All articles tagged with #social behavior
Researchers captured the first recorded birth of a sperm whale, showing a coordinated group response as multiple females surround and assist the mother and newborn, suggesting a shared social role within the pod and challenging previous notions of whale individuality; the findings, published in Science based on long-term CETI observations, imply complex intelligence and cultural transmission in whale societies.
Over six years at Fiji's Shark Marine Reserve, researchers observed 184 bull sharks across 473 dives and 8,192 minutes of underwater observation, finding they form social bonds, synchronize movements (parallel swims), and engage in lead-follow behaviors, with females dominating associations, younger sharks being more social, and older sharks less so—implying bull sharks have complex social lives beyond the predator stereotype.
University of St Andrews researchers used drones to document headbutting among sub-adult sperm whales in the Azores and Balearic Islands, overturning the idea that this behavior is limited to large adult males. The study, published in Marine Mammal Science, notes questions about why the behavior occurs and how it affects group dynamics, and highlights drones as a powerful tool for observing near-surface whale actions, echoing historic anecdotes of whales ramming ships.
A UCLA study finds mice facing cold organize into adaptive huddles that stabilize core temperature. The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex tracks others’ choices as if simulating the group; silencing it makes some mice passive while others compensate, keeping overall huddle time and body temperature unchanged. Larger groups exhibit stronger collective behavior, highlighting neural circuits for social resilience with potential implications for conditions like depression and schizophrenia.
A six-year study of 184 bull sharks at Fiji’s Shark Reef Marine Reserve shows they have active, complex social lives. Researchers documented stable associations, lead-follow interactions, and parallel swimming, with adults forming the core of the network. Males tended to have more social connections than females, and social ties were strongest among similarly sized individuals. While socializing is common among adults, younger sharks are more represented in social activity likely to avoid predation, and older sharks appear less social overall. The researchers emphasize many questions remain about whether these sharks hunt or mate cooperatively, and more studies are needed to fully understand their social dynamics.
A USC-led study observed mice performing first-aid–like behaviors toward an unconscious cage-mate—sniffing, grooming, and face-directed actions—triggered by unresponsiveness and strengthened by oxytocin signaling; responses are stronger for familiar cage-mates, suggesting an innate caregiving tendency that could aid group survival, though it is not human CPR.
Researchers discovered that rebalancing activity in a specific amygdala circuit in mice can reverse anxiety and social withdrawal, highlighting a potential target for mental health treatments.
Robin Abrahams discusses managing noisy children during performances and social gatherings, emphasizing the importance of appropriate seating, communication with theater staff, and understanding social norms across different age groups to foster respectful and enjoyable experiences for all.
Bernard Mandeville's work explores how pride and shame drive human behavior and social cohesion, revealing that virtues like politeness and chastity are artificial passions rooted in self-love and the desire for recognition, which ultimately contribute to societal welfare through private vices.
Since 2020, many aspects of life such as prices, social decency, public behavior, and the job market have changed significantly, with people feeling that time, social interactions, and everyday experiences have been altered or worsened post-pandemic.
A study using RFID tracking reveals that naked mole-rats have specific roles within their colonies, such as cleaning toilets and transporting waste, with most individuals sticking to their roles for at least 30 days, highlighting their complex eusocial structure.
A study reveals that naked mole rats have complex social roles, including specific tasks like toilet cleaning and garbage collection, indicating a more intricate social structure than previously understood.
Scientists in England have discovered a new dinosaur species, Istiorachis macarthurae, characterized by a sail-like structure along its back and tail, which likely served as a visual display for social interactions such as mating or dominance, shedding light on the social behaviors and evolutionary pressures of herbivorous dinosaurs.
A study uncovers how a mutation in the autism-linked Shank3 gene disrupts vasopressin release in the brain, impairing social behaviors in mice. It reveals that vasopressin acts through two receptors, AVPR1a and AVPR1b, controlling sociability and aggression respectively, and that targeting these receptors could lead to personalized autism therapies.,
A new study reveals that early human ancestors like Australopithecus afarensis and A. africanus exhibited significant sexual size differences, suggesting they lived in competitive, hierarchical societies more akin to gorillas than modern humans, challenging previous views on their social behavior.