Scientific Reports, Published online: 08 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-22904-4Correction: Loneliness and susceptibility to social pain mediate the association between autistic traits and psychotic experiences in young non-clinical adults

Nature, Published online: 06 October 2025; doi:10.1038/d41586-025-03286-zMeet the winners of this year’s Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Plus, creative hobbies could slow brain ageing at the molecular level and a visit to a sewage-filtering wetland.

Selection history significantly influences attentional processes. Current debates center on whether different components of selection history influence attention through shared learning-dependent mechanisms or via independent mechanisms. Recent research suggests that aversive associative learning and statistical learning, two key components of selection history, modulate attentional selection independently. The present study investigates how these two components influence attentional selection under different search strategies. In Experiment 1, participants engaged in a singleton detection task, searching for a unique shape singleton while ignoring an irrelevant color singleton. In Experiment 2, they employed a feature search strategy, targeting a predefined attribute among varied shapes while disregarding a distracting color singleton. Results showed that under the singleton detection mode, two learning processes exert independent effects on attentional selection toward salient distractors. Conversely, under the feature search mode, the two learning processes interacted, with the interaction primarily driven by aversive associative learning. These findings highlight the critical role of search strategies in modulating how selection history affects attentional processes. They offer new insights into the mechanisms of attentional selection and the interplay between different forms of learning in complex visual search environments.

Laamerad et al. use reversible inactivation of primate area V4 to examine how the brain learns new perceptual tasks. The results reveal an inductive bias for sensory readouts that are easy to learn, even when they ignore task-relevant information that could theoretically be decoded from the neural population.

Aquatic animals must continuously gather information about their surroundings to cope with the changing conditions of their environment. In the current study we provide insights on information transfer among wild tropical fish schools, within the context of two survival-centric tasks: predator avoidance and detecting food sources. We investigated intra-species information transfer among zebrafish (Danio rerio) shoals and inter-species information transfer from flying barb (Esomus danricus), pool barb (Puntius sophore), or mixed species shoals to zebrafish shoals. Our experiments established that zebrafish shoals exhibited antipredator behaviours upon exposure to olfactory and visual cues from demonstrator shoals (in visual contact with a predator) consisting of zebrafish, flying barbs or mixed species consisting of both species. To gain insight into information transfer on the presence of food sources, we conducted two-choice experiments measuring the association time of test zebrafish with demonstrator shoals possessing or lacking information on the presence of food sources. Interestingly, these experiments revealed that while there was no evidence for information transfer from single species demonstrator shoals, mixed species demonstrator shoals did convey information to the observer test zebrafish. Therefore, our experiments reveal that wild zebrafish obtain information on predators and food sources through visual and/or olfactory cues from conspecific, heterospecific or mixed-species shoals, suggesting that information access may be an important driver towards shoaling among fish.

Ecology and Evolution, Volume 15, Issue 10, October 2025.

Ishii et al. show that foraging macaques flexibly reconstruct their behavioral plans—including action speed, goals, and strategies—to maximize total gain under varying time constraints. Dopaminergic signaling via D1R and D2R coordinates time constraint-dependent modulations in rapid actions and reward trade-offs, respectively.

Publication date: November 2025 Source: Animal Behaviour, Volume 229 Author(s): Xianhui Shi, Rieta Gols, Jetske G. de Boer, Jitske Spee, Irla Hanum, Sergio A. Pelaez-Plazas, Jocelyn da Cruz Freitas, Jeffrey A. Harvey

Brain and Behavior, Volume 15, Issue 10, October 2025.

Interval scales are frequently assumed in educational and psychological research involving latent variables, but are rarely verified. This paper outlines methods for investigating the interval scale assumption when fitting the Rasch model to item response data. We study a Bayesian method for evaluating an item response dataset’s adherence to the cancellation axioms of additive conjoint measurement under the Rasch model, and compare the extent to which the axiom of double cancellation holds in the data at sample sizes of 250 and 1000 with varying test lengths, difficulty spreads, and levels of adherence to the Rasch model in the data-generating process. Because the statistic produced by the procedure is not directly interpretable as an indicator of whether an interval scale can be established, we develop and evaluate procedures for bootstrapping a null distribution of violation rates against which to compare results. At a sample size of 250, the method under investigation is not well powered to detect the violations of interval scaling that we simulate, but the procedure works quite consistently at N = 1000. That is, at moderate but achievable sample sizes, empirical tests for interval scaling are indeed possible.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 122, Issue 40, October 2025.

