Studying Behavioral Cascades in Nature
https://www.princeton.edu/news/2019/09/30/get-moving-mystery-animal-group-behavior
Across many species separated by millions of years of genetic evolution there exist incredibly similar behaviors when these animals coexist in large groups whether it be herds, schools, or packs. When certain behaviors are expressed, particularly those in response to danger, many animals will display what is now called a ‘startle cascade’. This occurs when one animal reacts to a stimuli and those next to the initial animal quickly follow its behavior. This cascade travels through the whole group so fast it almost seems instantaneous. What is more is that fishes actions were a direct result “from the structure of the group itself rather than how any individual fish in the group or social network perceives and responds to its environment.”
The information cascades present in human networks are also present in the network’s of animal behavior and by studying how animals use these cascades to transmit information across their network we can better understand our own. When the information is direly needed across a whole network, these information cascades accelerate their distribution of the information such that every individual can behave accordingly. Behavioral cascades differ in that the information distributed is a distinct behavior rather than a more simple piece of information like status or condition however it is how the behavior is distributed that is important.