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• We investigated defensive hissing behavior and associated physiological costs in a venomous snake species. • Sex significantly affects the probability of hissing and hissing intensity was higher during expiration than during inspiration. • The production of hissing sound dramatically increased metabolic rate and evaporative water loss and this effect was more marked in males. • Atmospheric desiccation may compromise water-based tradeoff and predator-prey biotic interaction. To minimize predation risk and the cost of confronting predators, prey have developed a range of defensive strategies and warning signals. Although advantageous, defensive warnings may also induce physiological and energy costs to the emitter. Ventilatory sounds (hissing) are the most distributed warning sound in vertebrates. Because they involve the respiratory apparatus, defensive hissing may substantially increase evaporative water loss. Herein, we examined the determinants of hissing as well as its physiological costs in a medium-sized venomous snake, the long-nosed viper (Vipera ammodytes). We first used a neutral arena and applied standardized stimulation to measure the occurrence and acoustic characteristics of warning hissing. Then, we used open-flow respirometry to quantify changes in respiratory gas exchanges (oxygen consumption and evaporative water loss) during defensive responses. We demonstrated that males are more likely to engage in sound warnings when stimulated. Expirations generated the strongest signals compared to inspiration but did not differ between sexes. We found that defensive hissing dramatically increased average metabolic rate and evaporative water loss during the 10-minute stimulation period, and this effect was more pronounced in males. Metabolic rates and evaporative water loss were closely related to the duration of hissing. Overall, our results indicate that respiratory-based warning sounds induce significant physiological costs and may alter water balance. The higher responsiveness in males than females likely reflects sexually selective pressure (higher mobility for mate acquisition) and enhanced risk exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food neophobia (FN) reduces nutritional adequacy and variety which poses a significant concern for children's health and well-being We described the FN scores among 8-year-olds and examined its associations with nutrition-related behaviors at 45 months within the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort (n = 4621). FN was estimated using the Food Neophobia Scale (FNS). Mean FNS scores between variable categories were compared using t-tests for independent samples and ANOVA. Associations between FNS scores at 8 years and nutrition-related behaviors at 45-months were examined using multivariate linear regression. The mean (standard deviation) FN score was 46.2 (15.2) with statistically significant differences by sex (boys = 47.6 (15.7), girls = 43.8 (14.2), p=<0.001). For all children, in models adjusted by breastfeeding duration and sociodemographic characteristics: children who sometimes and never/almost never ate the same foods as their parents, scored, on average, 5.8 and 11 points higher in the FNS (versus those who did always/almost always); children who occasionally/never found mealtimes enjoyable scored on average 3.6 points lower in the FNS (versus mostly/quite often); children who always/almost always had the television on during mealtimes scored on average 2.7 higher in the FNS (versus never/almost never). In comparison to children who mostly/quite often had time to talk to others during mealtimes, those who never/occasionally did it scored on average higher points in the FNS overall (1.46 points higher) and within girls (1.73 points higher). These findings support the eating behavior statements in the National Children's Food and Nutrition Guidelines, which emphasize early exposure to food variety, limiting mealtime distractions, and acknowledge that parental role modeling shapes children's nutrition-related behaviors. Early adoption of preventative interventions for reducing FN in early and middle childhood are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• FNS-PK can be used to assess novel food phobia in Pakistani mothers. • We adapted cross-cultural reliability and validity of 8-item FNS-PK for mothers in Pakistan. • Pakistani preschoolers' food neophobia linked to mothers' levels. • Mothers' food neophobia inversely relates to controlled feeding behaviors. Maternal food neophobia, a significant influencing factor in modeling maternal feeding practices, also plays a vital role in regulating preschoolers' food neophobia. This cross-sectional study was conducted to culturally adapt and validate the Food Neophobia Scale for Pakistani mothers (FNS-PK), assess the prevalence of maternal food neophobia, and explore the correlation between maternal food neophobia, maternal controlling feeding practices and preschoolers' food neophobia. The 10-item food neophobia scale was translated into the Urdu language following WHO guidelines, and various measures of validity (construct validity and discriminant validity) and reliability (internal consistency, test–retest consistency, and composite reliability) were used to test the scale. Afterward, a cross-sectional study was performed to assess the prevalence and correlation between maternal food neophobia, feeding practices and preschoolers' food neophobia. A total of 260 preschool children and their mothers were recruited for the cultural adaptation of the FNS-PK. The original 10-item FNS was modified to an 8-item FNS-PK, which exhibited good scale validity (χ2/ df = 1.113; TLI = 0.998; RMSEA = 0.021; AVE > 0.05) and reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.857). In a cross-sectional study involving 347 mother–child pairs, 15.9 % of the mothers and 8.0 % of the preschoolers exhibited food neophobia. Furthermore, there was a significant negative correlation between maternal food neophobia and controlling feeding practices, while there was a significant positive correlation between maternal and preschoolers' food neophobia. The adapted 8-item FNS-PK is a reliable tool for assessing food neophobia in Pakistan, and the significant correlation between maternal and preschoolers' food neophobia warrants further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel applications of nanotechnology in food processing hold tremendous potential to revolutionize the food industry and address challenges in food security and public health. Understanding and addressing consumers' evolving attitudes toward the use of nanotechnology in food processing is important to promote the technology's adoption and inform the development of regulatory frameworks that align with societal values. We used a survey research design to explore U.S. consumers' attitudes toward such uses of nanotechnology. Through the literature, we identified various cognitive and affective factors that have influenced, or have the potential to influence, consumers' attitudes, and we used those factors to develop a comprehensive regression model. We collected data from a national sample of U.S. consumers (N = 1071). The regression model accounted for 64.22% of the variance in attitudes toward nanotechnology (adjusted R2 = 62.94%). Perceived benefits, subjective norms, institutional trust, and subjective knowledge significantly and positively influenced participants' attitudes toward the use of nanotechnology in food processing while perceived risks and food technology neophobia significantly and negatively influenced participants' attitudes. These results suggest that communication strategies should emphasize consumer-centric benefits of nanotechnology, mitigate perceived risks, leverage social influences, and prioritize food safety-related messaging from institutional bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper nutrition during the first period of life is primarily related to meeting energy needs and providing essential nutrients that ensure the infant’s normal physical and psychomotor development. Improper nutrition during this period, inadequate amounts of nutrients, inappropriate timing and manner of introduction of individual foods, can permanently alter metabolism and the course of physiological processes, increasing the risk of diseases such as obesity, allergic diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to verify how the method of complementary feeding influences the occurrence of food neophobia between 2 and 7 years of age, as well as to assess the different nutritional aspects resulting from the process of starting feeding other than breast milk and milk formula. In this study, 490 mothers and their children aged 2–7 years participated. The research tool was a questionnaire consisting of a child’s dietary assessment and standardized questionnaires assessing food neophobia among children: Food Neophobia Scale for Children (FNSC) and the Montreal Children’s Hospital-Pediatric Feeding (MCH-FS). In the study group of children, 238 (48.57%) had no Baby-Led Weaning Method (no BLW) method used during complementary feeding (CF), and 252 (51.42%) children used Baby-Led Weaning Method (BLW). According to the FNSC questionnaire, a high risk of food neophobia was found in 32.65% of the children studied and a medium risk in 39.80%. The medium risk of feeding problem occured in 11.63% of children, the high risk in 6.73% of children, and the highest risk in 6.94% (MCH-FS). No statistically significant differences were observed between the BLW and NoBLW groups. High risk of food neophobia occured in 1/3 of the children studied, but there was no relationship in the study group between the mode of CF (BLW/NoBLW) and the risk of food neophobia.