Non-invasive samples, such as feces, remain an important source of DNA for genetic analyses in molecular ecology and conservation genetics, especially when working with elusive or endangered species. However, as labs transition to higher throughput and genomic-based technologies, many protocols that have been used for decades are becoming obsolete. New approaches have been developed for high-quality samples, now low-quality samples require further technical advances. Fecal samples obtained for non-invasive wildlife studies are typically of very low quality and sampling methods need to be optimized to reduce work and costs per sample. Preservation methods in the field affect the workload in the lab required to obtain genetic data, as well as the final genotype quality. Liquid preservation methods, such as nucleic acid preservation (NAP) buffer and ethanol, have been used during sampling to maintain DNA quality at room temperature until samples can reach the lab. NAP buffer is a non-hazardous, non-flammable solution (easy to send through post), and avoids having to dry the feces before DNA extraction (saving time and increasing safety). Here we compare two different liquid preservation methods (NAP buffer and 96% ethanol) for microsatellite genotyping by next generation sequencing of wolf fecal samples collected in the field and shipped at ambient temperature. Samples preserved in ethanol showed a higher rate of amplification and genotyping success than in NAP buffer, especially due to a higher rate of allelic dropout in NAP. Consequently, the number of replicates required to achieve high quality genotypes was slightly higher for fecal samples preserved in NAP buffer than for those preserved in ethanol. These results are important for the planning and optimization of projects that involve microsatellite genotyping from feces using high throughput technologies.

The social behaviors of mice have been a focus of laboratory research for over a century. A new study trades the lab for the coastal shrublands of South Africa to uncover how vocal communication shapes social interactions in the wild.

by Charlotte R. Taylor, Vincent Tse, Drew D. Willoughby, Maxine Levesque, Trisha V. Vaidyanathan, Jeanne T. Paz, Kira E. Poskanzer Classical neuromodulators regulate arousal states, spanning deep sleep to vigilant wakefulness, primarily by activating cortical neurons. However, cortical astrocytes also express neuromodulatory G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). While astrocytic noradrenergic receptors have been shown to modulate two critical regulators of arousal—cortical synchrony and extracellular adenosine levels—how other neuromodulatory signaling pathways similarly shape arousal remains unclear. Astrocytes in mammalian cortex express particularly high levels of the wake-promoting, Gq-coupled histamine-1-receptor (H1R), yet little is known about how astrocytic H1R contributes to regulation of arousal. To address this gap, we used pharmacological and genetic approaches in murine cortex to test how astrocyte-H1R signaling affects astrocyte calcium (Ca2+), cortical neural activity across sleep/wake, and extracellular adenosine—an astrocytic output that regulates cortical arousal. Using ex vivo two-photon Ca2+ imaging in acute cortical slices, we show that H1R mediates cell-autonomous astrocyte Ca2+ responses to histamine (HA) and attenuates responses to norepinephrine (NE). Next, in vivo fiber photometry and electrophysiology results show that H1R deletion in cortical astrocytes disrupts local astrocyte Ca2+ during wake and extracellular adenosine dynamics specifically around REM sleep transitions, when HA release is minimal. Further, astrocyte-specific H1R deletion in cortex promotes wakefulness and reduces REM sleep time. Our results indicate that H1R activity modulates astrocyte responses to non-histaminergic inputs by inducing lasting changes in astrocyte physiology that modulate extracellular adenosine and REM sleep. Our findings contribute to an emerging model in which neuromodulator GPCRs synergistically shape astrocyte physiology to regulate arousal behavior and adenosine signaling in the cortex.

Scientific Reports, Published online: 08 October 2025; doi:10.1038/s41598-025-22088-xThe influence of regularly changing enrichment on the cognitive judgement bias of laboratory rats

Bruns et al. report that successive training sessions in visual perceptual learning based on motion stimuli can facilitate rather than impair prior learning—if the stimuli are subthreshold—suggesting that conscious awareness plays a key role in transforming facilitative interactions into disruptive ones.

