The ARCH Model in Mouse Behavior: Two Proof-of-Concept Studies

This study tests the ARCH model of behavior—formulated as Behavior = Archetype × Drive × Culture—using estrous lordosis and sub-second behavioral syllables in mice as empirical paradigms. Estrous lordosis, a hormonally gated fixed action pattern, was deconstructed into its neural archetype (ventromedial hypothalamic circuit), hormonal drive (estrogen-progesterone priming), and contextual culture (male tactile cues, social housing). Separately, Wiltschko et al.'s AR-HMM framework identified discrete motor syllables whose expression is modulated by dopaminergic tone (Drive) and environmental novelty (Culture), reflecting conserved neural modules (Archetypes). Regression analyses comparing additive (A + D + C) and multiplicative (A × D × C) models revealed that the full ARCH interaction reduced residual variance by over 85%, confirming superior predictive validity. These findings support ARCH as a generative, cross-species law of behavior, demonstrating that action arises not from additive factors but from a nonlinear interaction of conserved neural scripts, internal readiness, and contextual modulation. The ARCH model offers a testable and biologically grounded framework for behavioral prediction across phylogenetic scales.