Mirror exposure elicits a wide range of behavioral responses, some of which have been considered as part of possible evidence of mirror self-recognition (MSR). These responses can range from social behaviors, indicating that an animal considers its own reflection as a conspecific, to mirror-guided and self-directed actions. Evidence of MSR has been found categorically in only a few species, such as in magpies, chimpanzees, horses, and elephants. Evidence in corvids is currently debated due to inconsistent findings. In this study, we investigated the reaction of Eurasian jays when presenting them with three mirror-stimulation tasks. Based on the overall behavioral patterns across these three tasks, conclusions about birds’ understanding of a reflective surface, and their perception of the reflection as either themselves or as a conspecific, appear premature. We highlight how the high neophobia of corvids and other methodological constraints might have hindered the likelihood to approach and explore a mirror, preventing the emergence of behaviors typically associated with MSR. Furthermore, we discuss how motivational factors, methodological constraints and species differences should be considered when interpreting behavioral responses to mirrors.

Most animals, including rats, show a preference for more complex environments. This is demonstrated particularly well when complexity increases due to the addition of new elements to the environment. The aim of the study was to investigate the reaction to novelty, understood as a change in environmental properties that involve both changes in complexity and controllability. Controllability may allow for dealing with challenges of an environment of low predictability in a way that the animal's own activity reduces the uncertainty of environmental events. In our study, the animals underwent a spontaneous exploration test in low-stress conditions. After a period of habituation to the experimental arena, additional stationary (increased complexity) and/or movable (increased complexity and controllability) tunnels were introduced, and the reaction of the rats to the novel objects was measured. The results of the study confirmed that an increase in the complexity of the environment through the addition of objects triggers a more intensive exploratory activity in rats. However, an increased spatial complexity combined with the movability of the novel objects seems to result in increased caution towards the novelty after an initial inspection of the changed objects. It suggests that the complexity of the novelty may trigger both neophilia and neophobia depending on the level of the predictability of the novel environment and that the movability of newly introduced objects is not independent of other parameters of the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How important are sampling and experimental design decisions in shaping test subject behaviour under laboratory conditions? We examined the effects of circatidal rhythm, time held in captivity, sampling location (open or covered areas of habitat), acclimation period and water depth on activity and emergence latency in hermit crabs (Pagurus bernhardus). We found that subjects held in captivity for 1 month and those collected from the open were faster to emerge from their shells after disturbance compared, respectively, to those tested after 1 day in captivity or collected from beneath cover. We also found that subjects tested after shorter acclimation periods were more active than those tested following longer acclimation periods. Our findings reveal that sampling and study design decisions can have pronounced influences on subject behaviour measured under otherwise common conditions, with potentially important implications for interpretation and reproducibility of findings. As researchers we should take care to explicitly consider how sampling biases and effects arising from our experimental protocols might affect the behavioural responses of test subjects. Doing so can help us make more reasonable generalizations beyond our subject pool, draw better-informed comparisons between studies and achieve greater reproducibility of findings. • Do decisions we routinely make regarding experimental design affect outcomes? • Are animals we test representative of the wider populations we aim to understand? • We asked if subtle design decisions affected behaviour under laboratory conditions. • Time in captivity, acclimation time and location of collection affected behaviour. • We should declare and discuss potential for bias arising from experimental designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Feeding of preterm‐born children has been extensively studied during infancy. Few studies have focused on later life but the available data indicate that feeding problems may persist after infancy. We studied this topic using two cohorts of full‐term and preterm‐born children. Methods: The Children's Eating Difficulties Questionnaire was used to assess the appetite, food enjoyment, pickiness and neophobia, the fear of new foods, of 347 four‐year‐old children born in 2009–2011. Of these, 179 (52% boys) were born preterm at 24 to 36 weeks and recruited from paediatric clinics in southeast Sweden. The 168 children (54% boys) born full‐term were recruited from a maternity health clinic in the same region. The parents graded 12 statements about their child's eating behaviour from very false to very true. Results: A low gestational age at birth was associated with less reported appetite in girls. Estimates describing appetite and food enjoyment correlated with gestational age at birth in girls but not in boys. This difference between boys and girls was significant (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Prematurity had no major effects on food‐related behaviour in four‐year‐old children. However, some estimates of reduced appetite and food enjoyment were associated with lower gestational age at birth in girls but not in boys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional meat consumption has triggered an environmental burden along with effects on different disease spectrums according to existing research. The dietary patterns adopted by consumers significantly impact both planetary and individual health. Interventions are needed to support the protein transition. However, there is not yet an overview of interventions towards acceptance of novel proteins available. This systemic review highlights different varieties of alternative proteins and interventions adopted to increase the acceptance of alternative protein sources. Educational intervention, persuasion, training, and modeling approaches are summarized in this review. Furthermore, behavioral models triggering the consumer's response towards different alternative proteins are also discussed. The systemic review highlights that consumer acceptance varies among different alternative proteins. Food choice motives, familiarity, food neophobia, disgust, and cultural norms are among the various drivers of consumer acceptance. A comparison of these drivers indicates inconsistencies, presenting the need for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Food preferences and oral health of older adults greatly affect their nutritional intake, and old-age–related increase in food neophobia may consequently reduce food intake in older adults. This study aimed to determine the impact of food neophobia and oral health on nutritional risk in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 238 independent adults aged ≥ 65 years (mean, 76.3 ± 7.3 years). The survey items included a Food Neophobia Scale, frequency of protein intake, oral-health–related quality of life (QOL) assessment, and oral diadochokinesis (ODK; /pa/, /ta/, /ka/) as an index of oral function. Nutritional status was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment®, and based on a cutoff value of 24 points, respondents were categorized as well-nourished (≥ 24 points, Group 1) or at risk of malnutrition (< 24 points, Group 2). A logistic regression model was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio (adj-OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) to identify risks factors for malnutrition associated with food neophobia and oral health. Results: Factors associated with the risk of malnutrition in the older population were higher food neophobia (adj-OR = 1.036, 95% CI: 1.007–1.067) and lower oral function (OR = 0.992, 95% CI: 0.985–0.999) and lower oral-health–related QOL (adj-OR = 0.963, 95% CI: 0.929–0.999). Conclusions: Older adults at risk of developing malnutrition may have higher food neophobia and lower oral function and oral-health–related QOL. Factors contributing to preventing malnutrition include predicting the risk of malnutrition based on the oral health indicators that older people are aware of, signs appearing in the oral cavity, minor deterioration, and providing dietary guidance about food neophobia. Notably, these approaches represent novel strategies for nutrition support that can be implemented based on a multifaceted understanding of the eating habits of older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on cognitive appraisal theory, a theoretical model of the antecedents and consequences of perceived food authenticity is proposed. Specifically, relationships between food-related neophobia and neophilia, emotions, perceived food authenticity, and existential authenticity are evaluated in determining authenticity perceptions. We theorize perceived food authenticity as a four-dimensional construct (local food, traditional food, unfamiliar food, and rare food). Using data collected from international tourists in Iran (N = 339), the findings revealed that positive emotions have the greatest influence on evaluations of perceived food authenticity and existential authenticity. Neophilia rather than neophobia was found to drive perceived food authenticity. The findings contribute to the limited adoption of cognitive appraisal theory in understanding food tourists' experiences and providing evidence of the role of authenticity evaluation as an outcome of tourists' affective responses. Managerial insights into differentiated marketing communications for neophiliac and neophobic market segments are provided for food tourism operators and hospitality marketing strategists. 基于认知评价理论，提出了感知食品真实性的前因和后果的理论模型. 具体来说，在确定真实性感知时，评估了与食物相关的新恐惧症和新恐惧症、情绪、感知的食物真实性和存在真实性之间的关系. 我们将感知的食物真实性理论化为一个四维结构 (本地食物、传统食物、陌生食物和稀有食物). 使用从在伊朗的国际游客（N=339）收集的数据，研究结果表明，积极情绪对感知食品真实性和存在真实性的评估影响最大. 研究发现，对食品真实性的感知是由嗜新癖而非恐新癖引起的. 这些发现有助于认知评价理论在理解美食游客体验方面的有限应用，并为真实性评价作为游客情感反应结果的作用提供证据为食品旅游运营商和酒店营销策略师提供了对新癖和新癖细分市场差异化营销传播的管理见解. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food neophobia (FN), typically defined in terms of rejection of unfamiliar foods but also associated with higher negative arousal in relation to food, has been established as an important personality variable in explaining food preferences and choices. Past research has examined responses to foods as a function of FN but not considered if there are specific sensory qualities of foods that are more important in food rejections. We propose that the concept of sensory sensitivity may help explain the origin of increased arousal in high FN adults, and conducted an online survey in Singapore with 1896 participants as a first step towards investigating this hypothesis. FN was measured using the FN scale (Pliner & Hobden, 1992), and additionally participants: (a) rated their agreement with a series of statements that reflected their attitudes towards food sensory qualities, and (b) completed The Foodie Index (Pickering & Pickering, 2022) to obtain measures of food involvement and enjoyment. The results reinforced earlier findings that FN is related to an overall lower level of enjoyment of foods, and further revealed that: (a) evaluation of food sensory qualities prior to, or during, eating or sensory reasons for rejecting a food were positively related to FN, and (b) increasing disengagement with foods in terms of knowledge, interest, time and money spent on food as FN increases. Collectively, the results underscore the centrality of FN in understanding consumers' food‐related experiences and behaviors by showing that FN is related to both sensitivity about specific sensory properties and low engagement with foods generally. Practical Applications: Food and sensory profiling by consumers has been increasing in recent years. The present data will assist in interpretation of consumer studies in which FN and/or food interest/engagement has been measured, since both are found to be a strong source of variation in consumer data. In particular, both product engagement and level of FN have been shown elsewhere to impact how consumers allocate their attention to sensory tasks. This suggests that sources of variation in consumer responses, whether due to general or sensory‐specific responses to foods, are crucial in interpreting sensory profiling or preference data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated meat is an innovative product that promises to provide a consumption experience and nutritional value equivalent to conventional meat, with significantly lower negative impacts. The aim of this study is to analyze the factors that influence the purchase intention of cultivated meat. A quantitative study was conducted with 304 Brazilian consumers. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The study proposed a purchase intention model with aspects related to clean production, animal welfare, food safety, naturalness and the moderating effect of food neophobia. The results showed that clean production and food safety had a positive relationship with the intention to purchase cultivated meat. The naturalness of food, on the other hand, had a negative relationship with purchase intent. Furthermore, the higher the level of food neophobia, the less important the influence of clean production became with regard to cultivated meat purchase intentions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThis paper aims to evaluate whether changes in lifestyle and eating habits resulting from the Covid-19 emergency have influenced the post-pandemic level of food neophobia and in children living in an Italian central region.MethodsA sample of 99 children took part in a retrospective assessment carried out with a self-administrated questionnaire. Pre and post-pandemic evaluation of eating habits, physical activity, and lifestyle indicators was carried out. Food neophobia was evaluated following the Child Food Neophobia Scale (CFNS). Descriptive statistics were produced. A contingency analysis was performed to check associations between variables.ResultsFor a large part of the sample (97%) the selective food refusal did not change during the pandemic period. About 70% of participants did not change their eating habits, with some subgroups reporting an increase in the consumption of fruits (22.2%), vegetables (19.2%), and legumes (21.2%). Relevantly the impact of the pandemic on the sedentary attitude passed from 25.3 to 70.7%. Neophobia was not associated with ponderal status (p-value 0.5). However, in normal-weight children, a high prevalence of intermediate-level neophobia (78.4%) was found. 39.4% of the studied children were involved in meal preparation during social isolation, with an increase in the proportion of children that shared all meals with their family (32.3% vs. 78.8%). Non-coercive parent behaviors in reaction to food refusal were associated with low levels of neophobia (p-value < 0.05).DiscussionIn this sample, for the effect of parents’ attitudes, the pandemic positively affected children’s food habits and, consequently, the level of neophobia after the social restrictions. The main implication of the study is the importance of capitalizing on the period of restrictions in order to involve children in meal sharing and food preparation.

