scholarly journals Pattern and Process in Evolution: Unfolding Nature’s Origami

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan M. Daniel
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Psychology ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Pattern And Process ◽  
Art Form ◽  
And Behavior

Pattern and process are central concepts to understanding the evolution of behavioral traits for comparative psychologists. Origami is an art form which involves application of pattern and process to produce a wide array of objects using paper. Because of origami’s parallels with evolution, both of morphology and behavior, it can serve as a concrete and accessible analogy for students of comparative psychology. Origami’s processes can be reversed by unfolding the paper, thereby revealing patterns common across designs. Likewise, by studying pattern and process in evolution, scientists unfold nature’s origami. Application to comparative psychology and pedagogy are discussed.

scholarly journals Müllerian inhibiting substance contributes to sex-linked biases in the brain and behavior

2009 ◽  
Vol 106 (17) ◽  
pp. 7203-7208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei-Yu Wang ◽  
Anna Protheroe ◽  
Andrew N. Clarkson ◽  
Floriane Imhoff ◽  
Kyoko Koishi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Motor Neurons ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Spinal Motor Neurons ◽  
Müllerian Inhibiting Substance ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Brain And Behavior ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Mullerian Inhibiting Substance

Many behavioral traits and most brain disorders are common to males and females but are more evident in one sex than the other. The control of these subtle sex-linked biases is largely unstudied and has been presumed to mirror that of the highly dimorphic reproductive nuclei. Sexual dimorphism in the reproductive tract is a product of Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS), as well as the sex steroids. Males with a genetic deficiency in MIS signaling are sexually males, leading to the presumption that MIS is not a neural regulator. We challenge this presumption by reporting that most immature neurons in mice express the MIS-specific receptor (MISRII) and that male Mis−/− and Misrii−/− mice exhibit subtle feminization of their spinal motor neurons and of their exploratory behavior. Consequently, MIS may be a broad regulator of the subtle sex-linked biases in the nervous system.

scholarly journals Variability in Infants' Functional Brain Network Connectivity Is Associated With Differences in Affect and Behavior

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caroline M. Kelsey ◽  
Katrina Farris ◽  
Tobias Grossmann
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Network Connectivity ◽  
Brain Network ◽  
Functional Brain ◽  
Default Mode ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Functional Brain Network ◽  
Brain Network Connectivity ◽  
And Behavior

Variability in functional brain network connectivity has been linked to individual differences in cognitive, affective, and behavioral traits in adults. However, little is known about the developmental origins of such brain-behavior correlations. The current study examined functional brain network connectivity and its link to behavioral temperament in typically developing newborn and 1-month-old infants (M [age] = 25 days; N = 75) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Specifically, we measured long-range connectivity between cortical regions approximating fronto-parietal, default mode, and homologous-interhemispheric networks. Our results show that connectivity in these functional brain networks varies across infants and maps onto individual differences in behavioral temperament. Specifically, connectivity in the fronto-parietal network was positively associated with regulation and orienting behaviors, whereas connectivity in the default mode network showed the opposite effect on these behaviors. Our analysis also revealed a significant positive association between the homologous-interhemispheric network and infants' negative affect. The current results suggest that variability in long-range intra-hemispheric and cross-hemispheric functional connectivity between frontal, parietal, and temporal cortex is associated with individual differences in affect and behavior. These findings shed new light on the brain origins of individual differences in early-emerging behavioral traits and thus represent a viable novel approach for investigating developmental trajectories in typical and atypical neurodevelopment.

scholarly journals Co-evolving wing spots and mating displays are genetically separable traits in Drosophila

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan H. Massey ◽  
Gavin R. Rice ◽  
Anggun Firdaus ◽  
Chi-Yang Chen ◽  
Shu-Dan Yeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
X Chromosome ◽  
Genetic Basis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Genetic Switch ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Wing Pigmentation ◽  
Physical Linkage ◽  
Sexual Traits ◽  
Male Specific ◽  
And Behavior

AbstractThe evolution of sexual traits often involves correlated changes in morphology and behavior. For example, in Drosophila, divergent mating displays are often accompanied by divergent pigment patterns. To better understand how such traits co-evolve, we investigated the genetic basis of correlated divergence in wing pigmentation and mating display between the sibling species Drosophila elegans and D. gunungcola. Drosophila elegans males have an area of black pigment on their wings known as a wing spot and appear to display this spot to females by extending their wings laterally during courtship. By contrast, D. gunungcola lacks both of these traits. Using Multiplexed Shotgun Genotyping (MSG), we identified a ∼440 kb region on the X chromosome that behaves like a genetic switch controlling the presence or absence of male-specific wing spots. This region includes the candidate gene optomotor-blind (omb), which plays a critical role in patterning the Drosophila wing. The genetic basis of divergent wing display is more complex, with at least two loci on the X chromosome and two loci on autosomes contributing to its evolution. Introgressing the X-linked region affecting wing spot development from D. gunungcola into D. elegans reduced pigmentation in the wing spots but did not affect the wing display, indicating that these are genetically separable traits. Consistent with this observation, broader sampling of wild D. gunungcola populations confirmed the wing spot and wing display are evolving independently: some D. gunungcola males preformed wing displays similar to D. elegans despite lacking wing spots. These data suggest that correlated selection pressures rather than physical linkage or pleiotropy are responsible for the coevolution of these morphological and behavioral traits. They also suggest that the change in morphology evolved prior to the change in behavior.

