Behavior, Personality, and Affective States of Freely Behaving Groups of Mice and Other Animals
In recent years, the study of animal behavior in neuroscience has seen a significant shift towards more naturalistic and less intrusive methods. It is under these conditions that the true spectrum of animal behavior can be exhibited, free from the artificial constraints and stressful conditions often imposed by traditional laboratory settings. In this talk, I will discuss the interplay between behavior, personality, and affective states as measured in our “social boxes”; These systems allow for the continuous and unattended tracking of groups of mice over extended periods and can automatically recognize and catalog over 100 distinct behaviors. A four-day experiment, for example, can potentially replace a myriad of classical tests typically used in neuroscience. Our system can also discern and record a ‘behavioral fingerprint’ for each mouse. These fingerprints reveal consistent traits—personalities—that are not only distinct between individuals but also persist over time. In addition, by examining the interplay between behavior and personality across multiple timescales – from seconds to days – we can gain insights into the affective states of these animals. Finally, expanding our research to other species, including bats, cows, and even humans, allows us to develop a general understanding of behavior and personality. This comparative strategy holds promise for developing a ‘universal translator’ of behavioral and personality patterns, paving the way for new comparative studies. These insights into the personalities and emotions of both humans and animals have the potential to significantly enhance our knowledge of the neurobiological underpinnings of behavior.

—Oren Forkosh is a PI at the Lab for Computational Neuroscience- Behavior, Personality and Cognition at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The Forkosh lab uses machine-learning to understand personality, behaviour, hierarchy, communication, social learning, and much more, in order to make the world happier for animals and people alike.