scholarly journals The early bonobo gets the juice? The evolutionary roots of pre-crastination in bonobos (Pan paniscus)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Schwob ◽  
Amanda J. Epping ◽  
Jared Taglialatela ◽  
Daniel J. Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Pan Paniscus ◽  
Similar Proportion ◽  
Existence Proof ◽  
Object A ◽  
Automatic Response ◽  
Human Experiments ◽  
Human Adults ◽  
Behavior And Cognition

This paper is to appear in Animal Behavior and Cognition. ----- Pre-crastination refers to the propensity to initiate tasks at the earliest possible moment. Research with human adults has found that some individuals consistently chose to transport a nearby object a further distance rather than delay initiation of the transport to select an object closer to the target. This phenomenon has never been tested in animals using analogous methods. Consequently, we tested bonobos – the species most closely related to humans - using two versions of a comparable transport task. Overall, we found that all five bonobos tended to select the first object they encountered to transport to the goal. Unlike humans, the bonobos sometimes transported both available objects. Two of the five bonobos consistently pre-crastinated, a similar proportion to that found in human experiments. However, if the pre-crastination choice was non-functional, the bonobos chose the motorically efficient choice. In sum, our findings provide an existence proof for pre-crastination tendencies in some bonobos, akin to the distribution of this trait in humans. We discuss the possibility that the pre-crastination choice represents an automatic response triggered by the affordances of the objects encountered.

scholarly journals Using Touchscreen Equipped Operant Chambers to Study Comparative Cognition. Benefits, Limitations, and Advice

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
BM Seitz ◽  
KB McCune ◽  
M MacPherson ◽  
L Bergeron ◽  
AP Blaisdell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source Software ◽  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Infinite Number ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Comparative Cognition ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Test Animal ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Report Data ◽  
Behavior And Cognition

AbstractOperant chambers are small enclosures used to test animal behavior and cognition. While traditionally reliant on simple technologies for presenting stimuli (e.g., lights and sounds) and recording responses made to basic manipulanda (e.g., levers and buttons), an increasing number of researchers are beginning to use Touchscreen-equipped Operant Chambers (TOCs). These TOCs have obvious advantages, namely by allowing researchers to present a near infinite number of stimuli as well as increased flexibility in the types of responses that can be made and recorded. Here, we trained wild-caught adult and juvenile great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) to complete experiments using a TOC. We have learned much from these efforts, and outline the advantages and disadvantages of these two approaches. We report data from our training sessions and discuss important modifications we made to facilitate animal engagement and participation in various tasks. Finally, we provide a “training guide” for creating experiments using PsychoPy, a free and open-source software that we have found to be incredibly useful during these endeavors. This article, therefore, should serve as a useful resource to those interested in switching to or maintaining a TOC, or who similarly wish to use a TOC to test the cognitive abilities of non-model species or wild-caught individuals.

scholarly journals Using touchscreen equipped operant chambers to study animal cognition. Benefits, limitations, and advice

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. e0246446
Author(s):  
Benjamin M. Seitz ◽  
Kelsey McCune ◽  
Maggie MacPherson ◽  
Luisa Bergeron ◽  
Aaron P. Blaisdell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Source Software ◽  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Infinite Number ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Animal Cognition ◽  
Training Data ◽  
Model Species ◽  
Test Animal ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Behavior And Cognition

Operant chambers are small enclosures used to test animal behavior and cognition. While traditionally reliant on simple technologies for presenting stimuli (e.g., lights and sounds) and recording responses made to basic manipulanda (e.g., levers and buttons), an increasing number of researchers are beginning to use Touchscreen-equipped Operant Chambers (TOCs). These TOCs have obvious advantages, namely by allowing researchers to present a near infinite number of visual stimuli as well as increased flexibility in the types of responses that can be made and recorded. We trained wild-caught adult and juvenile great-tailed grackles (Quiscalus mexicanus) to complete experiments using a TOC. We learned much from these efforts, and outline the advantages and disadvantages of our protocols. Our training data are summarized to quantify the variables that might influence participation and success, and we discuss important modifications to facilitate animal engagement and participation in various tasks. Finally, we provide a “training guide” for creating experiments using PsychoPy, a free and open-source software that was incredibly useful during these endeavors. This article, therefore, should serve as a resource to those interested in switching to or maintaining a TOC, or who similarly wish to use a TOC to test the cognitive abilities of non-model species or wild-caught individuals.

scholarly journals Replications, Comparisons, Sampling and the Problem of Representativeness in Animal Behavior and Cognition Research

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin George Farrar ◽  
Konstantinos Voudouris ◽  
Nicola Clayton
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Animal Behavior ◽  
External Validity ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Animal Research ◽  
Theory Testing ◽  
Research Programmes ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Behavior And Cognition

Research in animal behaviour often involves small and idiosyncratic samples. This can constrain the generalizability and replicability of study’s results and prevent meaningful comparisons between samples. However, there is little consensus about what constitutes a replication and what makes a strong comparison in animal research. We apply a resampling definition of replication to answer these questions in Part 1 of this article, and in Part 2, we focus on the problem of representativeness in animal research. Through three case studies, we highlight how and when representativeness may be an issue in animal behavior and cognition research, and show how the representativeness problems can be viewed through the lenses of, i) replicability, ii) generalizability and external validity, iii) pseudoreplication and, iv) theory testing. Next, we discuss when and how researchers can improve their ability to learn from small sample research through, i) increasing heterogeneity in experimental design, ii) increasing homogeneity in experimental design, and, iii) statistically modeling variation. Finally, we describe how the strongest solutions will vary depending on the goals and resources of individual research programmes and discuss some barriers towards implementing them.

scholarly journals Effects of Timing of Acute and Consecutive Catechin Ingestion on Postprandial Glucose Metabolism in Mice and Humans