Large carnivores are increasingly present outside Protected Areas, creating both conservation opportunities and risks of conflict. In Nepal’s mid-hill region, leopards (Panthera pardus) are the primary species involved in human–wildlife conflict. However, the ecological and anthropogenic drivers of these interactions remain poorly understood. This study provides the first integrated assessment of leopard habitat use and conflict in Tanahun district, based on field occupancy surveys, conflict records (2015–2024), and spatial modeling. Leopards were widespread, with high occupancy (Ψ = 0.83 ± 0.03) and moderate detection probability (ρ = 0.40 ± 0.007). Forest cover was the strongest predictor of occupancy, underscoring its role in sustaining leopard populations in human-dominated landscapes. However, conflict, was shaped less by leopard occupancy than by proximity to settlements (β = – 0.0039, 95% CI: – 0.0062 to – 0.0016), while distance to water had only a weak effect. Between 2015 and 2024, we recorded 264 conflict incidents most of which were livestock depredation (89%), along with 14 human fatalities and 15 nonlethal injuries. Spatial risk mapping suggested conflict hotspots were mostly in northeastern municipalities, whereas western areas presented a relatively low risk. Our findings indicate that conflict is driven more by human settlement distribution and land-use patterns than by leopard presence alone. Mapping of risk zones such as these can help prioritize management interventions to reduce conflict while maintaining habitat connectivity. Effective mitigation should focus on livestock protection, improved husbandry, and community-based initiatives in high-risk zones, alongside long-term strategies to restore prey and sustain forest cover.

The genome of the Atlas blue butterfly contains ten times more chromosomes than most butterflies, and more than any other known diploid animal. Wright et al. show that this extraordinary karyotype is the result of rapid fragmentation of autosomes. In contrast, sex chromosomes resist fragmentation, revealing constraints on chromosome evolution.

Ecological Entomology, EarlyView.

Acquiring information efficiently through sensory inputs is essential for animal survival. Animals with active sensory systems that emit their own signals often optimize the design and use of these signals according to context and purpose. In this study, we reveal a previously unrecognized function of Doppler shift compensation (DSC) in bats. During flight, bats actively lower the frequency of their echolocation calls so that echoes remain stable at a reference frequency (fref) despite Doppler shifts caused by movement. We demonstrate that DSC does not simply serve, as previously thought, to align echoes with the acoustic fovea, a narrow band of maximal auditory sensitivity, but in addition, suppresses background noise for detecting prey-derived signals. Using phantom echo playbacks and on-board microphone recordings, we show that bats selectively compensate for the highest-frequency echoes rather than the most intense ones. This process shifts all clutter echoes below fref, leaving the spectral band above fref free of stationary-object echoes and secures a quiet frequency band. Recordings during prey capture and noise playback experiments revealed that spectral glints from fluttering moth wings appear in this quiet frequency band and are exploited for prey detection. This mechanism enhances the high-fidelity detection of prey echoes even in cluttered environments. Such findings reveal a sensory strategy in which animals actively create silence in a critical frequency range. It represents a conceptual advance in active sensing and auditory scene analysis, highlighting how evolution shapes sensory systems to extract reliable information under noisy natural conditions.

The important role of pollinators in floral evolution has been well established through centuries of research. A new study combining micrometeorological and behavioral experiments demonstrates that abiotic conditions also play a key role in shaping floral morphology and function in relation to insect visitors.

