On growth and form of animal behavior
In this study we propose an architecture (bauplan) for the growth and form of behavior in vertebrates and arthropods. We show in what sense behavior is an extension of anatomy. Then we show that movement-based behavior shares linearity and modularity with the skeletal body plan, and with the Hox gen...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2024.1476233/full |
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| author | Ilan Golani Neri Kafkafi |
| author_facet | Ilan Golani Neri Kafkafi |
| author_sort | Ilan Golani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this study we propose an architecture (bauplan) for the growth and form of behavior in vertebrates and arthropods. We show in what sense behavior is an extension of anatomy. Then we show that movement-based behavior shares linearity and modularity with the skeletal body plan, and with the Hox genes; that it mirrors the geometry of the physical environment; and that it reveals the animal’s understanding of the animate and physical situation, with implications for perception, attention, emotion, and primordial cognition. First we define the primitives of movement in relational terms, as in comparative anatomy, yielding homological primitives. Then we define modules, generative rules and the architectural plan of behavior in terms of these primitives. In this way we expose the homology of behaviors, and establish a rigorous trans-phyletic comparative discipline of the morphogenesis of movement-based behavior. In morphogenesis, behavior builds up and narrows incessantly according to strict geometric rules. The same rules apply in moment-to-moment behavior, in ontogenesis, and partly also in phylogenesis. We demonstrate these rules in development, in neurological recovery, with drugs (dopamine-stimulated striatal modulation), in stressful situations, in locomotor behavior, and partly also in human pathology. The buildup of movement culminates in free, undistracted, exuberant behavior. It is observed in play, in superior animals during agonistic interactions, and in humans in higher states of functioning. Geometrization promotes the study of genetics, anatomy, and behavior within one and the same discipline. The geometrical bauplan portrays both already evolved dimensions, and prospective dimensional constraints on evolutionary behavioral innovations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f965f802f2a14131bcd5ddac492e26d3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1662-5145 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-f965f802f2a14131bcd5ddac492e26d32025-02-04T06:31:46ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience1662-51452025-02-011810.3389/fnint.2024.14762331476233On growth and form of animal behaviorIlan GolaniNeri KafkafiIn this study we propose an architecture (bauplan) for the growth and form of behavior in vertebrates and arthropods. We show in what sense behavior is an extension of anatomy. Then we show that movement-based behavior shares linearity and modularity with the skeletal body plan, and with the Hox genes; that it mirrors the geometry of the physical environment; and that it reveals the animal’s understanding of the animate and physical situation, with implications for perception, attention, emotion, and primordial cognition. First we define the primitives of movement in relational terms, as in comparative anatomy, yielding homological primitives. Then we define modules, generative rules and the architectural plan of behavior in terms of these primitives. In this way we expose the homology of behaviors, and establish a rigorous trans-phyletic comparative discipline of the morphogenesis of movement-based behavior. In morphogenesis, behavior builds up and narrows incessantly according to strict geometric rules. The same rules apply in moment-to-moment behavior, in ontogenesis, and partly also in phylogenesis. We demonstrate these rules in development, in neurological recovery, with drugs (dopamine-stimulated striatal modulation), in stressful situations, in locomotor behavior, and partly also in human pathology. The buildup of movement culminates in free, undistracted, exuberant behavior. It is observed in play, in superior animals during agonistic interactions, and in humans in higher states of functioning. Geometrization promotes the study of genetics, anatomy, and behavior within one and the same discipline. The geometrical bauplan portrays both already evolved dimensions, and prospective dimensional constraints on evolutionary behavioral innovations.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2024.1476233/fullethologybehavioral phenotypingcomparative anatomyevo-devobehavioral homologiesmobility gradient |
| spellingShingle | Ilan Golani Neri Kafkafi On growth and form of animal behavior Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience ethology behavioral phenotyping comparative anatomy evo-devo behavioral homologies mobility gradient |
| title | On growth and form of animal behavior |
| title_full | On growth and form of animal behavior |
| title_fullStr | On growth and form of animal behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | On growth and form of animal behavior |
| title_short | On growth and form of animal behavior |
| title_sort | on growth and form of animal behavior |
| topic | ethology behavioral phenotyping comparative anatomy evo-devo behavioral homologies mobility gradient |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnint.2024.1476233/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ilangolani ongrowthandformofanimalbehavior AT nerikafkafi ongrowthandformofanimalbehavior |