Manipulating monoamines reduces exploration and boldness of Mediterranean field crickets

• We studied if monoamines underly variation in animal personality, crickets. Our monoamine manipulation via Fluphenazine lowered both boldness and exploration. show that effects can be dose- behaviour-dependent. Latency to emerge from shelter used as a measure of Behavioural results depend on the drug used. Despite prevalence research interest its underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Due essential role modulating behaviour, we manipulated monoaminergic systems Mediterranean field crickets ( Gryllus bimaculatus ) explore whether this altered behavioural responses commonly describe personality. Previous work has shown serotonin dopamine manipulations alter cricket although differ depending focus. Here, investigate effect Fluphenazine, antagonist which also interacts with receptors, activity, exploration, boldness, aggression. These compared those our earlier investigated drugs more specifically target or (Fluoxetine Ropinirole, respectively). limited dose-effects created dose-response curves concentrations ranging measured surface waters up human therapeutic doses. control animals, resulted lower levels exploration but did affect activity nor The explorative behaviour contradicts previous manipulations. together confirm causal explaining often Further, suggest assigned dopaminergic system, may at least partly explained by serotonergic system. Thus, future studies should continue explicit roles specific variation.