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What effects do serotonin injections have on lobster posture and fighting behaviour?
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Aggressive behaviour
A pair of red deer stags (Cervus elaphus) competing for possession of a female in the rutting season.
In lobsters, the neurohormone serotonin plays a significant role in regulating social status and aggressive interactions. When lobsters are injected with serotonin, they adopt a dominant posture, characterized by raised legs and forward-directed antennae.1
Furthermore, increasing serotonin levels in subordinate lobsters enhances their willingness to engage in fights. This effect is mediated by serotonin-containing nerve cells in the central nervous system that connect to motor neurons responsible for generating dominant postures and promoting aggressive attacks.1