Structure and behavior of white pelican formation flocks

1982 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1388-1396 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Brian E. O'Malley ◽  
Roger M. Evans
Keyword(s):  
Response Times ◽  
Formation Flight ◽  
Flock Size ◽  
Wingbeat Frequency ◽  
Percent Time ◽  
Column Formation ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
And Behavior

Observations of white pelicans commuting between nesting colonies and foraging areas revealed transitions from small, simple linear flock formations to larger, more complex vee and jay formations during departures, and the reverse during the return approach. Large, less-organized types of formations were relatively uncommon and short lived.Formation angles measured for filmed flocks ranged from 24° to 122° and were highly correlated with mean relative interbird distances within flocks. The number of wingbeats per hour, calculated from wingbeat frequency (beats per minute) and percent time flapping, was lowest in vee formation, progressively greater in jay, echelon, and column formation, and greatest for single birds. Wingbeats per hour decreased behind the lead bird, which usually had the highest rate, within each type of formation.Shifts between flapping and gliding were usually initiated by lead birds. Response times for these shifts were negatively related to flock size, and were shorter in vee and jay formations than in column and echelon formations.Our data suggests formation flight provides both aerodynamic–energetic and communication advantages over solitary flight.

scholarly journals GPS mobility as a digital biomarker of negative symptoms in schizophrenia: a case control study

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin A. Depp ◽  
Jesse Bashem ◽  
Raeanne C. Moore ◽  
Jason L. Holden ◽  
Tanya Mikhael ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Average Distance ◽  
Symptom Clusters ◽  
Proxy Measure ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Ecological Momentary ◽  
Momentary Assessment ◽  
Control Study

Abstract Mobility is an important correlate of physical, cognitive, and mental health in chronic illness, and can be measured passively with mobile phone global positional satellite (GPS) sensors. To date, GPS data have been reported in a few studies of schizophrenia, yet it is unclear whether these data correlate with concurrent momentary reports of location, vary by people with schizophrenia and healthy comparison subjects, or associate with symptom clusters in schizophrenia. A total of 142 participants with schizophrenia (n = 86) or healthy comparison subjects (n = 56) completed 7 days of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) reports of location and behavior, and simultaneous GPS locations were tracked every five minutes. We found that GPS-derived indicators of average distance travelled overall and distance from home, as well as percent of GPS samples at home were highly correlated with EMA reports of location at the day- and week-averaged level. GPS-based mobility indicators were lower in schizophrenia with medium to large effect sizes. Less GPS mobility was related to greater negative symptom severity, particularly diminished motivation, whereas greater GPS mobility was weakly associated with more community functioning. Neurocognition, depression, and positive symptoms were not associated with mobility indicators. Therefore, passive GPS sensing could provide a low-burden proxy measure of important outcomes in schizophrenia, including negative symptoms and possibly of functioning. As such, passive GPS sensing could be used for monitoring and timely interventions for negative symptoms in young persons at high risk for schizophrenia.

scholarly journals Modeling the Correlated Activity of Neural Populations: A Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christophe Gardella ◽  
Olivier Marre ◽  
Thierry Mora
Keyword(s):  
Latent Variables ◽  
Collective Effects ◽  
Neural Function ◽  
Neural Encoding ◽  
Correlated Activity ◽  
Neural Populations ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Single Spike ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
And Behavior

The principles of neural encoding and computations are inherently collective and usually involve large populations of interacting neurons with highly correlated activities. While theories of neural function have long recognized the importance of collective effects in populations of neurons, only in the past two decades has it become possible to record from many cells simultaneously using advanced experimental techniques with single-spike resolution and to relate these correlations to function and behavior. This review focuses on the modeling and inference approaches that have been recently developed to describe the correlated spiking activity of populations of neurons. We cover a variety of models describing correlations between pairs of neurons, as well as between larger groups, synchronous or delayed in time, with or without the explicit influence of the stimulus, and including or not latent variables. We discuss the advantages and drawbacks or each method, as well as the computational challenges related to their application to recordings of ever larger populations.