Entomophagy is directly connected with culture, explaining why it is commonly rejected in Western countries. Due to increased meat consumption in recent years with its associated negative impacts on health and sustainability, the development of products based on alternative protein sources has become urgent. The larval form of Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) has the potential to substitute meat as it requires less resources and produces less emissions compared to other forms of meat production. Therefore, in this project we have aimed to develop pasta sauces with differing mealworm contents based on a common meat sauce and to test the acceptance with 91 consumers in Austria. Three sauces (100% mealworm, 50% mealworm and 50% meat, 100% meat) were developed and tested using a 9-point hedonic scale for acceptance, and the CATA (Check-All-That-Apply) method was integrated to also receive descriptive information. The analysis of the liking data revealed that the liking for the hybrid sauce with meat and mealworm content was comparable to the meat sauce (6.9 ± 1.8. vs. 6.5 ± 1.8, p > 0.05). Less liked was the sauce with the highest mealworm content (5.7 ± 1.8, p < 0.05). The CATA analysis demonstrated the strongest positive effects on the mean in terms of how much the products were liked for the attribute “fleshy” (0.8). On the other hand, the attributes “brownish” (−0.9) or “mushy” (−1.0) had the strongest negative effects on the mean of the liking of products. We have seen that meat cannot be substituted by mealworm immediately and completely. The results suggest a stepwise substitution and the further adaptation of products regarding the (negative and positive effecting) attributes to increase consumer acceptance.

Simple Summary: In this study, the environment of hand-raised budgerigars in captivity (people's homes) was simulated. We investigated the effect of coloured LED lights in addition to natural light on the behaviour of the birds. For birds raised by humans, the light in houses is significantly different from the lighting conditions in a bird's natural habitat. This may lead to behavioural and health problems in birds, adversely affecting their wellbeing. This study investigated how white, blue, yellow, and red LED lights applied at the beginning of the dark cycle of the photoperiod affected the behaviours of budgerigars. The results indicated that when offered the opportunity, the birds chose yellow light. The open field tests (OFT I and II) were used to assess the locomotion and exploratory behaviour of birds. The results of the OFT I test, which was performed with an unfamiliar object, indicated that the group experiencing yellow light was more self-confident. The birds in cages with blue light felt more comfortable and displayed more social behaviour. People will be able to use this new information to improve the living conditions of their pet budgerigars. This study examined the effects of exposure to coloured LED lights on some behavioural responses, food and water consumption, and live weight in budgerigars kept in captivity using behavioural tests to compare different lighting conditions. Budgerigars' feeding, comfort, social, fear, and resting behaviours and behavioural reactions to a new environment were studied. Twelve male birds were assigned to four groups, with three birds in each group. They were provided with food and water ad libitum in wire cages at 25 ± 2 °C in a room. The study was conducted with 10 h of natural light, 6 h of LED light (white, blue, yellow, and red LED lights), and 8 h of darkness. Their behaviours in the cages were observed. Home cage avoidance (HCA) and two open field tests (OFT) were performed. No difference was observed in the LW and food consumption, but the blue and yellow groups consumed less water. The blue group displayed more comfort and social behaviours. In the HCA test, the red group demonstrated higher reactions. Furthermore, the birds in the yellow group stayed closer to the centre of the platform in the OFT I test, and they chose the compartment simulating their familiar environment in the OFT II test. Consequently, it was concluded that first yellow and then blue lights may be used to prevent stress-related problems for these birds. Our findings could be used to improve the hand-rearing conditions of captive budgerigars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The negative impact that animal protein sources have on the environment is a critical world problem. Finding new acceptable alternatives is crucial. Nevertheless, numerous factors influence the decision to try an unknown food. By adopting a consumer behavior perspective as well as approaching the possibility of overcoming neophobia, this research examined the influence of sensory perception on consumer behavior with regard to the experimentation with new foods, focusing on entomophagy. A theoretical model was developed, and path analysis and factor influence were based on the structural equation model (PLS-SEM), designed in SmartPLS, to test the model relationships. Despite the low level of awareness concerning the benefits of entomophagy, this study considered that many aspects influence experimentation with new food, specifically our sensorial system. Sensory perception is founded on the senses, such as the tactile, olfactory, visual, and gustatory senses, which can influence perception. In line with these assumptions, this research identified the three most important and decisive factors that can influence individuals' sensory perceptions: preparation, visual and related aspects, and the presentation of the shape of food have an influence on sensory perception regarding entomophagy consumer behavior. People like to know the method of preparation as well as the ingredients and the color of the food. These findings are crucial to food business practitioners, policymakers, and marketers, who can adopt some food process strategies following sensory perception, that will contribute to changing the habits of consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mexico is one of the countries with the highest number of wild edible mushroom species, which have long been part of the diet of rural communities and ethnic groups. With the recent forms of consumption, it has piqued the interest of urban consumers to include mycological species in their diet. However, information is lacking regarding the influence that neophilia and neophobia have on consumers' perceptions of edible mushrooms. The objective of the present study was to analyze the perceptions of urban consumers regarding wild edible mushrooms as influenced by neophilia and neophobia. A questionnaire was applied through Facebook. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: free word association, food neophobia scale and socioeconomic characteristics. The sample consisted of 253 consumers who were grouped according to their levels of neophobia. The words obtained through free association were grouped into categories and dimensions. The dimensions were analyzed with the Chi square test, z test and Bonferroni method. Categories were analyzed through correspondence analysis by consumer groups. Three groups were identified: Neophilic, Intermediate and Neophobic. For Neophiliacs, wild edible mushrooms represented a connection with nature. For Intermediates they represented a link with ethnic and rural communities. For Neophobics they were perceived to pose a high risk to their health. This study contributes to knowledge regarding the influence of food neophobia on the perception of wild foods that are not part of the daily diet of urban consumers and can be used to support cultural valorization of wild edible mushrooms for the benefit of collectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing evidence suggests that individual variation in learning is ubiquitous, but why this is the case and what the consequences are is still a subject of much debate and research. One key set of explanations for variation in learning behaviour is that it relates to variation in animal personality traits. If personality traits affect how an individual interacts with its environment or processes information, this could directly affect performance in learning tasks. While this idea is generally well supported, there are inconsistent results on the relationships between specific personality traits and performance on different learning tasks, highlighting the need to measure multiple personality traits and to quantify different aspects of learning in the same individuals. We examined the relationship between three putative personality traits – aggression, latency to emerge from a shelter and time to contact a novel object – and learning speed in both initial and reversal olfactory learning in the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. Crickets were assayed for each personality trait, then tested for their speed to associate an odour with a water reward. Both aggression and latency to emerge were significantly repeatable, but only latency to emerge was related to learning speed, with individuals that took longer to emerge from the shelter requiring fewer trials to reach the learning criterion for both the initial and reversal learning experiments. We also identified sex differences in learning speed in the different experiments. Thus, our results provide some support for a relationship between personality and learning in an invertebrate. • Individuals vary in learning ability, and personality may explain why this is. • Aggression and latency to