Tests of preferences of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdi) for individuals and their odors as a function of sex and estrous condition.

18 experiments investigated deer mice's preferences for cues from conspecifics in relation to their presence, sex, and estrous condition. Both males and females consistently preferred bedding soiled by conspecifics to clean bedding. Males given recent testing in a seminatural enclosure preferred bedding soiled for 6–7 hrs by females to that soiled by males. Other sexually experienced males displayed no such preference; however, such males did prefer bedding soiled by females for 6–9 days to that soiled by males. There was no consistent evidence that males preferred the odor of estrous females to those in diestrus. Results suggest that there is great variability among rodent species regarding the effectiveness of cues related to sex and estrus; preferences for estrus are not universal. In nature the important signal for a male deer mouse may be the presence of a female that may soon become estrous. The current estrous state may be of less importance. (54 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Tongue flicking in agamid lizards: morphology, kinematics, and muscle activity patterns

We wanted to examine whether a relation between foraging strategy, morphology, the mechanics of tongue protrusion, and prey chemical detection and discrimination exists in agamid lizards. Tongue-flick behavior was observed in two species of this family: Uromastix acanthinurus and Plocederma stellio. Potential prey chemical discrimination by means of tongue flicking was examined by using applicator tests. Tongue flicks were subsequently recorded by high-speed video in combination with the electrical activity of a number of jaw and hyolingual muscles. The kinematics of jaws and tongue and the muscle activity patterns were quantified. To investigate if the observed differences in tongue-flick behavior (mainly in the frequency of use) are translated into corresponding differences in tongue morphology, the tongues of both species were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The species differed mainly in the surface morphology of the foretongue and in the abundance and distribution of taste buds on the tongue and oral cavity. These differences can be related to behavioural observations; whereas U. acanthinurus readily uses tongue flicks to detect and discriminate between food items, P. stellio does not. However, differences in tongue-flick mechanics (kinematics, electromyograms) between both species were minor. Based on the data gathered in this study and from previously published data, an evolutionary transformation series leading to the complex tongue-flick cycles as observed in snakes is proposed. The required morphological and mechanical changes that accompany such an evolutionary sequence are discussed.     

Strike-induced chemosensory searching by ingestively naive garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis).

Neonatal, previously unfed garter snakes exposed to aqueous chemical cues from earthworms tongue flicked at higher rates during the 5 min after withdrawal of the stimulus than after aqueous control trials. If snakes struck at but did not touch the worm stimulus, they showed a much greater increase over control trials in postexposure tongue flicking than when they did not strike, and the increased rate persisted longer. These results demonstrate strike-induced chemosensory searching (SICS) by ingestively naive snakes. It is highly probable that other squamate reptiles show a similar well-integrated suite of sequential foraging behaviors at birth or hatching. Differences among species in SICS may be related to details of sequential prey capture tactics in reconstruction of phylogenetic patterns. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Patterns of individual diet choice and efficiency of foraging in wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus).

Capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus) exhibit extensive intragroup variability in foraging and diet. To consider how age, sex, and individual identity contribute to this variability, the authors examined foraging and diet in 18 wedge-capped capuchin monkeys in 1 social group in the wild. Age–sex classes did not differ in the time spent ingesting food, the reliance on plant foods, the foraging actions used or substrates exploited, or in the efficiency of exploiting animal foods. They did differ, however, in the time spent finding food, time devoted to animal foods and to vigorous foraging, and the efficiency of foraging. The sexes differed more than age groups. Individual differences within age–sex class were less extensive than expected and were more evident in juveniles than adults. Within-group variability in foraging reflected catholic selection and equivalent treatment of substrates by all individuals, rather than individual specializations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Preference-success assumption in education.

Evaluated the effect of preference for content of printed material and preference for study method on comprehension, using 64 8th, 9th, and 10th graders. A 2 * 2 * 2 factorial design was used employing 2 levels each of study method, sex, and preference for content. Results indicate that Ss produced significantly higher comprehension scores with the preferred content than with the nonpreferred content and significantly lower comprehension scores when using their preferred method than when using their nonpreferred method. At the same time Ss scored no differently with either the sex appropriate or sex inappropriate content, the material on which more or less time was spent, or the material on which Ss started or ended. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Subject characteristics and preferences for different approaches to psychotherapy: A multivariate study.

