BRAVE OR CAUTIOUS? WHAT BIRDS CAN TELL US ABOUT PERSONALITY IN THE BRAIN

Why do some animals rush toward something new, while others hesitate? A collaborative study, led by Wen Zhang (Department of Biology, Ghent University) and researchers from several Ghent University groups together with the Université de Rennes, explored this question in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica). The work combined behavioural biology, neurobiology, psychology, and veterinary sciences to investigate how brain gene expression relates to differences in neophobia and motivation.

Testing fear of the unknown

To measure “fear of novelty”, also called neophobia, birds were given access to food placed next to an unfamiliar object. Some quail quickly approached the food, while others hesitated. What stood out was that these differences were consistent over time. Birds that were cautious during one test also tended to be cautious in later tests, suggesting that neophobia is part of a stable personality trait rather than random behavior.

A link between personality and the brain

The researchers then investigated whether these behavioral differences were associated with activity of genes involved in dopamine and serotonin signaling, two systems known to influence motivation, fear and decision-making. They found that birds with stronger motivation to approach food showed higher expression of the dopamine receptor gene drd4 in the basal ganglia, a region involved in reward processing. In contrast, birds showing stronger neophobic responses had higher expression of the serotonin receptor gene htr2a in the nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL), a brain region involved in complex decision-making and behavioural control. These findings suggest that different neurobiological systems may shape how individuals balance curiosity and caution.

Why does this matter?

Animals constantly face choices between potential rewards and possible dangers. Exploring something new could lead to food or opportunities, but it could also be risky. Understanding the biological mechanisms behind these decisions helps researchers better understand animal personality, behavior and adaptation.

More information can be found here, in the full scientific article.