Search bioRxiv⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/190827

Genetic differences in the behavioral organization of binge eating, conditioned food reward, and compulsive-like eating in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J strains

Babbs, R. K.·Kelliher, J. C.·Scotellaro, J. L.·Yazdani, N.·Ruan, Q. T.·Mulligan, M. K.·Bryant, C. D.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Binge eating (BE) is a heritable symptom of eating disorders associated with anxiety, depression, malnutrition, and obesity. Genetic analysis of BE could facilitate therapeutic discovery. We used an intermittent, limited access BE paradigm involving sweetened palatable food (PF) to examine genetic differences in BE, conditioned food reward, and compulsive-like eating between C57BL/6J (B6J) and DBA/2J (D2J) inbred mouse strains. D2J mice showed a robust escalation in intake and conditioned place preference for the PF-paired side. D2J mice also showed a unique style of compulsive-like eating in the light/dark conflict test where they rapidly hoarded and consumed PF in the preferred unlit environment. BE and compulsive-like eating exhibited narrow-sense heritability estimates between 56 and 73 percent. To gain insight into the genetic basis, we phenotyped and genotyped a small cohort of 133 B6J x D2J-F2 mice at the peak location of three quantitative trait loci (QTL) previously identified in F2 mice for sweet taste (chromosome 4: 156 Mb), bitter taste (chromosome 6: 133 Mb) and behavioral sensitivity to drugs of abuse (chromosome 11: 50 Mb). The D2J allele on chromosome 6 was associated with greater PF intake on training days and greater compulsive-like PF intake, but only in males, suggesting that decreased bitter taste may increase BE in males. The D2J allele on chromosome 11 was associated with an increase in final PF intake and slope of escalation across days. Future studies employing larger crosses and genetic reference panels comprising B6J and D2J alleles will identify causal genes and neurobiological mechanisms.

Source connections

Explore related subjects

animal behavior and cognitionPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Babbs, R. K., Kelliher, J. C., Scotellaro, J. L., Yazdani, N., Ruan, Q. T., Mulligan, M. K., Bryant, C. D.. 2017-09-19. Genetic differences in the behavioral organization of binge eating, conditioned food reward, and compulsive-like eating in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J strains. https://doi.org/10.1101/190827

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

Development of the Highly Sensitive Horse questionnaire to assess horses' sensory processing sensitivity

It is well established that individuals vary in how they respond to situations, but might they also perceive their environment differently? Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a multidimensional trait describing individual variation in the perception and response to sensory, emotional, and social stimuli. While extensively studied in humans, its presence in animals remains underexplored. We investigated whether horses might exhibit a comparable trait and developed the Highly Sensitive Horse questionnaire to assess equine SPS. A 104-item questionnaire was developed and refined using data from an online survey of 121 horses. The remaining 45 items were evaluated in an independent survey of 561 horses. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses identified a robust two-factor, 12-item structure reflecting dimensions similar to the human SPS dimensions of: Overstimulation, describing a tendency to become overwhelmed by intense or prolonged stimuli, and Sensitivity to subtleties, describing heightened perception of subtle environmental changes. The scale showed high internal consistency, excellent intra-rater and moderate inter-rater reliability. Although eSPS was associated with established behavioural traits, including fearfulness, it also explained unique behavioural variation beyond these traits. These findings suggest that horses differ in how they perceive their environment, providing a foundation to better understand equine behaviour, and opening new avenues for comparative sensory-processing research.

animal behavior and cognition↗
bioRxiv2026

Behavioral divergence across replicated predation regimes is species-specific in two sympatric poeciliid fishes

Predation is a potent driver of behavioral divergence across prey populations, yet whether shared predation regimes generate similar responses in coexisting prey species remains unclear. Species differences in reproductive and foraging traits may alter vulnerability to predators, generating species-specific responses. We compared behavior and cognition of two poeciliid fishes (Gambusia affinis and Poecilia latipinna) that differ in body size, the presence of male ornamentation, and mating tactics. We sampled both species across replicate high- and low-predation regimes and measured exploration, shyness, boldness, social motivation, and detour solve latency (N = 509). Multivariate behavior and cognition differed between predation regimes, and the magnitude of divergence varied with species but not body size. Consistent with the multivariate pattern, the more conspicuous P. latipinna exhibited higher boldness and overall lower exploration under high-predation, while high- and low-predation populations of G. affinis did not differ. These findings suggest either that the more conspicuous species experiences greater predation risk or that the less conspicuous species reduces its predation risk through alternative phenotypic responses. More broadly, species differences in reproductive phenotypes associated with sexual selection may help explain why shared predation regimes generate variable patterns of behavioral divergence across taxa.

animal behavior and cognition↗
bioRxiv2026

Capturing the rhythm: methodological choices shape inference from circadian activity data

Abstract 1. Statistical tools and analytical decisions for analysing animal activity data are often limited and poorly justified, particularly with respect to model choice, sampling design and temporal aggregation. These shortcomings can constrain our ability to draw accurate and biologically meaningful inferences about behaviour. 2. We interrogated 24 h activity data taken from individual males and females derived from five Drosophila melanogaster populations to generate a general framework for collecting and analysing activity data that systematically compares common model classes, continuous verses fragmented sampling strategies, and alternative temporal aggregation choices (time-bin sizes). 3. Our analyses identified generalised additive mixed models (GAMMs) applied to high-frequency continuous data with small-moderate bin sizes (1-5 minutes) as providing the most robust and interpretable inference for our complex, high-frequency activity data. 4. However, our interrogation of the data set confirmed that analytical and sampling decisions need to be tailored to the study species, the timing of activities and the nature of the behaviour of interest. Accordingly, polynomial and cosinor generalised linear models, increased but biologically targeted snapshot sampling, and bin sizes smaller than one hour yielded adequate analyses with similar biological conclusions when appropriately matched to the system. 5. Our approach provides an accessible decision-making framework for activity analyses that allows researchers across behavioural, ecological and evolutionary studies to justify and optimise choices about data collection and modelling. Such an approach improves the biological relevance of inference and supporting the use of modern tracking and analytical technologies.

animal behavior and cognition↗