Examined selected personality variables, sex, age, interpersonal values, and educational level, as antecedents to preferences for a nondirective (Carl Rogers) or directive (Albert Ellis) therapist. Ss were 77 hospitalized psychiatric patients and 77 normal undergraduates. Individual films of the same patient being separately interviewed by the therapists were shown to the Ss on separate days. The Barrett-Lennard Relationship Inventory and an expression of preference for therapists were dependent measures. Ss who preferred the Ellis presentation proved to be more dogmatic (Rokeach Dogmatism Scale, Form E) and externalized (Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale) than Ss preferring the Rogers presentation. Trait anxiety (Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale) was only related to therapy preference for the patients. The variables differed in discriminability between preferences, although patients and students were similar in their relative preferences for the 2 therapist orientations. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Odor preferences of female house mice (Mus domesticus) in seminatural enclosures.

Preferences for male odors by female house mice (Mus domesticus) were examined with respect to age, dominance status, and spatial relationships. Mice were free living in 6 field enclosures. Estrous or nonestrous females were placed in an aquarium with soiled bedding from live traps as the odor source. Females were tested for preferences between (1) adult and juvenile male odors, (2) dominant and subordinate male odors, and (3) "near" and "far" male odors. In dominance odor tests, estrous females preferred odors from dominant males; nonestrous females exhibited no significant preferences. In adult juvenile and spatial odor tests, there were no significant differences between odor preferences of estrous and nonestrous females. However, most females preferred odors from adult and "near" males. Male dominance status appears to be the strongest influence on female odor preference in these seminatural enclosures. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Garter snake trailing behavior: Effects of varying prey-extract concentration and mode of prey-extract presentation.

In a multiple-choice maze, garter snakes were trained to follow earthworm-extract trails for worm bit rewards. Ss were juvenile and adult garter snakes of both sexes of the species Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis and Thamnophis radix. In Exp I, Ss were tested for their abilities to follow extract trails that had been dried or extract trails that were removed from direct lingual access by a perforated floor. Ss were able to follow the dry trails and unable to follow removed trails. In Exp II, Ss were tested for their behavioral responses to different concentrations of extract trails. Ss trailed more accurately, moved more slowly, and exhibited much higher tongue flick rates on the intense concentration trails. Results are interpreted in terms of the assumption that effective trails are perceived by the tongue flick delivery of odorants to the vomeronasal organs. (37 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The social and cognitive value of preschool toys and activities.

Observed 24 male and 18 female preschoolers (mean age 3.8 yrs) during free play to examine (a) the 10 most preferred free play activities in a preschool setting, (b) the social and cognitive values of the toys and activities, and (c) sex differences in the use of materials. Results show that (a) the most frequently occurring activities included cutting and pasting, painting and crayoning, sand and water, and books; (b) activities engaged in in a nonsocial functional fashion were less complex and mature than those used in a nonsocial constructive fashion; and (c) females engaged in more art work and less block and vehicle play than males, thus indicating a lack of change in toy preference across sexes over a period of more than 40 yrs. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sexual preferences in zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) males raised by two species (Lonchura striata and Taeniopygia guttata): I. A case of double imprinting.

Examined whether dithering behavior is the result of sexual imprinting on 2 species. When young zebra finch males are exposed to their own species, as well as to Bengalese finches later on, they may court both species; the stability as well as the exclusiveness of the preference was examined. In Exp I, dithering males that had been tested for their preference when adults were subsequently either isolated or given experience with conspecifics. Afterward, the males were tested again. Although preferences appeared to have become more zebra finch directed, especially in males with experience with conspecifics, most males in both groups still courted both species, results indicating that the dithering phenomenon is persistent. In Exp II, whether dithering indicates a double preference or the lack of a specific preference was examined. Dithering males preferred both zebra finches and Bengalese finches over (unfamiliar) white zebra finches and over silverbills. Results suggest that dithering indicates imprinting on both zebra and Bengalese finches. (15 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Repeated tests of intermale aggression in mice (Mus musculus) are influenced by housing and test conditions.

Young adult male Binghamton Heterogenous (HET) mice were housed either individually or in groups of four, in two-tiered cages for 11 days before their agonistic behavior was observed. Pairs of male mice were tested 3 min each day for 9 consecutive days. Agonistic behavior was observed in two-tiered cages in which there were either clean pine shavings or shavings soiled by young adult female HET mice. Housing and shaving conditions interactively influenced aggression observed over the course of testing. That is, when individually housed mice were tested with clean shavings and when group-housed mice were tested with female-soiled shavings, agonistic behavior decreased over days, but when isolated mice were tested in soiled shavings and when group-housed mice were tested in clean shavings, aggression increased over the course of the 9-day test period. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Social chemosignals in five Belontiidae (Pisces) species.

