Behavioral neuroscience

Recent articles

Neuromechanical models deepen our understanding of animal motor control

Thanks to recent progress in physics-based simulators and robotics, it has never been easier for neuroscientists to use neuromechanical modeling to test hypotheses about animal movement.

By Auke Ijspeert
9 September 2026 | 0 min watch

Revealing how crabs make their escape

Houdini-like Neohelice granulata offers a rare opportunity to record intracellularly from awake, behaving animals.

By Natalia Mesa
28 August 2026 | 0 min watch
Scientists with giant animals: Frog, butterfly, electric fish and a bird.

La biodiversidad de Latinoamérica impulsa avances en comportamiento social y cognición

Horneros, peces eléctricos, ranitas y otra fauna regional ayudan a los neurocientíficos a plantear nuevas preguntas de investigación en el campo.

By Natalia Mesa
28 August 2026 | 2 min read

Descobrindo como as borboletas escolhem seus parceiros

As borboletas do gênero Heliconius permitem investigar os circuitos neurais e os genes envolvidos na preferência pela cor dos parceiros.

By Natalia Mesa
28 August 2026 | 0 min watch
Rufous horneros bird.

Identificando o que torna o canto de uma ave único

As oscinas e as suboscinas, duas linhagens de aves evolutivamente próximas, aprendem e não aprendem a cantar, respectivamente, ajudando os cientistas a desvendar os correlatos neuronais da aprendizagem e da variabilidade vocal.

By Natalia Mesa
28 August 2026 | 4 min read

Revelando como os caranguejos conseguem escapar

Os Neohelice granulata, verdadeiros Houdinis, oferecem uma rara oportunidade de realizar registros intracelulares em animais acordados e em movimento.

By Natalia Mesa
28 August 2026 | 0 min watch
Rufous horneros bird.

Qué hace único al canto de un ave

Los oscinos y los suboscinos son dos linajes de aves evolutivamente cercanos, pero solo uno de ellos aprende a cantar. Esa diferencia les permite a los científicos rastrear las bases neuronales del aprendizaje vocal.

By Natalia Mesa
28 August 2026 | 4 min read
Tree frog climbing.

Cómo los neuropéptidos afectan el canto de la ranita de zarzal

Según una investigación uruguaya, los neuropéptidos modulan el “canto de amor” de la ranita de zarzal.

By Natalia Mesa
28 August 2026 | 3 min read

Descubriendo cómo las mariposas escogen su pareja

Mariposas Heliconius ofrecen una ventana a los circuitos neuronales y genes involucrados en la preferencia por el color de la pareja.

By Natalia Mesa
28 August 2026 | 0 min watch
Tree frog climbing.

Desvendando os efeitos dos neuropeptídeos no canto das pererecas

Os neuropeptídeos modulam o canto de cortejo da perereca de Montevidéu, de acordo com uma pesquisa realizada no Uruguai.

By Natalia Mesa
28 August 2026 | 3 min read

Explore more from The Transmitter

Illustrated collage of a monkey profile, a gloved hand holding a vaccine syringe touching an outline of the United States with two primates sitting near it, a strand of DNA, and flags of the United States and China in the background.

U.S. national primate research centers face an uncertain future

The facilities were meant to last 100 years. Four decades shy of that mark, amid flatlined funds and mounting political pressure, their directors are trying to find a path forward.

By Calli McMurray
9 October 2026 | 12 min read
Reflections of primates in lab equipment (bottom left: Rhesus macaque, top left: Pig-tailed macaque, bottom right: Crab-eating macaque. top right: Marmoset

What if nonhuman primate research goes away?

As the U.S. government takes steps to stop using nonhuman primates in research, The Transmitter investigates what that shift could mean for neuroscience.

By The Transmitter
9 October 2026 | 2 min read
Illustration of primate hands interacting with objects of cognitive tests.

The neuroscience questions that need nonhuman primates

The Transmitter asked 17 neuroscientists what questions might remain unanswered if support for nonhuman primate research continues to decline.

By Alissa de Chassey
9 October 2026 | 10 min read