emerge were repeatable personality traits in crickets. • Crickets successfully learned and reversal learned an olfactory association. • Learning speed was associated with latency to emerge. • Personality affects individual variation in learning speed in crickets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the complex behaviour of tourists in terms of the formulation of destination image related to its gastronomy. Through the examination of gastronomic image, memorability of experiences and food personality traits such as neophobia and neophilia, this research investigates the chaordic (chaos versus order) systems and provides specific pathways that formulate the gastronomic destination image. Design/methodology/approach: Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this study examines the chaordic relations amongst memorable tourism experiences (MTEs), gastronomic neophobia and neophilia and gastronomic image upon the formulation of destination image. This study also includes two grouping variables (nationality [stratified], age). Findings: Three sufficient configurations were revealed that can lead to the formulation of destination image, explaining the attributional gastronomic decision-making of holidaymakers. These solutions concern: food personality traits, generated experience and gastronomic image. Research limitations/implications: In spite of the need for examining the complexity and the chaordic systems in the gastronomic domain, the lack of a sufficient number of studies using fsQCA hinders its full potential. The complete lack of gastronomic studies using this method highlights the necessity of its use for research in the respective field. Originality/value: This study explores the complexity of how food-related personality traits influence the attainment of MTEs and the formulation of gastronomic image and how the chaordic systems influence the overall image of a destination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasingly fierce competition in food trends requires producers to innovate and develop new foods to be accepted and to avoid neophobia by consumers at the same time. Food neophobia's motivational adoption barriers include the consumption of novel foods, social norms and conflicting eating goals. Therefore, appropriate strategies are needed to avoid neophobia amid the presence of new food trends in the market. Efforts to avoid food neophobia can also be accepted as part of the sustainability concept, in which the consumer has new foods to choose from in order to reduce scarcity in one particular type of food. The food industry is also challenged to produce healthy food by producing food from natural ingredients. In this article, new food trends and advances in food processing are described, and through them, strategies to avoid neophobia and increase consumer acceptance of new food trends are referenced. Neophobia meets marketing food products delivered to consumers facing motivational adoption barriers, such as the consumption of novel foods, social norms and conflicting eating goals, which are indicated to be challenges to purchase drivers in new food trends. Tasting foods is indicated as one of the most efficient means to ensure neophobia reduction in new foods and new food trends. Other factors identified to reduce food neophobia are education, income, taste and exposure to novel foods. Some preconditions for novel foods to be accepted by consumers are related to the very nature of food innovation, the manufacturer's features and market circumstances. Food processed with advanced technologies may differ depending on the brand of the food production company and the knowledge of consumers about the novel foods. Moreover, food technology is seen as more acceptable for plant food products based or natural ingredients for consumers. In addition to the focus on health benefits, it is supports the sustainability of food systems. Another accidental element is the transparent traceability system providing accurate and adequate information about such novel foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical information has an important role in the sensory ecology of aquatic species. For aquatic prey, chemical cues are a vital source of information related to predator avoidance and risk assessment. For instance, alarm cues are released by prey that have been injured by predators. In addition to providing accurate information about current risk, repeated exposure to alarm cues can elicit a fear response to novel stimuli (neophobia) in prey. Another source of chemical information is disturbance cues, released by prey that have been disturbed or harassed (but not injured) by a predator. While disturbance cues have received much less attention than alarm cues, they appear to be useful as an early warning signal of predation risk and have the potential to be used as a priming cue for learning. In this study, we used wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus) tadpoles to test whether repeated exposure to disturbance cues during the embryonic stage can induce neophobic behaviour. Three weeks following repeated exposure to disturbance cues, tadpoles showed reduced activity when exposed to a novel odour, but they no longer displayed an antipredator response to disturbance cues. In a second experiment, we found that tadpoles failed to learn that a novel odour was dangerous following a pairing with disturbance cues, whereas alarm cues facilitated such learning. Our results add to the growing body of information about disturbance cues and provide evidence of their function as an embryonic risk cue but not as an associative learning cue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial neophobia and exploration are often assessed in nonhuman animals by measuring behavioral responses to novel environments. These traits may especially affect the performance of individuals translocated to novel environments for conservation purposes. Here, we present methods to administer and analyze a minimally invasive novel environment test that accounts for the social context of focal individuals. We used an aerial platform to capture video footage of a captive herd of scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah) entering an unfamiliar enclosure. We analyzed footage for seven individually identifiable oryx, scoring their behavioral responses (i.e., latency to enter the enclosure, and movement and posture after entering the enclosure) and social context (i.e., relative position and number of nearby animals). We performed a principal components analysis (PCA) to explore individual traits and responses, and used generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) to determine the effect of individual traits and social context on individual posture and movement behaviors. Both PCA and GLMMs supported our expectation that social context affects individual behavior: high neighbor density and relative position were negatively related to individual movement, and variation in social context was positively related with head-up postures and movement. Oryx were well differentiated along two principal components that reflected (1) vigilance or caution, and (2) changing social context and age. These methods provide a framework for assessing individual responses to a novel environment in a group setting, which can inform reintroduction and wildlife management efforts, while minimizing interference with animal behavior and management operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of the current prospective study was to examine the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and incident frailty.Study Design: 1075 Greek community-dwelling older adults from the Hellenic Longitudinal Investigation of Aging and Diet (HELIAD) were included in the present longitudinal analysis.Main Outcome Measures: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated through the MedDietScore, calculated from the information participants provided on a validated food frequency questionnaire. Frailty was assessed using two multidomain tools: the Frailty Index (FI) and the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI). Analysis of the incidence of frailty as a function of the baseline MedDietScore was performed using Cox proportional hazards models. Additionally, Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) models were used to explore whether the baseline MedDietScore was associated with the change in the total number of frailty criteria met by participants over time. In testing for a dose-response association between Mediterranean diet and frailty, the MedDietScore was treated either as a continuous variable or as tertiles of low, medium and high adherence to MeDi.Results: 176 and 131 participants developed incident frailty, as measured with the FI and TFI respectively. Each unit of MedDietScore was associated with a 5% (ΗR 0.95, 95% CI 0.91-0.99, p = 0.012) and 10% (ΗR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86-0.95, p ≤ 0.001) decrease in the risk of incident frailty when measured with the FI and TFI respectively. Compared with participants reporting low adherence to the Mediterranean diet (lowest tertile), those with high adherence (highest tertile) had a 41% (ΗR 0.59, 95% CI 0.38-0.91, p = 0.017) and a 57% (ΗR 0.43, 95% CI 0.27-0.70, p ≤ 0.001) lower risk of incident frailty as measured with the FI and TFI respectively. After excluding from the analyses participants diagnosed with dementia at baseline or follow-up, the same results were obtained: each unit of MedDietScore was