Examined approach behaviors toward conspecific chemical stimuli of the opposite sex in 5 Belontiidae species: Betta splendens, Macropodus opercularis, Colisa labiosa, C. lalia, and Trichogaster trichopterus. Approach was measured by (a) preference for Section 1 of a 3-section tank, which contained a vertical tube that introduced the stimulus water, and (b) occupancy of the tube. Exps IA and IB showed that (a) approach behaviors were displayed by the isolated male Betta only to ripe-female stimulus water, (b) group-housed males of the remaining 4 species were not attracted to female-conditioned water, and (c) socially isolated males of these 4 species preferred Section 1 during presentation of either ripe- or nonripe-female-inhabited water but occupied the tube only during exposure to ripe-female-conditioned water. The findings of Exp IIA were that (a) the female Betta, regardless of physiological state, showed approach behaviors to male-inhabited water and (b) only ripe females of the remaining species indicated a preference for Section 1 during male-water exposure but performed no tube entries. Results of Exp IIB indicate that social isolation of the females, especially ripe females, facilitated their approach behaviors. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Loneliness, social interaction, and sex roles.

43 male and 53 female undergraduates maintained the Rochester Interaction Record for 2 wks, providing information about social interactions of 10 min or more. Ss then completed the revised UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Personal Attributes Questionnaire. For both sexes, loneliness was negatively related to the amount of time spent with females and to the meaningfulness of interaction with males and females. However, meaningfulness with males was more important than meaningfulness with females. Femininity was negatively related to loneliness for both sexes and partially mediated the above relationships. There were sex differences, however, in the extent to which variables overlapped in predicting loneliness. For example, a large group of nonlonely males was characterized both by having meaningful relationships with males and by spending time with females, whereas a 2nd group of nonlonely males was characterized simply by having meaningful relationships with males. The largest group of nonlonely females was characterized simply by having meaningful relationships with males, but another sizable group was characterized simply by spending time with females. Females doing both accounted for little of the variance. (26 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Characterization of acyl-ACP thioesterases of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) seed and high levels of stearate production in transgenic canola

Acyl-acyl-carrier protein (ACP) thioesterases are, at least in part, responsible for the fatty acyl chain length composition of seed storage oils. Acyl-ACP thioesterases with specificity for each of the saturated acyl-ACP substrates from 8:0 through 16:0 have been cloned, with the exception of 18:0, and are members of the FatB class of thioesterases. The authors have determined that the tropical tree species mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) stores 18:0 (stearate) in its seed oil in amounts of up to 56% by weight. Acyl-ACP thioesterase activity as measured in crude mangosteen seed extracts showed a preference for 18:1-ACP substrates, but had significant activity with 18:0 relative to that with 16:0-ACP, suggesting a thioesterase might be involved in the production of stearate. Three distinct acyl-ACP thioesterases were cloned from mangosteen seed cDNA; two representative of the FatA class and one representative of the FatB class. When expressed in vitro, the enzyme encoded by one of the FatAs (Garm FatA1) while preferring 18:1-ACP showed relatively low activity with 16:0-ACP as compared to 18:0-ACP, similar to the substrate preferences shown by the crude seed extract. Expression of Garm FatA1 in Brassica seeds led to the accumulation of stearate up to 22% in seed oil. These results suggest that Garm FatA1 is at least partially responsible for determining the high stearate composition of mangosteen seed oil and that FatA as well FatB thioesterases have evolved for specialized roles.     

Social olfaction in male brown lemmings (Lemmus sibiricus?=?trimucronatus) and collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx groenlandicus): I. Discrimination of species, sex, and estrous condition.

Five experiments were conducted with 196 collared and 243 brown male lemmings. When tested in a Y-maze olfactometer, sexually experienced and naive Ss of both species preferred the odor of conspecific females to the odor of females of another species. Both experienced and naive males also preferred the odor of conspecific females to that of conspecific males. Only sexually experienced males showed a significant preference for estrous over nonestrous conspecific females. Sexually experienced males also discriminated between estrous and nonestrous heterospecific females of a familiar (lemming) and unfamiliar (meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus) species. In conjunction with the results of earlier studies of the development of species-specific olfactory preferences, findings suggest that 2 olfactory cues mediate a male's attraction to receptive females: a species-specific odor that is learned during early development and a sexual attractant whose saliency is established as a result of adult experience with a receptive female. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Interspecific mate choice in sailfin and shortfin species of mollies

