@article{HuesteggePieczykolanKoch2023, author = {Huestegge, Lynn and Pieczykolan, Aleks and Koch, Iring}, title = {A Gestalt account of human behavior is supported by evidence from switching between single and dual actions}, series = {Scientific Reports}, volume = {13}, journal = {Scientific Reports}, doi = {10.1038/s41598-023-47788-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-357862}, year = {2023}, abstract = {The question of how behavior is represented in the mind lies at the core of psychology as the science of mind and behavior. While a long-standing research tradition has established two opposing fundamental views of perceptual representation, Structuralism and Gestalt psychology, we test both accounts with respect to action representation: Are multiple actions (characterizing human behavior in general) represented as the sum of their component actions (Structuralist view) or holistically (Gestalt view)? Using a single-/dual-response switch paradigm, we analyzed switches between dual ([A + B]) and single ([A], [B]) responses across different effector systems and revealed comparable performance in partial repetitions and full switches of behavioral requirements (e.g., in [A + B] → [A] vs. [B] → [A], or [A] → [A + B] vs. [B] → [A + B]), but only when the presence of dimensional overlap between responses allows for Gestalt formation. This evidence for a Gestalt view of behavior in our paradigm challenges some fundamental assumptions in current (tacitly Structuralist) action control theories (in particular the idea that all actions are represented compositionally with reference to their components), provides a novel explanatory angle for understanding complex, highly synchronized human behavior (e.g., dance), and delimitates the degree to which complex behavior can be analyzed in terms of its basic components.}, language = {en} } @article{FleischmannGrobRoessler2022, author = {Fleischmann, Pauline N. and Grob, Robin and R{\"o}ssler, Wolfgang}, title = {Magnetosensation during re-learning walks in desert ants (Cataglyphis nodus)}, series = {Journal of Comparative Physiology A}, volume = {208}, journal = {Journal of Comparative Physiology A}, number = {1}, issn = {1432-1351}, doi = {10.1007/s00359-021-01511-4}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-266556}, pages = {125-133}, year = {2022}, abstract = {At the beginning of their foraging careers, Cataglyphis desert ants calibrate their compass systems and learn the visual panorama surrounding the nest entrance. For that, they perform well-structured initial learning walks. During rotational body movements (pirouettes), na{\"i}ve ants (novices) gaze back to the nest entrance to memorize their way back to the nest. To align their gaze directions, they rely on the geomagnetic field as a compass cue. In contrast, experienced ants (foragers) use celestial compass cues for path integration during food search. If the panorama at the nest entrance is changed, foragers perform re-learning walks prior to heading out on new foraging excursions. Here, we show that initial learning walks and re-learning walks are structurally different. During re-learning walks, foragers circle around the nest entrance before leaving the nest area to search for food. During pirouettes, they do not gaze back to the nest entrance. In addition, foragers do not use the magnetic field as a compass cue to align their gaze directions during re-learning walk pirouettes. Nevertheless, magnetic alterations during re-learning walks under manipulated panoramic conditions induce changes in nest-directed views indicating that foragers are still magnetosensitive in a cue conflict situation.}, language = {en} } @article{GrobHeinigGruebeletal.2021, author = {Grob, Robin and Heinig, Niklas and Gr{\"u}bel, Kornelia and R{\"o}ssler, Wolfgang and Fleischmann, Pauline N.}, title = {Sex-specific and caste-specific brain adaptations related to spatial orientation in Cataglyphis ants}, series = {Journal of Comparative Neurology}, volume = {529}, journal = {Journal of Comparative Neurology}, number = {18}, doi = {10.1002/cne.25221}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-257299}, pages = {3882-3892}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Cataglyphis desert ants are charismatic central place foragers. After long-ranging foraging trips, individual workers navigate back to their nest relying mostly on visual cues. The reproductive caste faces other orientation challenges, i.e. mate finding and colony foundation. Here we compare brain structures involved in spatial orientation of Cataglyphis nodus males, gynes, and foragers by quantifying relative neuropil volumes associated with two visual pathways, and numbers and volumes of antennal lobe (AL) olfactory glomeruli. Furthermore, we determined absolute numbers of synaptic complexes in visual and olfactory regions of the mushroom bodies (MB) and a major relay station of the sky-compass pathway to the central complex (CX). Both female castes possess enlarged brain centers for sensory integration, learning, and memory, reflected in voluminous MBs containing about twice the numbers of synaptic complexes compared with males. Overall, male brains are smaller compared with both female castes, but the relative volumes of the optic lobes and CX are enlarged indicating the importance of visual guidance during innate behaviors. Male ALs contain greatly enlarged glomeruli, presumably involved in sex-pheromone detection. Adaptations at both the neuropil and synaptic levels clearly reflect differences in sex-specific and caste-specific demands for sensory processing and behavioral plasticity underlying spatial orientation.}, language = {en} } @article{GruenblattBartlIuhosetal.2015, author = {Gr{\"u}nblatt, Edna and Bartl, Jasmin and Iuhos, Diana-Iulia and Knezovic, Ana and Trkulja, Vladimir and Riederer, Peter and Walitza, Susanne and Salkovic-Petrisic, Melita}, title = {Characterization of cognitive deficits in spontaneously hypertensive rats, accompanied by brain insulin receptor dysfunction}, series = {Journal of Molecular Psychiatry}, volume = {3}, journal = {Journal of Molecular Psychiatry}, number = {6}, doi = {10.1186/s40303-015-0012-6}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-149593}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Background The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) has been used to model changes in the central nervous system associated with cognitive-related disorders. Recent human and animal studies indicate a possible relationship between cognitive deficits, insulin resistance and hypertension. We aimed to investigate whether cognitively impaired SHRs develop central and/or peripheral insulin resistance and how their cognitive performance is influenced by the animal's sex and age as well as strains used for comparison (Wistar and Wistar-Kyoto/WKY). Methods Three and seven-month-old SHR, Wistar, and WKY rats were studied for their cognitive performance using Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Passive Avoidance tests (PAT). Plasma glucose and insulin were obtained after oral glucose tolerance tests. Cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum status of insulin-receptor (IR) β-subunit and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and their phosphorylated forms were obtained via ELISA. Results SHRs performed poorly in MWM and PAT in comparison to both control strains but more pronouncedly compared to WKY. Females performed poorer than males and 7-month-old SHRs had poorer MWM performance than 3-month-old ones. Although plasma glucose levels remained unchanged, plasma insulin levels were significantly increased in the glucose tolerance test in 7-month-old SHRs. SHRs demonstrated reduced expression and increased activity of IRβ-subunit in cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum with different regional changes in phospho/total GSK3β ratio, as compared to WKYs. Conclusion Results indicate that cognitive deficits in SHRs are accompanied by both central and peripheral insulin dysfunction, thus allowing for the speculation that SHRs might additionally be considered as a model of insulin resistance-induced type of dementia.}, language = {en} }