Background: In 2023, the World Health Organization declared that there is no safe amount of alcohol consumption. It is becoming increasingly clear that even at lower doses, ethanol exposure impacts both the brain and behavior. Emerging work has shown that chronic exposure to lower doses of ethanol may lead to inflexible behaviors and promote aberrant reward seeking. This study aimed to determine the impact of chronic, low-dose ethanol exposure on neural substrates of reward and associated alterations in behavioral strategy in response to change in reward value. Methods: Female and male C57BL/6J mice underwent operant training to self-administer 10% sucrose under a fixed ratio schedule. Once mice showed stable responding, response criteria were graduated to a random interval schedule to promote automated behaviors. Throughout training, mice were given an i.p. injection of low-dose ethanol (0.5g/kg) or saline, 1 hour after each training session. Mice did not receive low-dose ethanol or saline i.p. injections after completion of training. Mice were then tested in PR task in which the reward magnitude of reinforcer was reduced (small or large) or increased (small or large). A subset of mice expressed a retrograde tracer in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), and cFos expression within NAc circuits was analyzed following a sucrose self-administration session. Results: Chronic low-dose ethanol exposure altered behavioral responding in female mice following small changes in reward magnitude. Female mice showed divergent response patterns when there was a small reduction in reward magnitude, with greater proportions of ethanol-exposed female mice either increasing or decreasing responding versus controls. Following a small increase, low-dose ethanol female mice significantly increased responding versus controls. Female mice exposed to chronic low-dose ethanol shifted behavioral strategy with a reduction in "checking" behavior (magazine entry after a lever press) in response to changes in reward magnitude. This effect was not observed in male mice. Low-dose ethanol altered cFos expression within the prelimbic cortex and its projections to the NAc during reward seeking. Conclusions: Chronic, low-dose ethanol altered behavioral responding and strategy in female mice in response to changes in reward value. During reward seeking, low-dose ethanol exposure impacted prelimbic cortex and its projections to the nucleus accumbens activity in both female and male mice. Future studies should investigate the consequences of chronic low-dose ethanol on both the brain and behavior to further understand what underlying processes drive aberrant reward-seeking behaviors.

Exercise is a promising intervention for reducing drug craving, but recent studies have shown inconsistent effects. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the effect of exercise interventions on drug craving and identify the key exercise factors that affect its effectiveness. The literature was searched in four English databases. Two authors independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and quality assessment. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were conducted to explore potential heterogeneity. The results demonstrated that exercise (SMD = −0.74, 95% CI: −0.91, −0.58; p < 0.00001) was more effective than control groups in reducing drug craving among people with drug use disorder. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that aerobic (SMD = −0.79, 95% CI: −1.03, −0.54; p < 0.00001), multi-component (SMD = −0.96, 95% CI: −1.73, −0.18; p = 0.02), and mind–body exercise (SMD = −0.57, 95% CI: −0.88, −0.26; p = 0.0003) could significantly reduce drug craving, while resistance exercise (SMD = −0.59, 95% CI: −1.33, 0.16; p = 0.12) could not. Moreover, moderate (SMD = −0.77, 95% CI: −0.95, −0.58; p < 0.00001) and high-intensity exercise (SMD = −0.63, 95% CI: −1.08, −0.19; p = 0.006) were effective in reducing drug craving. In addition, regardless of intervention period, single-session duration, and weekly frequency, exercise could significantly reduce drug craving. This study indicates that exercise effectively reduces drug craving, with type and intensity as key factors affecting the effectiveness.

Brain and Behavior, Volume 15, Issue 10, October 2025.

When using the Property Listing Task (PLT) to collect semantic content for a set of concepts (Concept Property Norms, CPNs), coding raw properties into standardized labels poses significant challenges. In this work, we address these challenges by enhancing the Assisted Coding for Property Listing Task (AC-PLT) framework, which facilitates the coding process. The current work conducts an ablation study to optimize AC-PLT by evaluating combinations of text cleaning, embedding models (e.g., Word2Vec, E5, LaBSE), and classification methods (e.g., kNN, SVM, XGBoost). Results show that normalization with the E5 embedding model and kNN classification achieves the highest accuracy, with top-1 test accuracies of 0.523 for CPN27 and 0.608 for CPN120 datasets, outperforming the original AC-PLT baseline. Comparisons with ChatGPT (fine-tuned and one-shot) reveal AC-PLT’s superior stability and cost-effectiveness, despite ChatGPT’s competitive performance in some cases. The improved AC-PLT framework offers a scalable, efficient solution to manual coding challenges, reducing variability and time constraints. Future work will explore its role as a recommender system for human coders, further enhancing its practical utility in cognitive psychology and psycholinguistics research.