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Tag Archives: behavior

Perfect pacifier

By Stephen Ornes / May 1, 2013

A mother’s arms can calm a crying infant, say scientists. The tactic works for mice, too, only those mammals use their mouth to cradle their young. Credit: iStockphoto

In people and mice, carrying a baby calms it

Posted in Brain & Behavior | Tagged Adaptation, babies, behavior, calming, carrying, Eastern Virginia Medical School, evolution, getinvolved, Japan, John Harrington, Kumi Kuroda, mammals, mice, mothers, Norfolk, physiology, pups, Riken Brain Science Institute, topstories

Another buzz for bees

By Stephen Ornes / March 24, 2013

The caffeine in some flower nectar gives bees a memory boost, a new study shows. Credit: Image courtesy of Geraldine Wright

Blooms are more memorable when their nectar contains caffeine

Posted in Animals | Tagged bees, behavior, brain, caffeine, coffee, England, Gerladine Wright, getinvolved, honeybees, nectar, neuroscience, Newcastle University, Pollination, protection, stimulant, tea, topstories

When the nose no longer knows

By Roberta Kwok / December 13, 2012

Clown fish raised in acidified waters don’t respond properly to smells. For example, they swim toward the scent of a predator instead of away from it. Credit: Simon Foale, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies

Pollution can endanger aquatic animals by damaging their sense of smell

Posted in Animals | Tagged animal behavior, behavior, carbon dioxide, clown fish, CO2, copper, Danielle Dixson, dottyback, feature, fish, GABA, Göran Nilsson, James Cook University, Jen McIntyre, Kate de la Haye, Keith Tierney, neurons, nose, Ocean acidification, olfaction, Philip Munday, Plymouth University, Puyallup Research and Extension Center, rockcod, salmon, Schreckstoff, Senses, smell, topstories, University of Alberta, University of Oslo, Washington State University

Baby’s stress can last decades

By Stephen Ornes / December 4, 2012

Scientists have found a connection between stress early in life and anxiety later on. Credit: iStockphoto

Early stress may impair adult behavior, especially in girls

Posted in Body & Health | Tagged adrenal gland, amygdala, anxiety, behavior, brain, brain scans, cortisol, Cory Burghy, getinvolved, hormone, infants, prefontal cortex, pregnancy, stress, teenage brain, teens, University of Wisconsin–Madison, worry

The teenage brain

By Amanda Leigh Mascarelli / October 17, 2012

The brain releases dopamine when something makes us feel good — like pulling off an exciting trick. The strength of this “feel good” response in teens helps explain why they sometimes chance real risks. Credit: iStockphoto

Adolescence triggers brain — and behavioral — changes that few kids or adults understand

Posted in Brain & Behavior | Tagged Adaptation, adolescence, Beatriz Luna, behavior, BJ Casey, brain, Brown University, Cornell University, decision making, Eveline Crone, evolution, feature, impulsiveness, incentives, learning, Leiden University, Michael Frank, nerve, neuron, prefrontal cortex, reward center, risk taking, synapses, synaptic pruning, teenager, temptations, topstories, University of Pittsburgh, ventral striatum

Risk-taking linked to Ritalin

By Stephen Ornes / October 5, 2012

In a new study, people without ADHD who took Ritalin took greater chances than those who didn’t take the drug. Credit: istockphoto

People who inappropriately take the prescription drug to become more alert may also become more reckless

Posted in Brain & Behavior | Tagged Aarhus University, attention deficit disorder, behavior, brain, Daniel Campbell-Meiklejohn, dopamine, gambling, getinvolved, neuroscience, neurotransmitter, New York University, noradrenaline, risk, risky behavior, Ritalin, stimulant, topstories