Read this paragraph of a scientific study, then put into your own words what the authors’ goal was: Predator-induced fear is both, one of the most common stressors employed in animal model studies of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and a major focus of research in ecology. There has been a growing discourse between these disciplines but no direct empirical linkage. We endeavoured to provid
this empirical linkage by conducting experiments drawing upon the strengths of both disciplines. Exposure to a natural cue of predator danger predator vocalizations), had enduring effects of at least
7 days duration involving both, a heightened sensitivity to predator danger indicative of an enduring memory of fear), and elevated neuronal activation in both the amygdala and hippocampus-in wild
birds (black-capped chickadees, Poecile atricapillus), exposed to natural environmental and social
experiences in the 7 days following predator exposure. Our results demonstrate enduring effects on the
brain and behaviour, meeting the criteria to be considered an animal model of PTSD-in a wild animal, which are of a nature and degree which can be anticipated could affect fecundity and survival in free-
living wildlife. We suggest our findings support both the proposition that PTSD is not unnatural, and that long-lasting effects of predator-induced fear, with likely effects on fecundity and survival, are the
norm in nature.
