Model of a sensory–behavioral relation mechanism for aggressive behavior in crickets

In order to gain better understandings how animals establish an internal mechanism, we have focused on the aggressive behavior in the male crickets, in which some different modalities of sensory inputs modify the behavioral motivation. In this research, we examined how aggressiveness changes if crickets cannot perceive normal visual inputs or antennal inputs. First, behavior of the crickets is segmented based on behavioral observation. Second, sensory input–behavior output models are selected by utilizing Minimal Description Length (MDL) criterion. Third, multi-modality sensory–behavioral experiments are realized with handicapped crickets. Last, relations between multi-modality and behavior are discussed based on the obtained parameters in the model derived with experimental results.

► Sensory-behavioral model of aggressive behavior in the male crickets.
► Examination on how aggressiveness changes with different sensory modalities.
► Model selection by utilizing Minimal Description Length (MDL).
► Model construction from sensory information and the previous experiences to behavior.