Even when animals receive the same stimulus, their behavior changes depending on the external environment at that time and internal conditions such as the strength of motivation and biorhythm.Above all, whether or not you are exercising greatly affects your behavior.In the case of humans, it has been reported that the performance of cognitive tasks during running deteriorates.However, it was difficult to examine the effect on behavior by repeatedly applying the same stimulus without restricting the animal's movements.

　Therefore, the research group used a jointly developed servo-type spherical treadmill device (commonly known as an "infinite plane device").It made it possible to repeatedly give the same stimulus while allowing the animal to move freely.Crickets were allowed to walk freely and given a short airflow stimulus with precisely controlled direction and intensity, and their innate escape behavior was investigated.

　We found that crickets, when stimulated during voluntary locomotion, almost immediately paused and then engaged in escape behavior.In addition, they stopped even weak air current stimuli that did not respond when stationary, and showed a high probability of escape response.Increased sensitivity to stimuli may ensure a delay in escape.In the escape response during exercise, the escape distance and speed were the same as those at rest, but the escape direction was less accurate than at rest.

　Animals are generally more likely to be spotted by predators when they are exercising.Thus, crickets may first pause to avoid predators when threatened during exercise.This time, the research group showed for the first time the possibility that crickets also adopt this ``freezing reaction'', which is also seen in other animals, as a behavioral strategy against predators.

Paper information:[iScience] Motor state changes escape behavior of crickets