scholarly journals The CADM2 gene and behavior: A phenome-wide scan in UK-Biobank

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joëlle A. Pasman ◽  
Zeli Chen ◽  
Jacqueline M. Vink ◽  
Michel C. Van Den Oever ◽  
Tommy Pattij ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Health Behavior ◽  
Association Study ◽  
Risk Taking ◽  
Common Denominator ◽  
Uk Biobank ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Novel Associations

AbstractThis phenome-wide association study examined SNP and gene–based associations of the CADM2 gene with 242 psycho-behavioral traits (N=12,211–453,349). We found significant associations with 51 traits, many more than for other genes. We replicated previously reported associations with substance use, risk-taking, and health behavior, and uncovered novel associations with sleep and dietary traits. Accordingly, CADM2 is involved in many psycho-behavioral traits, suggesting a common denominator in their biology.

scholarly journals The Importance of a Truly Comparative Methodology for Comparative Psychology

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mackenzie F. Smith ◽  
Julia Watzek ◽  
Sarah F. Brosnan
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Research ◽  
Comparative Psychology ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Psychological Mechanisms ◽  
Evolution And Development ◽  
Comparative Methodology ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Theoretical Considerations

Comparative research has taught us much about the evolution and development of human and animal behavior. Humans share not just physical and biological similarities with other species, but also many behavioral traits and, in some of these cases, the psychological mechanisms behind them. Comparing behavior and cognition across multiple species can help scientists to pinpoint why and when in phylogenetic history a behavior may have evolved, how it evolved, and what the mechanisms behind it are (Tinbergen, 1963). While the comparative approach has proven quite effective in addressing these questions, comparing behavior across multiple species is not as easy and straightforward as it may initially seem. Rigorous methodology and careful interpretation of results is crucial to answering any of these questions definitively. The focus of the current article is on the comparative methodology and the important factors that need to be addressed in order for comparative research to be effective. We first discuss the benefits and importance of comparative research, followed by the challenges that need to be overcome in good comparative work. We then discuss experimental economics as one “model system” for comparative work that has proven particularly good at addressing such issues, and comment on other approaches. We conclude with future directions for comparative research with an eye on important methodological and theoretical considerations.

scholarly journals The Art of Body Movement: Health Impact on Older Adults With Disability and Dementia

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 567-567
Author(s):  
Kuei-Min Chen
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Body Movement ◽  
Exercise Program ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Functional Fitness ◽  
Elastic Band ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Art Form ◽  
And Behavior

Abstract Body-movement is an art form of self-expression and health promotion. This presentation will provide an overview of studies that employ the use of “movement activities” or “exercise” as non-pharmacological modalities to improve activities of daily living and functional fitness (e.g., cardiopulmonary function, body flexibility, range of joint motion, and muscle strength and endurance) of older adults with disability. These studies have also been shown to decrease depression state and behavior symptoms of older adults with dementia in long-term care facilities. Moreover, the Wheelchair-bound Senior Elastic Band (WSEB) exercise program will be described that are of relevance to the older adults with disability and dementia.

scholarly journals Multivariate analysis reveals shared genetic architecture of brain morphology and human behavior

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald de Vlaming ◽  
Eric A.W. Slob ◽  
Philip R Jansen ◽  
Alain Dagher ◽  
Philipp D. Koellinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grey Matter ◽  
Behavioral Outcomes ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Brain Morphology ◽  
Grey Matter Volume ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Genomic Relatedness ◽  
Shared Genetic

Human variation in brain morphology and behavior are related and highly heritable. Yet, it is largely unknown to what extent specific features of brain morphology and behavior are genetically related. Here, we introduce multivariate genomic-relatedness restricted maximum likelihood (MGREML) and provide estimates of the heritability of grey-matter volume in 74 regions of interest (ROIs) in the brain. We map genetic correlations between these ROIs and health-relevant behavioral outcomes including intelligence. We find four genetically distinct clusters in the brain that are aligned with standard anatomical subdivision in neuroscience. Behavioral traits have distinct genetic correlations with brain morphology which suggests trait-specific relevance of ROIs.

scholarly journals Adventurousness cuts both ways: a Mendelian randomization of adventurousness on 10 cognitive and behavioral traits

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charleen D. Adams ◽  
Brian B. Boutwell
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variants ◽  
Mendelian Randomization ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Risky Behaviors ◽  
Reverse Causation ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Attractive Option ◽  
The Mind ◽  
And Behavior

AbstractAdventurousness is speculated to improve happiness but also predispose to risky behaviors. Since non-experimental studies can suffer from confounding and reverse causation, and personality traits cannot be randomized, it is challenging to unravel how adventurousness impacts the mind and behavior. Mendelian randomization (MR), a quasi-randomization technique that uses genetic variants as instruments to avoid confounding and reverse causation, is an attractive option in this setting. We used MR to explore self-reported adventurousness and 10 cognitive and behavioral traits. Adventurousness decreased neuroticism and mood swings and increased years of schooling. In contrast, it also predisposed to risky behaviors (increasing the number of lifetime sexual partners, the propensity to speed in an automobile, and lifetime smoking, and decreasing the age of first having sexual intercourse). The results suggest being adventurous “cuts both ways”, evincing bivalent influences and underscoring the reality that trade-offs often accompany many human personality constructs.

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