Temporal pairwise-correlation analysis provides empirical support for attention hierarchies in mice
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: In many social hierarchies, more subordinate individuals adjust their behaviour according to the presence or behaviour of more dominant individuals. In this study, it is shown that male mice form linear dominance hierarchies characterized by individuals attacking in bursts. Temporal pairwise-correlation analysis reveals that non-dominant individuals avoid behaving aggressively concurrently with an aggressively behaving alpha male. This anti-correlation is only found with alpha males and is greater for more despotic alpha males. It is concluded that less dominant individuals modulate their aggressive behaviour in response to their social context, resulting in an attentional group structure.
Source: Biology Letters
Author: James P. Curley
Institution: Columbia University
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2394968180