associated with a 5% (HR 0.95 CI 0.91-0.99, p = 0.023) and a 10% (HR 0.90 CI 0.86-0.94, p ≤ 0.001) decrease in the risk of incident frailty as measured with the FI and TFI respectively.Conclusions: The present longitudinal study showed that non-frail community-dwelling older adults with high adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern had a significantly lower incidence of frailty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the impact of 10 common foods (including staple foods, fruits, vegetables, sugar, meat, fish, eggs, beans, salt-preserved vegetables, and garlic) on cognitive function in Chinese older adults.Methods: Cross-sectional data on demographic characteristics, lifestyle, and dietary habits were taken from the 2018 Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). Cognition was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Food consumption was measured by participants reporting the frequency of their food consumption. Association between food groups and cognitive function was evaluated using mixed-effect regression model analysis.Results: Compared with those who rarely or never consumed vegetables, meat, fruits, beans, and garlic, older adults who consumed these foods almost daily were 56%, 30%, 23%, 34%, and 29% less likely to have cognitive impairment, respectively. No associations between staple foods, sugar, fish, and eggs consumption and cognitive impairment were found. Low-frequency consumption of salt-preserved vegetables may be associated with cognitive function. Regular vegetables consumption had the greatest associated risk reduction of all food types. Interactions indicated that the co-ingestion of vegetables and beans or sugar, meat and beans may have antagonistic effect, while the co-ingestion of salt-preserved vegetables and garlic may have synergistic effect. Subgroup analyses showed that sex and age were the significant effect modifiers for meat and fish, respectively.Conclusions: Cognitive function of Chinese older adults may be related to food groups. Future research should measure food types and consumption level with greater granularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To build and validate the generalized neophobia scale and establish its prevalence and sociodemographic profile of the participants. Method: an instrumental and correlational study was carried out by applying the generalized neophobia scale to 517 people. Results: the scale has a reliability level that ranges between .79 and .88, the exploratory factor analysis reports a single factor that explains 69.29% of the total variance and the confirmatory factor analysis reports a perfect fit model; the prevalence in the surveyed population was 13.5% and it is women and younger people who report a higher level of neophobia. Conclusions: the theoretical-conceptual contributions of this research can be assessed as consistent and its empirical contribution can be considered as indicative since its main limitation is the selection of the sample determined by accessibility and availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predation risk profoundly shapes how animals behave and is one of the main forces driving the formation or maintenance of groups. For some species, group living may be facultative, and individuals may live solitarily or aggregate with conspecifics or heterospecifics, but the advantages of each strategy are still poorly known. Here, we investigated whether a predominantly solitary breeding species, the European roller, Coracias garrulus , acquires antipredator benefits from nesting in mixed-species colonies dominated by lesser kestrels, Falco naumanni. We compared the risk-taking behaviour of solitary rollers and rollers breeding in colonies by conducting two experiments. First, we investigated rollers' latency to resume incubation when presented with a novel object, and second assessed their latency to resume chick provisioning and their investment in mobbing behaviour towards a predator model. We additionally compared the breeding performance and nest predation rate of rollers in each social context (solitary versus colonial) using data from 300 breeding attempts across 6 years. We found that rollers breeding in colonies returned to their nests sooner during the presentation of both the novel object and the predator model and attacked the predator model less frequently than solitary rollers, suggesting they can use heterospecifics as cues in deciding whether it is safe to return to their nests. In addition, rollers in colonies suffered less nest predation than solitary ones, but this did not translate into a higher productivity. Future studies should investigate whether breeding in colonies provides other advantages to rollers, such as increased adult survival or fitness. • In Portugal, European rollers breed solitarily or within lesser kestrel colonies. • Rollers breeding in colonies returned to the nest sooner after a neophobia event. • In colonies, rollers invested less in mobbing behaviour towards a predator decoy. • Rollers breeding in colonies suffered less predation than solitary rollers. • Despite these advantages, productivity was similar between social contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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• Individual difference in Food Neophobia were considered in the co-creation process. • Identifying emotional "Jobs -To -Be -Done" is vital in food co-creation. • Validating co-created dishes requires studying individual liking/ emotion differences. • Underrepresented vulnerable adolescents were involved in the co-creation process. The promotion of sustainable diets, that valorise and give stage to plant-based foods, is beneficial for both human and environmental health. Adolescence is crucial to support healthy and sustainable eating. Despite this, adolescents remain an understudied group, especially those with a lower economic status. This study aimed to develop innovative, sustainable and healthy legume-based dishes for school canteens through co-creation with adolescents in a low socioeconomic status area with high immigration rate. Nineteen adolescents and four chefs participated in iterative sessions of focus group discussions using a combination of methods (Jobs-To-Be-Done, free association tasks, SCAMPER (Substitute-Combine-Adapt-Modify-Purpose-Eliminate-Rearrange) technique) to identify ideas of new legume-based dishes. Subsequently, 91 adolescents rated their willingness-to-try 28 dish concepts based on these ideas. Six concepts were selected and translated into prototypes that underwent further evaluation by 138 adolescents who assessed their liking, sensory and emotional responses. Results showed that all dishes were well-received, with lower acceptance among high-neophobic adolescents, yet none of the selected dishes were rejected. Exploring individual differences in liking identified two clusters with different hedonic patterns. Emotional characterization of dishes showed those that elicit positive emotional responses high in arousal and novelty in all adolescents, independently from food neophobia, increasing their likelihood of acceptance. The study shows that co-creation with adolescents, in combination with understanding individual differences, are promising strategies to develop innovative, healthy and well-received legume-based dishes for school canteens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Insights into the factors driving WTP for domestic and exotic superfoods. • Superfoods perceived as exotic, trendy and healthy but expensive and environmentally harmful. • Initial WTP and premia driven by food neophobia, and health and nutrient perceptions. • Higher WTP for the domestic smoothie, which was reinforced by the info treatment. • WTP driven by sensory evaluations after tasting, which resolved food neophobia related to taste uncertainty. Superfoods are a recent health-oriented food trend, especially among younger consumers. The most well-known superfoods, such as quinoa or goji berries, are considered exotic foods, at least for the European market. This contradicts another food trend: the movement towards regional or local foods. As little is known about how consumers evaluate this trade-off when consuming superfoods, we investigate i) consumers' preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) for domestic and exotic superfood ingredients; and ii) factors determining a higher WTP for domestic superfood alternatives. To this end, we conducted a three-step Vickrey auction of fruit smoothies with exotic and domestic superfood ingredients. A total of 116 individuals participated in the within-subjects experiment, which included an information treatment, tastings and a sensory evaluation. In general, participants perceived superfoods as a healthy but expensive food trend potentially harmful to the environment. Moreover, participants were eager to try the exotic smoothie, but agreed more strongly with statements endorsing the positive health benefits and good taste of the domestic smoothie. In general, we found a higher WTP for the domestic smoothie, which was reinforced by providing information about the origin of the fruits. After tasting, the WTP a premium for the domestic smoothie was driven by differences in sensory evaluations, but no longer by product perceptions and food neophobia. This indicates that food neophobia is related to taste uncertainty, which was resolved by the tasting. We discuss practical implications for fruit growers and processors marketing products containing novel and