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1. Is the glass half-full or half-empty? This question reflects that some people expect + outcomes and other -: optimists and pessimists. The same is true for other animals! We investigated the causes of these individual differences and their stability over time
#AnimBehav2021
#AnimBehav2021
2 How to test “optimism”? There is a big-reward=B(low bar) and a small-reward situation=S(high bar) in which mice need to touch a different screen side. Test: ambiguous situation(intermediate bar). Optimistic choice=same side as in B; pessimistic=same side as in S #AnimBehav2021
3. How does one become an “optimism/pessimist”?We used mice from 2 different genetic backgrounds that both lived in 2 different environments: representing scarce and complex conditions. We didn’t detect a significant influence of used genotype or environment.
#AnimBehav2021
We used mice from 2 different genetic backgrounds that both lived in 2 different environments: representing scarce and complex conditions. We didn’t detect a significant influence of used genotype or environment. #AnimBehav2021
4. But is “optimism” a part of animal personality?
We repeatedly tested mice in “optimism test” over 7 weeks to investigate are individual differences stable over time
. And indeed, they were moderately repeatable (for 2/3 ambiguous cues used)!
#AnimBehav2021
We repeatedly tested mice in “optimism test” over 7 weeks to investigate are individual differences stable over time. And indeed, they were moderately repeatable (for 2/3 ambiguous cues used)! #AnimBehav2021
5. Take/stay 
a) The influence of genotype and environments on “optimism” could be low (/we weren't able to detect it
)
b) Moderate repeatability indicates that “optimism” is an enduring trait
c) Consider “optimism” as an aspect of animal personality #AnimBehav2021
a) The influence of genotype and environments on “optimism” could be low
(/we weren't able to detect it)b) Moderate repeatability indicates that “optimism” is an enduring trait
c) Consider “optimism” as an aspect of animal personality
#AnimBehav2021
6. This work is in prep. for publishing.
Thanks to my co-authors (especially L. Bohn), the whole Department of Behavioural Biology @WWU_Muenster , and @dfg_public for founding our @NC3Niche.
But before you go:in our complex environment 
Thanks to my co-authors (especially L. Bohn), the whole Department of Behavioural Biology @WWU_Muenster , and @dfg_public for founding our @NC3Niche.But before you go:
in our complex environment
