social-learning
Social learning in plant science refers to the phenomenon where plants modify their behavior or physiology in response to chemical, mechanical, or electrical signals produced by neighboring plants. This form of information transfer allows plants to anticipate and prepare for threats such as herbivory, drought, or pathogen attack before direct exposure. Understanding social learning in plants has significant implications for agriculture, as it could inform strategies to boost crop resilience and reduce reliance on chemical interventions.
PubMed · 2026-02-14
A study tested whether calves could learn to be comfortable around humans by watching their foster cows receive gentle handling. No such social transmission effect was found, likely because the cows themselves did not visibly enjoy the interactions.
33 foster calves across 2 batches were tested; those who observed gentle human-cow interactions showed no reduction in avoidance distance compared to controls at 3 weeks or ~6 months of age.
Foster cows displayed very few behavioral signs of enjoyment (e.g., neck stretching, ear hanging) during gentle handling sessions, suggesting the intended positive emotional state was not achieved.
No significant treatment effect was found on calf approach behavior or avoidance distance in either familiar (home pen) or unfamiliar environments.