Comparative analysis of the mechanisms of attack and defense among higher brain animals

Abstract

Many studies have investigated different mechanisms of attack and defense in different species of higher brain animals including cats, rats, rodents, mice, and even in some bird species. However, detailed comparative analysis has not been carried out to understand the major similarities in the mechanisms of attack and defense across the different species of vertebrates. Although there are differences, there are also significant similarities as well, which warrant comparative assessment. By considering ethological ideas associated with the motivational defense system, we investigated the motor patterns of attack and defense in cats and rats, using the "resident-intruder" experimental paradigm. Our results reveal specific similarities and differences in the motor patterns of attack and defense in rats and cats. We discuss comparatively the mechanisms of attack and defense across different species of vertebrates, focusing on motor patterns, neuromodulating factors, brains neural substrates, and circuitry.

Integrative focus on dynamic motor patterns and age hierarchy in the expression of aggression

“…Our findings are consistent with other studies that show lack of clear dominance in competitive orders as measures of dominance [22]. Our data complement existing studies on the expression of aggression as related to age-related dominance [22][23][24][25][26]43]. The present study also reveals that by examining the motor patterns of attack and defense of aggressive small animals when paired with adult animals, it is possible not only to analyze levels of aggression in a social group but to explain the characteristics among individual animals of age differences at both the inter and intra species level.…”