familiar superfood ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Sensory expectations of seafood, described in consumers' own words, were analyzed. • Participants described the sensory aspects they expected to like and dislike. • Compared to other sensory modalities, texture was commonly expected to be disliked. • Higher food neophobia exacerbated the likelihood of disliking all sensory modalities. • Arousal mediated the negative relationship between FN and expected liking. Food neophobia (FN) – the reluctance to try novel foods – may have served a protective, evolutionary function against consuming harmful foods. In modern societies, however, FN is a major barrier that limits dietary variety and negatively impacts acceptance of both new and familiar foods. Using an online survey (adults living in Sweden, n = 946) this study investigated the influence of FN on sensory expectations of five types of seafood (salmon, herring, oysters, octopus, and seaweed; presented as labelled images). Participants rated expected liking, emotional arousal, and perceived familiarity (quantitative scales) and described the sensory aspects they expected to like and dislike using their own words (open-ended responses). The open-ended responses were evaluated qualitatively and categorized into four sensory modalities (appearance, aroma, taste, and texture). Expected liking was highest for salmon (followed by herring, seaweed, and lastly octopus and oysters), and FN was negatively associated with expected liking for all species except salmon, possibly due to being familiar and regularly consumed in Sweden. Logistic regression was used to evaluate whether the likelihood of spontaneously mentioning each sensory modality as liked or disliked varied by species and FN score. This revealed that participants were more likely to mention liking aspects of taste and texture than aroma and appearance for all samples except oysters. Texture was commonly disliked for herring, oysters, and octopus, but not for salmon and seaweed. Higher FN scores increased the likelihood of mentioning all sensory modalities as disliked and decreased the likelihood of mentioning all sensory modalities as liked. Thus, higher levels of FN were associated with both an increased focus on sensory disliking, and lower expected sensory enjoyment across all modalities. These results suggest that FN may be at least partly driven by heightened sensory responsiveness and highlight the importance of understanding expectations prior to tasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Consumers were divided into two groups (Food Enthusiasts and Food Conservatives). • Australians have eaten more seaweed in the past than consumers from other countries. • Food Conservatives have a lower intention to eat seaweed. Seaweed is increasingly recognised as a highly nutritious and sustainable food source. While it has a long tradition in many Asian countries, it still only plays a minor role in the Western diet. The aim of this study was to identify and describe consumer segments that are more likely to intend to consume seaweed. An online survey was conducted with 1,621 participants from three Western countries (Australia, the United Kingdom and Croatia) with different cultures, culinary traditions and levels of development in the seaweed industry. Two consumer segments were identified: Food Enthusiasts and Food Conservatives. The profiling of these segments is based on factors oriented to consumers' food innovativeness, food neophobia, food involvement, food responsibility, health consciousness, and symbolic value. The segments differ significantly in terms of food innovativeness, food neophobia, food involvement, eating and dietary style, past behaviour around seaweed consumption, future intention to eat seaweed and socio-demographic characteristics. These results provide valuable insights for the seaweed industry to develop effective marketing strategies that will meet the demands of different Western consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Wild food plants (WFP) are helpful for maintaining the food and socioeconomic security of harvesting populations. • Food products with names associated with WFP lower consumer expectations regarding taste and appropriateness. • Food products with names associated with forest environments lower consumer expectations regarding taste and appropriateness. • This marketing strategies to popularize WFP can include associating the product with a conventional plant to evoke familiarity; This marketing strategies to popularize WFP can while keeping its original name to contribute to cultural valuation. • Empowerment programs for harvesters can assist in sustainable development and ensure the biocultural conservation of WFP. Despite the high global richness of food plants, only a small portion is effectively used as food by human populations. Although most wild food plants (WFPs) are underutilized as food, they can contribute to food security and biocultural conservation through sustainable management. The goal of this research was to identify the best terminological presentation of a novel food product and to understand the factors that influence the expectations concerning products made with WFPs. This research was conducted using an online questionnaire, with a final national sample of 724 people. The participants answered questions about their socioeconomic profile, food neophobia, previous knowledge, and expectations regarding the taste and appropriateness of native fruit juices. The questions were randomized, so that a person would not receive the same picture or product name more than once. The results show that taste expectancy decreases in relation to products associated with WFP names and forest environments. Food neophobia is the variable that influences expectations the most. To ensure biocultural conservation and cultural valuation, WFP popularization programs should maintain the original (popular) name of the species. However, to help more distant consumers develop familiarity, the flavor, shape, color, or texture of these products can be associated with those of conventional plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The present study used a one-year longitudinal design in Chinese older adults. • Eating correlates of atypical sensory sensitivity (ASS) were examined. • Baseline ASS was positively related to ARFID psychopathology one year later. • Baseline ASS was positively related to food neophobia symptoms one year later. • Baseline ASS was negatively related to food life satisfaction one year later. Altered sensory processing is common in older adults, and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) psychopathology and food neophobia contribute to adverse health outcomes in older adults. Yet, the relationships, particularly longitudinal relationships, between sensory processing, ARFID psychopathology, and food neophobia, as well as their associations with satisfaction with food-related life (SWFL), remain unexplored in older adults. A sample of Chinese older adults (N = 202; 45 % men; M age = 59.35 years) completed an online survey at baseline (T1) and 12 months later (T2); atypical sensory sensitivity, ARFID psychopathology, food neophobia, and SWFL were measured with self-report questionnaires. Cross-lagged and mediation regression analyses were conducted to examine the prospective associations between T1 atypical sensory sensitivity and T2 ARFID psychopathology, food neophobia, and SWFL. The results revealed that higher T1 atypical sensory sensitivity predicted higher T2 ARFID psychopathology and food neophobia and lower SWFL. The results also showed that the relationship between T1 atypical sensory sensitivity and T2 SWFL was mediated by T2 picky eating and food neophobia. These findings suggest that atypical sensory sensitivity may be a risk factor for ARFID psychopathology, food neophobia, and poor SWFL in older adults. Future studies with larger samples and experimental designs are needed to further explore the mechanisms linking atypical sensory sensitivity and ARFID psychopathology, food neophobia, and SWFL in older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

“Canned, frozen, processed, ultra-processed, functional” etc. Two hundred years after the beginning of the food industry, industrialized food has evolved with many labels. Every person in the world eats and has different experiences with food that are connected to culture and social relationships which permeate our daily lives in many kinds of situations. Food evokes feelings, beliefs, desires, and moral values. For many people, food not only satisfies hunger and sustains life, but it also brings a delicious pleasure that is with their history, culture, and ancestry. Today's food industry pushes products through its marketing, which promotes a plethora of claims that have now trended proportionally with neophobic dimensions. In reality, the general public lacks objective knowledge about the complex science of modern food technology because of its low transparency, and this has resulted in the appearance of misleading ideas that can prejudice the correct analysis of food values. Given this, education about food is an urgent need. Notably, food scientists, technologists, and engineers must look at eaters through the prism of consumers who are human beings in all their rich social/anthropological diversity. The objective of this article is to explore the elemental anthropologic aspects of foods and how they can affect consumer's trust in the food industry's role.

