 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 395 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Maryline Blin ◽

Julien Fumey ◽

Camille Lejeune ◽

Maxime Policarpo ◽

Julien Leclercq ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Species ◽

Constant Darkness ◽

Astyanax Mexicanus ◽

Olfactory Responses ◽

In The Wild ◽

Genetic Mechanisms ◽

Olfactory Detection ◽

Northeastern Mexico ◽

Olfactory Detection Thresholds ◽

Natural Settings

Animals in many phyla are adapted to and thrive in the constant darkness of subterranean environments. To do so, cave animals have presumably evolved mechano- and chemosensory compensations to the loss of vision, as is the case for the blind characiform cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus. Here, we systematically assessed the olfactory capacities of cavefish and surface fish of this species in the lab as well as in the wild, in five different caves in northeastern Mexico, using an olfactory setup specially developed to test and record olfactory responses during fieldwork. Overall cavefish showed lower (i.e., better) olfactory detection thresholds than surface fish. However, wild adult cavefish from the Pachón, Sabinos, Tinaja, Chica and Subterráneo caves showed highly variable responses to the three different odorant molecules they were exposed to. Pachón and Subterráneo cavefish showed the highest olfactory capacities, and Chica cavefish showed no response to the odors presented. We discuss these data with regard to the environmental conditions in which these different cavefish populations live. Our experiments in natural settings document the diversity of cave environments inhabited by a single species of cavefish, A. mexicanus, and highlight the complexity of the plastic and genetic mechanisms that underlie cave adaptation.

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Multimodal Human and Environmental Sensing for Longitudinal Behavioral Studies in Naturalistic Settings: Framework for Sensor Selection, Deployment, and Management

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/12832 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. e12832 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Brandon M Booth ◽

Karel Mundnich ◽

Tiantian Feng ◽

Amrutha Nadarajan ◽

Tiago H Falk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Human Behavior ◽

Well Being ◽

Sensor Selection ◽

Sensor Data ◽

Unexpected Events ◽

Minimal Impact ◽

In The Wild ◽

Natural Settings

Background Recent advances in mobile technologies for sensing human biosignals are empowering researchers to collect real-world data outside of the laboratory, in natural settings where participants can perform their daily activities with minimal disruption. These new sensing opportunities usher a host of challenges and constraints for both researchers and participants. Objective This viewpoint paper aims to provide a comprehensive guide to aid research teams in the selection and management of sensors before beginning and while conducting human behavior studies in the wild. The guide aims to help researchers achieve satisfactory participant compliance and minimize the number of unexpected procedural outcomes. Methods This paper presents a collection of challenges, consideration criteria, and potential solutions for enabling researchers to select and manage appropriate sensors for their research studies. It explains a general data collection framework suitable for use with modern consumer sensors, enabling researchers to address many of the described challenges. In addition, it provides a description of the criteria affecting sensor selection, management, and integration that researchers should consider before beginning human behavior studies involving sensors. On the basis of a survey conducted in mid-2018, this paper further illustrates an organized snapshot of consumer-grade human sensing technologies that can be used for human behavior research in natural settings. Results The research team applied the collection of methods and criteria to a case study aimed at predicting the well-being of nurses and other staff in a hospital. Average daily compliance for sensor usage measured by the presence of data exceeding half the total possible hours each day was about 65%, yielding over 355,000 hours of usable sensor data across 212 participants. A total of 6 notable unexpected events occurred during the data collection period, all of which had minimal impact on the research project. Conclusions The satisfactory compliance rates and minimal impact of unexpected events during the case study suggest that the challenges, criteria, methods, and mitigation strategies presented as a guide for researchers are helpful for sensor selection and management in longitudinal human behavior studies in the wild.

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First detection of herpesvirus and mycoplasma in free-ranging Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni), and in potential pet vectors