I examined interspecific patterns of female choice for three species of mollies: the 'sailfin' species, P. latipinna and two 'shortfin' species, P. orri and P. mexicana. Females of the sailfin species consistently preferred conspecific males across all male treatment combinations containing conspecifics. Females of the two shortfin species had lower levels of female preference and spent less time interacting with males during trials. The only consistent pattern of female choice in either shortfin species was a preference for the sailfin P. latipinna males over heterospecific shortfin males, but not over conspecifics. This finding suggests a potential bias by shortfin females for the sailfin male phenotype. Males of the three species differed in both behaviour and morphology. Length and relative position of the dorsal fin reliably separated P. latipinna from the two shortfin species. Body depth and shape distinguished males of the two shortfin species. Dorsal fin height was not a reliable cue for distinguishing sailfin males from males of either shortfin species. Males from different populations of the sailfin species P. latipinna differ in both size-specific behavioural rates and size-specific morphometry, particularly in the overall size-adjusted area of the dorsal fin. Increased rates of courtship displays and increased area of the dorsal fin separate males of P. latipinna from males of the two shortfin species as well. If the same traits used by females of P. latipinna for intraspecific discrimination are also important species-recognition signals, this suggests a potential role for sexual selection in contributing to the divergence of male phenotype during speciation of sailfin mollies. Copyright 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.     

Intraspecific sexual preferences of female hamsters.

Studied the sexual preference behavior of 32 estrous females of 3 species of hamsters of the genus Mesocricetus by introducing individual females into an arena with a pair of males from 2 different species. When 1 male of the pair was a conspecific, females of all 3 species spent significantly more time investigating the conspecific male. When neither male was a conspecific, female Turkish hamsters (M. brandti) strongly preferred male Romanian hamsters (M. neutoni) to male Syrian hamsters (M. auratus), and female Romanian hamsters preferred male Turkish hamsters to male Syrian hamsters. Female Turkish hamsters displayed significantly more presentation behavior than did Romanian females, and Syrian females rarely presented. Female Turkish hamsters also displayed a stronger degree of preference behavior to a conspecific male than did females of either of the other species. The relatively stronger sexual preferences and greater amount of presentation displayed by Turkish hamsters may relate to the greater opportunity for sympatry with closely related forms and the polymorphic state of this species in the wild. The similarity of Turkish and Romanian hamsters on several characteristics may explain the preference of these species for each other when the alternative was a Syrian hamster. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Individual differences and preference for instructional methods.

Administered the Test Anxiety Questionnaire and the Omnibus Personality Inventory to 185 college students taking a psychology course in socialization. Ss were then asked to choose 1 of 3 instructional options: lecture, lecture with discussion, or independent study. Ss preferring each option differed on dimensions such as flexibility, autonomy, preference for abstract thinking, and several variables dealing with academic and personal experience. Other research dealing with individual differences and student behavior is discussed, and recommendations for practical application to the classroom are presented. (French summary) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological androgyny and sex role flexibility: A test of two hypotheses.

In a conceptual replication and extension of a study by S. L. Bem and E. Lenney (1976), 90 male and 118 female college students rated their comfort in and preference for performing several series of masculine, feminine, and neutral activities. Correlations between ratings and scores on the masculinity (instrumentality) and femininity (expressiveness) scales of the Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ) of J. T. Spence and R. L. Helmreich (1978) tended to be theoretically reasonable in sign but in each sex were low in magnitude and only occasionally significant. Classification of Ss into 4 PAQ groups (androgynous, masculine, feminine, and undifferentiated) on their joint masculinity and femininity scores revealed that androgynous and masculine Ss of both sexes had higher comfort ratings, independent of type of task, than did feminine and undifferentiated Ss, suggesting the importance of instrumentality and expressiveness per se. For forced-choice preference ratings, significant differences were found only in males, masculine Ss having a stronger preference for sex-typed tasks than those in other categorical groups. The PAQ variable, however, accounted for only a small percentage of the variance. The data support the Spence-Helmreich hypotheses that the PAQ and similar instruments are largely measures of instrumental and expressive personality traits rather than sex roles and that these personality dimensions are only minimally related to many sex role behaviors. (19 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Steroidal modulation of scent investigation and marking behaviors in male and female ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

Gonadectomized male and female ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) given either testosterone propionate (TP) or oil vehicle preferred to investigate the side of a test cage previously soiled by a breeding male or female as opposed to a clean side. Male and female ferrets receiving TP showed more urogenital wiping than oil-treated animals in either side of the test cage. In a 2nd experiment, ferrets treated sequentially with TP, oil, and estradiol benzoate (EB) were given simultaneous access to sides of a test cage previously soiled by either a breeding female or male. Either EB or TP treatment of females and TP treatment of males facilitated the investigation of odors of opposite-sex ferrets. Females given TP and males given either TP or EB showed increased urogenital wiping in both sides of the test cage. Sex steroids modulate scent investigation and marking in adult ferrets in a sexually differentiated fashion. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)