The article "Toward a Neuroscience of Natural Behavior" by Paul Cisek and Andrea M. Green discusses the progress in systems neuroscience towards neurophysiological experiments that move beyond simplified laboratory settings to address the complexity of natural behavior. Technological advancements, such as wireless recording in freely moving animals and automated behavior quantification, have enabled this shift. However, interpreting data from natural behavior remains challenging due to the complexity and variability of neural activity. The authors propose a stepwise strategy to develop new theories and concepts that can interpret data from more naturalistic scenarios. This involves gradually relaxing experimental constraints, comparing neural activity in constrained and unconstrained settings, and testing hypotheses that integrate motor and cognitive variables. They emphasize the importance of drawing inspiration from ethology, ecological psychology, and evolutionary biology to create more ecologically valid theories. The article concludes by advocating for a multidisciplinary, hypothesis-driven approach to studying natural behavior, aiming to extend and broaden our understanding of neural mechanisms.The article "Toward a Neuroscience of Natural Behavior" by Paul Cisek and Andrea M. Green discusses the progress in systems neuroscience towards neurophysiological experiments that move beyond simplified laboratory settings to address the complexity of natural behavior. Technological advancements, such as wireless recording in freely moving animals and automated behavior quantification, have enabled this shift. However, interpreting data from natural behavior remains challenging due to the complexity and variability of neural activity. The authors propose a stepwise strategy to develop new theories and concepts that can interpret data from more naturalistic scenarios. This involves gradually relaxing experimental constraints, comparing neural activity in constrained and unconstrained settings, and testing hypotheses that integrate motor and cognitive variables. They emphasize the importance of drawing inspiration from ethology, ecological psychology, and evolutionary biology to create more ecologically valid theories. The article concludes by advocating for a multidisciplinary, hypothesis-driven approach to studying natural behavior, aiming to extend and broaden our understanding of neural mechanisms.