social-interaction-livemousetracker

Understanding mouse social interaction using objective measures

Measuring social interaction is an important, but due to technical limitations, often overlooked part of behavioral research. Live mouse tracker was designed to alleviate this problem.
classical-music-dolphin-behavior

Classical music affects affiliative behaviors in bottlenose dolphins

Researchers from the University of Padova used The Observer XT to measure the behavior of dolphins when exposed to different types of enrichment.
mouse-olfactory-testing

How to analyze different characteristics of olfaction in rodents

Correct analysis of olfaction is crucial for an accurate interpretation of mouse social behavior. Today's guest article describes how to analyze different characteristics with the olfactory habituation/dishabituation test.
dopamine-amygdala-social-adversity

(Un)social rats: the role of dopamine and the amygdala in social adversity

With optogenetics and behavioral testing, researchers found a link between infant social adversity and decreased social behavior in the circuitry of the amygdala.
social-interaction-in-fish-and-rodents

The social interaction test: effortless and dependable with EthoVision XT

What is the social interaction test? This blog dives into this topic for fish and rodents. Why is social interaction important to measure, and how do we go about doing it?
summer-reading-list-rodent-gender-differences

Summer reads: Gender differences in rodent research

Most of us are enjoying our summer break, or are about to, soon. We have rounded up some summer reads about love, heartbreak, alcohol, and drugs… for those of us that might have a hard time taking a break from science.
video-tracking-sex-differences-zebrafish-shoaling

Zebrafish attracted to superfish: video tracking sex differences in shoaling

Are images enough to evoke a shoaling response in zebrafish? Do males and females respond differently to shoals or the opposite sex? A recent study finds out.
aggression-in-dolphins

Using the Observer XT to measure aggressive behavior in Dolphins

The Observer XT is often used in the field to score complex ethograms. This blog touches upon a study of the 'Wild Dolphin Project' that investigates aggresive behavior between two species of dolphins.
ultraviolet-light-enhances-sexual-behavior

Sunshine and romance: ultraviolet light enhances sexual behavior

Ultraviolet B rays in sunshine enhances our romantic passion. How this actually works is still largely unknown. Research at the Tel Aviv University provides new insights.
altruism-in-rats

Altruism in rats, suspiciously human

A recent study by Bartal et al drove our curiousity to write this blog about altruistic behavior in rats. This study shows how this type of behavior is neurally linkend to the social functioning of humans.