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The Biobehavioral Regulation, Learning and Ethology Study Section reviews applications concerned with basic biobehavioral processes and adaptation across the lifespan [infancy through old age]. The Study Section primarily considers research with non-human animals [vertebrates and invertebrates] but relevant work with humans is also included. Normal and disordered processes are addressed. Although the focus is on behavior, studies may also consider related neural, hormonal, and genetic factors. Methods include [but are not limited to] behavioral experiments, naturalistic observation, pharmacologic interventions, and computational modeling. Specific areas covered include:

• Learning, cognition, and behavioral control: Classical and operant conditioning; sensitization and habituation; choice; observational and social learning; sensory, perceptual, spatial, motor, and navigational abilities; timing, counting and other quantitative abilities; attention; memory; categorization; problem-solving; executive function.
• Behavioral mechanisms of substance abuse: Preferences and aversions; craving; tolerance and sensitization; discriminative and reinforcing effects of abused substances; subjective, sensory, perceptual, and performance effects; vulnerabilities to dependence; social influences; learning-theoretic and behavioral economic approaches.
• Animal models of psychopathology and treatment: Processes underlying fear, depression, mania, violence, regulatory dysfunction, cognitive dysfunction, behavioral [dis]inhibition; genetic, biological, and social influences on development of pathology; behavioral interventions; behavioral aspects of psychopharmacologic interventions.
• Social behavior and communication: Social organization; attachment, affiliation, mate choice and parent-offspring interaction; dominance, aggression and peacemaking; socialization; play; organization and function of communication processes.
• Behavioral development: Perceptual, motor, and cognitive development; social and communicative development; sexual and reproductive development; development of behavioral control; prenatal influences; behavioral teratology; behavior genetics.
• Regulatory and homeostatic processes: Feeding, drinking and other ingestive behaviors; sexual and reproductive behaviors; sleep and wakefulness; thermo-regulation; biological rhythms and cycles; activity levels; related perceptual, motivational, and action systems; behavioral and social influences on hormone action and gene expression.
• Studies of basic learning principles and pharmacology applied to self- injurious behavior may also be assigned here.

Study sections with most closely related areas of similar science listed in rank order are:

Neuroendocrinology, Neuroimmunology and Behavior [NNB]
Child Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities [CPDD]
Psychosocial Development, Risk and Prevention [PDRP]
Adult Psychopathology and Disorders of Aging [APDA]
Biological Rhythms and Sleep [BRS]
Social Psychology and Interpersonal Processes [SPIP]