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaki Takahashi ◽  
Mamiho Ozaki ◽  
Miku Tsubosaka ◽  
Hyeon-Ki Kim ◽  
Hiroyuki Sasaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Green Tea ◽  
Venous Blood ◽  
Epigallocatechin Gallate ◽  
Postprandial Glucose ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Fasted State ◽  
Human Experiments ◽  
Human Adults ◽  
Late Evening ◽  
Three Factor

We examined the effects of the timing of acute and consecutive epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and catechin-rich green tea ingestion on postprandial glucose in mice and human adults. In mouse experiments, we compared the effects of EGCG administration early (morning) and late (evening) in the active period on postprandial glucose. In human experiments, participants were randomly assigned to the morning-placebo (MP, n = 10), morning-green tea (MGT, n = 10), evening-placebo (EP, n = 9), and evening-green tea (EGT, n = 9) groups, and consumed either catechin-rich green tea or a placebo beverage for 1 week. At baseline and after 1 week, participants consumed their designated beverages with breakfast (MP and MGT) or supper (EP and EGT). Venous blood samples were collected in the fasted state and 30, 60, 120, and 180 min after each meal. Consecutive administration of EGCG in the evening, but not in the morning, reduced postprandial glucose at 30 (p = 0.006) and 60 (p = 0.037) min in the evening trials in mice. In humans, ingestion of catechin-rich green tea in the evening decreased postprandial glucose (three-factor analysis of variance, p < 0.05). Thus, catechin intake in the evening more effectively suppressed elevation of postprandial glucose.

Reconstruction of Objects from their Projections Using Orthogonal Functions

1973 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
pp. 268-269
Author(s):  
Elrnar Zeitler
Keyword(s):  
Unit Area ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
One Dimension ◽  
Spatial Density ◽  
Dimensional Representation ◽  
Orthogonal Functions ◽  
Object A ◽  
Plane Normal ◽  
Dimensional Object ◽  
Spatial Density Distribution

Considering any finite three-dimensional object, a “projection” is here defined as a two-dimensional representation of the object's mass per unit area on a plane normal to a given projection axis, here taken as they-axis. Since the object can be seen as being built from parallel, thin slices, the relation between object structure and its projection can be reduced by one dimension. It is assumed that an electron microscope equipped with a tilting stage records the projectionWhere the object has a spatial density distribution p(r,ϕ) within a limiting radius taken to be unity, and the stage is tilted by an angle 9 with respect to the x-axis of the recording plane.

L-arginine effect on inflammatory mediators: A systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seyed Reza Mirhafez ◽  
Mitra Hariri
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Inflammatory Mediators ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Randomized Controlled Clinical Trials ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Human Adults ◽  
Factor Α

Abstract. L-arginine is an important factor in several physiological and biochemical processes. Recently, scientists studied L-arginine effect on inflammatory mediators such as C-reactive protein (CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We conducted a systematic review on randomized controlled trials assessing L-arginine effect on inflammatory mediators. We searched data bases including Google scholar, ISI web of science, SCOPUS, and PubMed/Medline up to April 2019. Randomized clinical trials assessing the effect of L-arginine on inflammatory mediators in human adults were included. Our search retrieved eleven articles with 387 participants. Five articles were on patients with cancer and 6 articles were on adults without cancer. L-arginine was applied in enteral form in 5 articles and in oral form in 6 articles. Eight articles were on both genders, two articles were on women, and one article was on men. L-arginine could not reduce inflammatory mediators among patients with and without cancer except one article which indicated that taking L-arginine for 6 months decreased IL-6 among cardiopathic nondiabetic patients. Our results indicated that L-arginine might not be able to reduce selected inflammatory mediators, but for making a firm decision more studies are needed to be conducted with longer intervention duration, separately on male and female and with different doses of L-arginine.

Facet Theory

1998 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth Guttman ◽  
Charles W. Greenbaum
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Animal Behavior ◽  
Infant Development ◽  
Facet Theory ◽  
Structural Relationships ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Spatial Configurations ◽  
Multidimensional Methods ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Scalogram Analysis

This article gives an overview of Facet Theory, a systematic approach to facilitating theory construction, research design, and data analysis for complex studies, that is particularly appropriate to the behavioral and social sciences. Facet Theory is based on (1) a definitional framework for a universe of observations in the area of study; (2) empirical structures of observations within this framework; (3) a search for correspondence between the definitional system and aspects of the empirical structure for the observations. The development of Facet Theory and Facet Design is reviewed from early scale analysis and the Guttman Scale, leading to the concepts of “mapping sentence,” “universe of content,” “common range,” “content facets,” and nonmetric multidimensional methods of data analysis. In Facet Theory, the definition of the behavioral domain provides a rationale for hypothesizing structural relationships among variables employed in a study. Examples are presented from various areas of research (intelligence, infant development, animal behavior, etc.) to illustrate the methods and results of structural analysis with Smallest Space Analysis (SSA), Multidimensional Scalogram Analysis (MSA), and Partial Order Scalogram Analysis (POSA). The “radex” and “cylindrex” of intelligence tests are shown to be outstanding examples of predicted spatial configurations that have demonstrated the ubiquitous emergence of the same empirical structures in different studies. Further examples are given from studies of spatial abilities, infant development, animal behavior, and others. The use of Facet Theory, with careful construction of theory and design, is shown to provide new insights into existing data; it allows for the diagnosis and discrimination of behavioral traits and makes the generalizability and replication of findings possible, which in turn makes possible the discovery of lawfulness. Achievements, issues, and future challenges of Facet Theory are discussed.

Review of Unravelling animal behavior.

1996 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-187
Author(s):  
Donald A. Dewsbury
Keyword(s):  
Animal Behavior
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