10.1101/2021.01.22.427726 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

J-M Ballouard ◽

X Bonnet ◽

J Jourdan ◽

A Martinez-Silvestre ◽

S Gagno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Impact ◽

Upper Respiratory Tract ◽

Pet Trade ◽

Testudo Graeca ◽

Mycoplasma Agassizii ◽

In Captivity ◽

In The Wild ◽

Testudo Hermanni ◽

Natural Settings ◽

Free Ranging

AbstractTwo types of pathogens cause highly contagious upper respiratory tract diseases (URTD) in Chelonians: testudinid herpesviruses (TeHV) and a mycoplasma (Mycoplasma agassizii). In captivity, these infections are frequent and can provoke outbreaks. Pet trade generates international flow of tortoises, often without sanitary checking; individuals intentionally or accidentally released in the wild may spread pathogens. A better understanding of the transmission of infectious agents from captivity to wild tortoises is needed. Many exotic individuals have been introduced in populations of the endangered western Hermann’s tortoise (Testudo hermanni hermanni), notably spur-thighed tortoises (Testudo graeca). We assessed the presence of TeHV and mycoplasma in native western Hermann’s tortoises and in potential pet vectors in south-eastern France. Using a large sample (N=572 tortoises), this study revealed the worrying presence of herpesvirus in 7 free-ranging individuals (3 sub-populations). Additionally, Mycoplasma agassizii was detected in 15 of the 18 populations sampled with a frequency ranging from 2.5 to 25%. Exotic spur-thighed tortoises showed high frequency of Mycoplasma infection in captivity (18%) and in individuals (50%) found in native Hermann’s tortoise sub-populations, suggesting that this species could be a significant vector. The paucity of information of TeHV on European tortoise’ URTD in natural settings, especially in combination with mycoplasma, prompts for further studies. Indeed, sick tortoises remain concealed and may not be easily detected in the field. Our results indicate that both the prevalence and health impact of URTD are high should be scrutinized in the field.

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Freeze-substituted fungal cells of Nectria haematococca: A comparison of the macroconidial walls of the adhesion-competent wild type with an adhesion-reduced mutant

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100160996 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 688-689

Author(s):

Thecan Caesar-Ton That ◽

Lynn Epstein

Keyword(s):

Freeze Substitution ◽

Uranyl Acetate ◽

Wild Type ◽

Nectria Haematococca ◽

Fruit Extract ◽

Dialysis Tubing ◽

Tube Emergence ◽

Contrast Microscopy ◽

In The Wild ◽

Freeze Damage

Nectria haematococca mating population I (anamorph, Fusarium solani) macroconidia attach to its host (squash) and non-host surfaces prior to germ tube emergence. The macroconidia become adhesive after a brief period of protein synthesis. Recently, Hickman et al. (1989) isolated N. haematococca adhesion-reduced mutants. Using freeze substitution, we compared the development of the macroconidial wall in the wild type in comparison to one of the mutants, LEI.Macroconidia were harvested at 1C, washed by centrifugation, resuspended in a dilute zucchini fruit extract and incubated from 0 - 5 h. During the incubation period, wild type macroconidia attached to uncoated dialysis tubing. Mutant macroconidia did not attach and were collected on poly-L-lysine coated dialysis tubing just prior to freezing. Conidia on the tubing were frozen in liquid propane at 191 - 193C, substituted in acetone with 2% OsO4 and 0.05% uranyl acetate, washed with acetone, and flat-embedded in Epon-Araldite. Using phase contrast microscopy at 1000X, cells without freeze damage were selected, remounted, sectioned and post-stained sequentially with 1% Ba(MnO4)2 2% uranyl acetate and Reynold’s lead citrate. At least 30 cells/treatment were examined.

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Behavioral Assessment of Social Interactions in Natural Settings

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759.12.2.124 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 124-131 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Carlos Santoyo

Keyword(s):

Social Skills ◽

Social Interaction ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Behavioral Assessment ◽

Behavioral Observation ◽

Social Responsiveness ◽

Social Agents ◽

Social Effectiveness ◽

Natural Settings

The present paper deals with behavioral assessment of social interaction in natural settings. The design of observational systems that allow the identification of the direction, contents, quality and social agents involved in a social interchange is an aim of social interaction assessment and research. In the first part a description of a system of behavioral observation of social interaction is presented. This system permits the identification of the above mentioned aspects. Secondly a strategy for the behavioral assessment of social skills is described. This strategy is based on the consequences and effects of social interaction, and it is supported by three basic processes: social effectiveness, social responsiveness and reciprocity.

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Is the Musical Stroop Effect Able to Keep Its Promises?

Experimental Psychology (formerly Zeitschrift für Experimentelle Psychologie) ◽

10.1027/1618-3169/a000222 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 80-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Laurent Grégoire ◽

Pierre Perruchet ◽

Bénédicte Poulin-Charronnat

Keyword(s):

Stroop Task ◽

Stroop Effect ◽

Extensive Training ◽

Natural Settings ◽

Current Procedure

Grégoire, Perruchet, and Poulin-Charronnat (2013) claimed that the Musical Stroop task, which reveals the automaticity of note naming in musician experts, provides a new tool for studying the development of automatisms through extensive training in natural settings. Many of the criticisms presented in the four commentaries published in this issue appear to be based on a misunderstanding of our procedure, or questionable postulates. We maintain that the Musical Stroop Effect offers promising possibilities for further research on automaticity, with the main proviso that the current procedure makes it difficult to tease apart facilitation and interference.

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