Test your science knowledge
Communities and intimate relationships are routinely observed across nature. From bee colonies to wolf packs, animal groups follow certain sets of social rules that govern their behaviors and interactions. But where do the rules come from and how do they work? 黑料吃瓜资源 scientists are trying to find out. The answers might teach us a thing or two about our own social interactions.
How do mouse mothers typically respond to their crying pups?
For moms, social contact is its own reward. CSHL Professor Stephen Shea has shown how the brain nurtures maternal instincts in mice through a process called reinforcement learning. When mouse mothers pick up pups, their brains reward them with dopamine鈥攅ncouraging them to do it again. Shea鈥檚 findings may lead to a better understanding of autism and help answer fundamental questions about the brain.
What is the scientific name for the study of animal behavior?
漏 chendongshan - stock.adobe.com
CSHL Assistant Professor Helen Hou specializes in studying animal behaviors, such as facial expressions, and the brain circuits that control them. Hou鈥檚 work may have applications in mental health. Ethology, the study of animal behavior, has also served as a longtime source of inspiration for actors. Watch film icon Isabella Rossellini discuss the intersection of art and science as she tours the Hou lab at CSHL.
How do male fruit flies typically attract their mates?
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Male fruit flies often use their wings to create vibrations or 鈥渕usic鈥� in hopes of seducing potential partners. Certain genetic mutations cause some flies to sing this courtship song better or worse than others. One scientist at a recent CSHL fruit fly course wondered whether alcohol might have a similar effect. Watch this video for an inside look at CSHL鈥檚 long-running Drosophila Neurobiology course.
The mice in this video clip are of a special breed known for their call-and-response routines. Which country鈥檚 rainforests are home to these 鈥渟inging鈥� mice?
CSHL Assistant Professor Arkarup Banerjee uses the 鈥渕usic鈥� of Costa Rican mice to help us explore the parts of the human brain that drive communication. These studies may offer valuable insights into neurological conditions that affect speech, like strokes and communication disorders. To learn more, watch Banerjee鈥檚 recent appearance in CSHL鈥檚 ongoing public event series, Cocktails & Chromosomes.
As you might鈥檝e noticed, humans and animals have lots in common. Which of the following animals is most genetically similar to humans?
Mice also bear a striking resemblance to humans in terms of our circulatory, reproductive, digestive, hormonal, and nervous systems. Read more about the dedicated veterinary staff of CSHL鈥檚 Animal Shared Resource in our story, 鈥�Of mice and model organisms.鈥�
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