Aggregative mechanisms and behavior in ring-billed gulls departing from a colony

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (12) ◽  
pp. 2767-2774 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roger M. Evans ◽  
Clive V. J. Welham
Keyword(s):  
Causal Model ◽  
Playback Experiments ◽  
Visual Contact ◽  
Social Attraction ◽  
Direct Flight ◽  
Contact Calls ◽  
Spatial Grouping ◽  
Temporal And Spatial ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
And Behavior

Departures of ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) from a breeding colony were significantly clumped in time and space. Mean departure directions did not correlate among successive days, but were highly correlated with wind direction. Most gulls circling about the colony did not depart. Gulls that did depart typically flew directly away from the colony and approximately half emitted distinctive "contact" calls. Significantly more gulls departed when others were soaring on nearby thermals than at other comparable times. Playback experiments showed that contact calls and calls from thermal flocks attracted other gulls. A causal model of flock formation, derived from the assumption that temporal clumping arises from social facilitation superimposed upon random departure times, was supported by (i) random fly-up times by nondeparting gulls, (ii) demonstrated attractiveness of contact calls, (iii) characteristically direct flight paths of departing gulls, and (iv) by simulations of departing gulls. Social attraction, temporal and spatial grouping, wind, and visual contact between successively departing birds all appear to facilitate aggregation within localized regions of the habitat.

When Perception Trumps Reality

2017 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 346-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anders Sand ◽  
Mats E. Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Semantic Priming ◽  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Chance Level ◽  
Subliminal Priming ◽  
Prime Stimulus ◽  
Objective Meaning ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Prime Target ◽  
Made In

Is semantic priming driven by the objective or perceived meaning of the priming stimulus? This question is relevant given that many studies suggest that the objective meaning of invisible stimuli can influence cognitive processes and behavior. In an experiment involving 66 participants, we tested how the perceived meaning of misperceived stimuli influenced response times. Stroop priming (i.e., longer response times for incongruent than for congruent prime-target pairs) was observed in trials in which the prime was correctly identified. However, reversed Stroop priming was observed when the prime stimulus was incorrectly identified. Even in trials in which participants reported no perception of the prime and identified the primes at close to chance level (i.e., trials that meet both subjective and objective definitions of being subliminal), Stroop priming corresponded to perceived congruency, not objective congruency. This result suggests that occasional weak percepts and mispercepts are intermixed with no percepts in conditions traditionally claimed to be subliminal, casting doubt on claims of subliminal priming made in previous reports.

scholarly journals microRNA profiling uncovers region-specific molecular correlates of threat responses in a marmoset model of anxiety

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia Popa ◽  
Angela C Roberts ◽  
Andrea M Santangelo ◽  
Eduardo Gascon
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Molecular Heterogeneity ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
Behavioral Differences ◽  
Brain Areas ◽  
Molecular Changes ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
And Behavior

Background: Neuroimaging studies have consistently reported that stress-related disorders such as depression and anxiety impinge on the activity of emotion regulation networks, namely in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). This circuitry is known to be extensively modulated by serotonin and it has been long shown that genetic polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) are linked to anxiey and depression. vmPFC encompasses different brain regions in terms of cytoarchitecture, activity and connectivity. However, molecular heterogeneity within the vmPFC and how these differences affect emotional regulation and behavior have not been elucidated. Methods: Here, we took advantage of recently described polymorphisms in marmoset SLC6A4 gene linked to alter threat responses. Using FACS-sorted cells from different brain areas of genotyped marmosets, we tested the hypothesis that specific molecular changes in precise regions of the vmPFC underlie the behavioral differences and can be associated with high anxiety-like trait. Results: miRNA analysis of FACS-sorted cells from marmoset cortex revealed that clear miRNA profiles can be identified for different cell subsets (NeuN+ versus NeuN- cells) or cortical regions (visual cortex versus vmPFC). More importantly, marmosets bearing different SLC6A4 polymorphisms show distinct miRNAs signatures specifically in vmPFC area 32 neurons but not in the closely related vmPFC area 25 neurons. Finally, levels of these miRNAs were highly correlated to the anxiety-like score in a test of uncertain threat. Conclusions: These data demonstrate that molecular changes within area 32 likely underlie the differential anxiety-like responses associated with SLC6A4 polymorphisms.

