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We are interested in understanding behavioural variation, and most of our research is on causes and consequences of animal personality, including links to cognition, sexual selection. We mainly (but not only) use red junglefowl as our model species.

Male domestic fowl are less aggressive towards related males than to unrelated males when competing for copulations, according to a new study. The finding suggests that domestic fowl can recognise their kin among individuals in a group.

Species that are not domesticated can develop a social interaction with humans. Researchers noticed this when conducting a study on junglefowl. They hope that the findings will stimulate further studies into how contact with humans arises.

Human medicines that act on important signal systems in the brain make fish bolder, shows a new study by researchers at LiU. The results reinforce that drugs that end up in the natural environment may have consequences for animal life.

Chickens that grow up in an environment that they perceive as more diverse and manageable, retain an optimistic view of life and cope with stress better. This according to a new study published in Scientific Reports.

Researchers found that dopaminergic and serotoninergic genes affect cognitive functions in the animal.

Individual variation in personality or cognition can have important consequences. LiU researchers show that differences in behavioural and cognitive traits can affect whether adult junglefowl win contests and become the highest-ranking bird.

Both genetic and environmental factors explain cognitive traits, shows a new study. Researchers have shown that the ability of fowl to cope with a difficult learning task can be explained by genetic factors to a larger degree than simpler tests.

At LiUs Biology division researchers are constantly trying to understand more about animal behavior. One researcher is Laura Garnham, who´s doctoral thesis focuses on the emotions and behavior of the red jungelfowl.

Differences in impulsivity between individuals are linked to both experience and gene expression, according to a study on the ancestor of domestic chickens, the red junglefowl.