Behavioural flexibility can impact on adaptability and survival, particularly in today's changing world, and encompasses associated components like neophobia, e.g. responses to novelty, and innovation, e.g. problem-solving. Bali myna (Leucopsar rothschildi) are a Critically Endangered endemic species, which are a focus of active conservation efforts, including reintroductions. Gathering behavioural data can aid in improving and developing conservation strategies, like pre-release training and individual selection for release. In 22 captive Bali myna, we tested neophobia (novel object, novel food, control conditions), innovation (bark, cup, lid conditions) and individual repeatability of latency responses in both experiments. We found effects of condition and presence of heterospecifics, including longer latencies to touch familiar food in presence than absence of novel items, and between problem-solving tasks, as well as in the presence of non-competing heterospecifics than competing heterospecifics. Age influenced neophobia, with adults showing longer latencies than juveniles. Individuals were repeatable in latency responses: (1) temporally in both experiments; (2) contextually within the innovation experiment and between experiments, as well as being consistent in approach order across experiments, suggesting stable behaviour traits. These findings are an important starting point for developing conservation behaviour related strategies in Bali myna and other similarly threatened species.

Social marketing campaigns are widely used to inform, educate, communicate, and promote healthy behaviors that add benefits to the individual, but also to society and the environment. Considering the low cost and high quality of insect-based food, this research aims to identify the main factors which can be used by social marketing campaigns to help people to try new foods, such as insect-based food. Although it is considered an important alternative to protein, there are a few countries that have not experienced it. In many Western countries, insect-based food is perceived as being disgusting. Neophobia is also a barrier to trying these foods. The main goal is to analyze if social marketing campaigns might influence perception (familiarity, preparation, visual, and information). Our model proves this assumption because we obtained high path coefficients, indicating that perception influences social beliefs, individual beliefs, and consumption intention. Thus, they will increase the consumption intention.

Piagetian object permanence (OP) refers to the ability to know that an object continues to exist when out of sight: In humans, it develops in six stages. Species of great apes, other mammals, and birds (parrots, corvids, and pigeons) have been shown to possess partial or full OP, which is a prerequisite for more complex physical cognition abilities they may possess. In birds, the greatest variation is in Stage 6 (invisible displacements) and in “A-not-B” errors—incorrectly persevering in searching an empty location rewarded previously. Caching abilities have been invoked as holding explanatory power over results in corvids, for which this error is sometimes completely absent. The rook (Corvus frugilegus), a cognitively advanced, social, caching corvid, has not yet been studied for OP. This study applies tasks of one OP scale commonly adapted for nonhuman animals, Uzgiris and Hunt’s Scale 1, as well as later-conceived tasks 16 and S, to a sample of adult, captive rooks. One rook demonstrated full OP (Stage 6b, multiple invisible displacements), whereas other individuals varied, attaining between Stages 5a (single visible displacements) and 6a (single invisible displacements). Like some corvids, a few made transient “A-not-B” errors. Behavioral considerations potentially underlying observed individual variation in results in rooks, including dominance, neophobia, past experiences, and individual idiosyncrasies, are examined. Rooks, like other corvids, possess well-developed OP abilities, and these results support the idea that exertion of executive control is required to avoid “A-not-B” errors, rather than caching abilities or developmental age, as previously suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Health was identified as a key driver for adopting flexitarianism in A-NZ. • Participants clustered into four segments with different barriers and motivations. • 'Tastes good' was the key criterion for selection of plant-based products. • Sensory experience of plant-based products was a barrier for most A-NZ flexitarians. • Not all flexitarians desired plant-based products to be meat-like. Limited knowledge exists concerning Aotearoa New Zealand (A-NZ) flexitarians and their respective motivators and barriers towards consumption of novel plant-based products (PBPs) heralded as aids for dietary meat reduction. This study aimed to determine if A-NZ flexitarians, who have tried novel PBPs, can be segmented based on different motivators and barriers to meat reduction and PBP consumption, if the consumer profile of the different segments varies according to identified gender, generation group, neophobia and meat and PBP consumption frequency. It also aimed to identify sensory characteristics novel PBPs need to possess to be attractive to A-NZ flexitarians and if these vary across segments. PBP-consuming flexitarians (n = 584), stratified according to age (Millennial/Gen X), identified gender and meat consumption frequency, completed an online survey regarding a) their level of agreement regarding statements related to factors driving PBP consumption and flexitarianism in general, and b) their satisfaction with the sensory experience of consuming current PBPs. 'Tastes good' was the top-rated factor for selecting PBPs for all consumers, but most were dissatisfied with the sensory characteristics of current PBPs. K-means cluster analysis identified three flexitarian segments based on similarities and differences in key motivations and barriers to consume PBPs. Attitudes and behaviours related to nutrition/health, and social status attained from eating both PBPs and meat products, accounted for most variation across the respondents. Overall, higher food neophobia was associated with higher PBP consumption, suggesting that neophobia itself is not necessarily a barrier to PBP consumption in A-NZ flexitarians. Improving the sensory profiles of PBPs whilst delivering nutritional requirements presented as key considerations for future product development and research. This research highlights the importance of understanding the distinct values, attitudes and behaviours of different flexitarian groups as opposed to generalised research aimed at flexitarians per se. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individual animals exhibit considerable differences in cognitive characteristics associated with personality differences. The cognition-personality link was intensively investigated in the last decade though with mixed results. To grasp the general pattern, a common method should be applied to a wide range of animals. We tested novel object recognition (NOR) in the mourning gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris) and investigated whether boldness, assessed in an anti-predator context, explained neophobia and how much attention animals pay to their surroundings. Boldness did not simply explain object neophobia but predicted attention to novel objects. Specifically, shy geckos showed shorter latency to approach the novel object than bold geckos only in the changed situation in which distinct types of objects were presented in two successive phases. However, no significant effect of boldness was detected in the unchanged situation in which the same object was presented twice. Our findings suggest that, in the mourning gecko, (1) boldness and object neophobia represent different aspects of personality traits and that (2) boldness underlies sensitivity to slight changes in the environment. • The link between boldness and attention was tested in a gecko species. • Geckos were able to discriminate familiar from novel objects. • Boldness, measured as anti-predator behavior, did not explain object neophobia. • Boldness was negatively correlated with attention paid to the changed objects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]