Validation of a Noninvasive, Disposable Activity Monitor for Clinical Applications

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 546-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Greg Welk ◽  
Youngwon Kim ◽  
Robin P. Shook ◽  
Laura Ellingson ◽  
Roberto L. Lobelo
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Energy Expenditure ◽  
Physical Activity Behavior ◽  
Activity Monitor ◽  
Criterion Validity ◽  
Sensewear Armband ◽  
Statistical Equivalence ◽  
Activity Behavior ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
And Behavior

Background:The study evaluated the concurrent and criterion validity of a new, disposable activity monitor designed to provide objective data on physical activity and energy expenditure in clinical populations.Methods:A sample of healthy adults (n = 52) wore the disposable Metria IH1 along with the established Sensewear armband (SWA) monitor for a 1-week period. Concurrent validity was examined by evaluating the statistical equivalence of estimates from the Metria and the SWA. Criterion validity was examined by comparing the relative accuracy of the Metria IH1 and the SWA for assessing walking/running. The absolute validity of the 2 monitors was compared by computing correlations and mean absolute percent error (MAPE) relative to criterion data from a portable metabolic analyzer.Results:The output from 2 monitors was highly correlated (correlations > 0.90) and the summary measures yielded nearly identical allocations of time spent in physical activity and energy expenditure. The monitors yielded statistically equivalent estimates and had similar absolute validity relative to the criterion measure (12% to 15% error).Conclusions:The disposable nature of the adhesive Metria IH1 monitor offers promise for clinical evaluation of physical activity behavior in patients. Additional research is needed to test utility for counseling and behavior applications.

scholarly journals lab.js: A free, open, online study builder

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Henninger ◽  
Yury Shevchenko ◽  
Ulf Kai Mertens ◽  
Pascal J. Kieslich ◽  
Benjamin E. Hilbig
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Open Source ◽  
Response Times ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Online Study ◽  
Extensive Documentation ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Free Open Source

Web-based data collection is increasingly popular in both experimental and survey-based research, because it is flexible, efficient and location-independent. While dedicated software for laboratory-based experimentation and online surveys is commonplace, researchers looking to implement experiments in the browser have, heretofore, often had to manually construct their studies’ content and logic using code. We introduce lab.js, a free, open-source experiment builder that makes it easy to build experiments for both online and in-laboratory data collection. Through its visual interface, stimuli can be designed and combined into a study without programming, though studies’ appearance and behavior can be fully customized using HTML, CSS and JavaScript code if required. Presentation and response times are kept and measured with high accuracy and precision heretofore unmatched in browser-based studies. Experiments constructed with lab.js can be run directly on a local computer, and published online with ease, with direct deployment to cloud hosting, export to any web server, and integration with popular data collection tools. Studies can also be shared in an editable format, archived, re-used and adapted, enabling effortless, transparent replications, and thus facilitating open, cumulative science. The software is provided free of charge under an open-source license; further information, code and extensive documentation are available from https://lab.js.org/.

scholarly journals Satellite Imaging of Global Urbanicity relate to Adolescent Brain Development and Behavior

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiayuan Xu ◽  
Xiaoxuan Liu ◽  
Alex Ing ◽  
Qiaojun Li ◽  
Wen Qin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Brain Development ◽  
Innovative Technology ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Geographic Locations ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Adolescent Brain Development

