Animal Minds

The neuroscience of behavior in the wild.

Animal Behavior
Spiders Are Smart, Not Scary

Mary Bates Ph.D. on October 26, 2025

Spiders aren't just spooky Halloween mascots. Their keen senses, complex behaviors, and diverse lifestyles make them excellent subjects for cognitive studies.

Spiders aren't just spooky Halloween mascots. Their keen senses, complex behaviors, and diverse lifestyles make them excellent subjects for cognitive studies.

Animal Behavior
Do Octopuses Mean to Deceive?

Mary Bates Ph.D. on September 25, 2025

Cephalopods like octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid display a range of deceptive behaviors, which may rely on sophisticated cognitive abilities such as Theory of Mind.

Cephalopods like octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid display a range of deceptive behaviors, which may rely on sophisticated cognitive abilities such as Theory of Mind.

Animal Behavior
Are Research-Savvy Chimpanzees Skewing Study Results?

Mary Bates Ph.D. on August 18, 2025

Some captive apes have more experience participating in research than others. Could this prior experience affect how they think and behave, biasing results from cognitive studies?

Some captive apes have more experience participating in research than others. Could this prior experience affect how they think and behave, biasing results from cognitive studies?

Animal Behavior
Fish Are Smarter Than You Think

Mary Bates Ph.D. on July 9, 2025

Researchers developed a way to run tests on fish learning and memory in the animals' natural environments. The results may reveal that fish are smarter than previously assumed.

Researchers developed a way to run tests on fish learning and memory in the animals' natural environments. The results may reveal that fish are smarter than previously assumed.

Animal Behavior
Why Do Animals Drink Alcohol?

Mary Bates Ph.D. on December 30, 2024

Humans aren't the only animals to consume alcohol. But although the behavior is likely widespread in the wild, scientists know little about which species are partaking and why.

Humans aren't the only animals to consume alcohol. But although the behavior is likely widespread in the wild, scientists know little about which species are partaking and why.

Animal Behavior
Beehive Fences Benefit People and Elephants

Mary Bates Ph.D. on November 15, 2024

Beehive fences are a simple, natural conservation tool that leverage human and animal psychology to reduce conflict between farmers and elephants.

Beehive fences are a simple, natural conservation tool that leverage human and animal psychology to reduce conflict between farmers and elephants.

Scent
African Rats Detect Scent and Combat Wildlife Trafficking

Mary Bates Ph.D. on October 30, 2024

Giant African pouched rats have been trained to sniff out explosives and tuberculosis. Now, the rats show promise in another area: combatting the illegal wildlife trade.

Giant African pouched rats have been trained to sniff out explosives and tuberculosis. Now, the rats show promise in another area: combatting the illegal wildlife trade.

Animal Behavior
Why Do Female Birds Sing?

Mary Bates Ph.D. on September 3, 2024

In about two-thirds of songbird species, female birds sing, too. The research so far suggests that their reasons for singing are different from those of male birds.

In about two-thirds of songbird species, female birds sing, too. The research so far suggests that their reasons for singing are different from those of male birds.

Animal Behavior
A Surprising Way to Fight Invasive Species

Mary Bates Ph.D. on August 19, 2024

To protect freshwater crocodiles from toxic cane toads, a team of conservationists taught the predators to link the toads with a bout of food poisoning.

To protect freshwater crocodiles from toxic cane toads, a team of conservationists taught the predators to link the toads with a bout of food poisoning.

Resilience
Lion Brothers Make Record-Breaking Long-Distance Swim

Mary Bates Ph.D. on July 10, 2024

A record-breaking swim by two male lions highlights the animals’ resilience. It also reflects the increasingly risky, human-dominated world in which they live.

A record-breaking swim by two male lions highlights the animals’ resilience. It also reflects the increasingly risky, human-dominated world in which they live.

Animal Behavior
How Does an Elephant Say Hello?

Mary Bates Ph.D. on May 9, 2024

Elephants greet one another with complex, multisensory rituals—and they consider the visual attention of the other elephant when choosing how to communicate.

Elephants greet one another with complex, multisensory rituals—and they consider the visual attention of the other elephant when choosing how to communicate.

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November 2025 magazine cover
November 2025
Healing Family Splits

Cut-offs cut deep and wide, their emotional impact reverberating far beyond the combatants. Because much of the suffering is hidden, repair is challenging for everyone, not least of all therapists.

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Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.

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