AbstractUrbanicity, the impact of living in urban areas, is among the greatest environmental challenges for mental health. While urbanicity might be distinct in different sociocultural conditions and geographic locations, there are likely to exist common features shared in different areas of the globe. Understanding these common and specific relations of urbanicity with human brain and behavior will enable to assess the impact of urbanicity on mental disorders, especially in childhood and adolescence, where prevention and early interventions are likely to be most effective.We constructed from satellite-based remote sensing data a factor for urbanicity that was highly correlated with population density ground data. This factor, ‘UrbanSat’ was utilized in the Chinese CHIMGEN sample (N=831) and the longitudinal European IMAGEN cohort (N=810) to investigate if exposure to urbanicity during childhood and adolescence is associated with differences in brain structure and function in young adults, and if these changes are linked to behavior.Urbanicity was found negatively correlated with medial prefrontal cortex volume and positively correlated with cerebellar vermis volume in young adults from both China and Europe. We found an increased correlation of urbanicity with functional network connectivity within- and between- brain networks in Chinese compared to European participants. Urbanicity was highly correlated with a measure of perceiving a situation from the perspective of others, as well as symptoms of depression in both datasets. These correlations were mediated by the structural and functional brain changes observed. Susceptibility to urbanicity was greatest in two developmental windows during mid-childhood and adolescence.Using innovative technology, we were able to probe the relationship between urban upbringing with brain change and behavior in different sociocultural conditions and geographic locations. Our findings help to identify shared and distinct determinants of adolescent brain development and mental health in different regions of the world, thus contributing to targeted prevention and early-intervention programs for young people in their unique environment. Our approach may be relevant for public health, policy and urban planning globally.

scholarly journals Construction and behavioral validation of superstition scale

Psihologija ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Zezelj ◽  
Masa Pavlovic ◽  
Marko Vladisavljevic ◽  
Branislava Radivojevic
Keyword(s):  
Real Life ◽  
Computer Laboratory ◽  
Superstitious Behavior ◽  
Behavioral Variables ◽  
Preliminary Version ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
A Chain ◽  
Behavioral Validation ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
E Mail

The main goal of this study was to create an instrument for assessing tendency towards superstition-related beliefs and behavior and validate it in real life situations. Superstition was considered and analyzed as an attitude toward specific objects of the superstition. In the first part of the study, a sample of superstitious beliefs and behaviors was collected, after which the former list was reduced to 44 descriptions, based on the average familiarity. A preliminary version of the instrument was administered to 266 participants. The factor analysis suggested a presence of one main factor and three highly correlated sub-factors. In the last part of the study, in order to validate the instrument through behavioral variables, the final version of the instrument was administered to a different sample and subjects were put in two situations that challenged their potential superstitious behavior (passing below or going around a ladder in a computer laboratory; forward a chain e-mail for good luck). Group of participants that exhibited at least one superstitious behavior and the group of participants that did not, differed significantly in the average superstition score.

scholarly journals The Acceptance and Resharing Behavior of Hoax Information on Social Media

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-99
Author(s):  
Melisa Arisanty ◽  
Gunawan Wiradharma
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Research Data ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Interpretive Paradigm ◽  
The People ◽  
The Government ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
Main Factor

The spread of hoax information on social media is still difficult to control. Various efforts have been made by the government to eradicate hoax information, even the Ministry of Communication and Information has chosen the decision to block accounts that spread hoaxes, especially those on social media. However, hoax information still exists and its spread is increasing. Therefore, it is necessary to have a strategy that is right on target to prevent the spread of hoaxes. To design a strategy that is right on target, it is necessary to identify the acceptance attitude and behavior of sharing hoax information on social media. Through research using an interpretive paradigm and a qualitative research approach with research data collection, namely interviews with 12 (twelve) informants who are part of the community in Banten, West Java and Aceh Provinces. So, an interesting finding was found that currently receiving hoax information that leads to belief can occur if hoax information is highly correlated with hoax recipients, viral is discussed in the community, and is in accordance with personal views or logic. This acceptance can motivate the behavior of sharing information back due to the desire to be recognized as a trendsetter in disseminating the first information to the people around him. This is the main factor in the dissemination of Hoax information which needs to get recommendations for improving policies and strategies for eliminating Hoaxes in Indonesian society.

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