Cortical dynamics underlying social behavior in dominance hierarchy and spatial navigation

AbstractRodents establish dominance hierarchy as a social ranking system in which one subject acts as dominant over all the other subordinate individuals. Dominance hierarchy regulates food access and mating opportunities, but little is known of its significance in collective behavior, for instance during navigation for foraging or migration. Here, we implemented a simplified goal-directed spatial navigation task in mice and found that the social context exerts significant influence on individual decision-making, even when efficient navigation rules leading to reward had been previously learned. Thus, decision-making and consequent task performance were strongly dependent on contingent social interactions arising during collective navigation, yet their influence on individual behavior was outlined by dominance hierarchy. Dominant animals did not behave as leaders during navigation; conversely, they were most sensitive to social context. Social ranking in turn was reflected in the neural activity and connectivity patterns of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, both in anesthetized and behaving mice. These results suggest that the interplay between contingent social interactions and dominance hierarchy can regulate behavioral performance, supported by the intrinsic matrix of coordinated activity in the hippocampal-prefrontal circuit.Significance StatementDecision-making is shaped by intrinsic features, such as memory-stored information, and external influences, such as social interactions, yet their interplay is not well understood. We studied decision-making during collective behavior and found that instead of prioritizing memory-based pertinent information, mice shifted their individual decisions according to contingent social interactions arising in the social context. Conversely, constitutive social interactions, such as dominance hierarchy, were relevant to outline the effect of the social environment on individual behavior. Our results suggest that intrinsic hippocampal-cortical activity and connectivity patterns define social interactions. Hence, intrinsic cortical dynamics underlie behavioral performance during social decision-making.

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The switching mechanisms of social network densification

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-82432-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Teruyoshi Kobayashi ◽

Mathieu Génois

Keyword(s):

Social Networks ◽

Social Network ◽

Social Context ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Regime Switching ◽

Face To Face ◽

The Social ◽

Switching Property ◽

Distinctive Type ◽

Insight Into

AbstractDensification and sparsification of social networks are attributed to two fundamental mechanisms: a change in the population in the system, and/or a change in the chances that people in the system are connected. In theory, each of these mechanisms generates a distinctive type of densification scaling, but in reality both types are generally mixed. Here, we develop a Bayesian statistical method to identify the extent to which each of these mechanisms is at play at a given point in time, taking the mixed densification scaling as input. We apply the method to networks of face-to-face interactions of individuals and reveal that the main mechanism that causes densification and sparsification occasionally switches, the frequency of which depending on the social context. The proposed method uncovers an inherent regime-switching property of network dynamics, which will provide a new insight into the mechanics behind evolving social interactions.

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Cooperation and the evolution of intelligence

Proceedings of The Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.2012.0206 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 279 (1740) ◽

pp. 3027-3034 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Luke McNally ◽

Sam P. Brown ◽

Andrew L. Jackson

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Cognitive Abilities ◽

Artificial Neural Network Model ◽

Social Intelligence ◽

Arms Race ◽

Selection Pressures ◽

Social Intelligence Hypothesis ◽

The Social ◽

Selection For

The high levels of intelligence seen in humans, other primates, certain cetaceans and birds remain a major puzzle for evolutionary biologists, anthropologists and psychologists. It has long been held that social interactions provide the selection pressures necessary for the evolution of advanced cognitive abilities (the ‘social intelligence hypothesis’), and in recent years decision-making in the context of cooperative social interactions has been conjectured to be of particular importance. Here we use an artificial neural network model to show that selection for efficient decision-making in cooperative dilemmas can give rise to selection pressures for greater cognitive abilities, and that intelligent strategies can themselves select for greater intelligence, leading to a Machiavellian arms race. Our results provide mechanistic support for the social intelligence hypothesis, highlight the potential importance of cooperative behaviour in the evolution of intelligence and may help us to explain the distribution of cooperation with intelligence across taxa.

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Is There a “Right” Side of Communicating Friendship? Lateralization of Social Interactions in Zoo Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11113288 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (11) ◽

pp. 3288

Author(s):

Marzia Baldachini ◽

Barbara Regaiolli ◽

Miquel Llorente ◽

David Riba ◽

Caterina Spiezio

Keyword(s):

Social Interaction ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Group Level ◽

Social Ranking ◽

Macaca Sylvanus ◽

Barbary Macaques ◽

Focal Animal ◽

The Social ◽

Side Preference ◽

The Right

Social laterality in non-human primates has started to attract attention in recent years. The positioning of individuals during social interactions could possibly suggest the nature of a relationship and the social ranking of the subjects involved. The subjects of the present study were 12 adult Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) housed in a zoological garden. We carried out fourteen 210-min video-recorded sessions and we used a focal animal sampling method to collect the position of the subjects during different social interactions. Data on the position of each macaque during three types of social interactions were collected (approach, proximity and affiliative contacts). Moreover, we focused on the outcomes of dyadic agonistic encounters to build the hierarchy of the colony. For each social interaction, two conditions were considered: the side preference (being kept on the left or on the right) and the sagittal preference (being kept in front or on the rear). Bouts of preference of different positions were collected for different social interactions (approach, proximity and contacts). No group-level side preferences were found for any social interaction, suggesting that both hemispheres might be complemental and balance each other during intraspecific communication. For the sagittal preference, we found a group-level bias for proximity, with macaques being kept in front rather than on the rear by close conspecifics. This might be due to the need to detect emotions and intentions of conspecifics. Moreover, high-ranking individuals are kept more frontally than on the rear when in proximity with other macaques. More studies are needed to better investigate social laterality, possibly distinguishing more categories of social interaction, and detecting other variables that might influence the positioning preferences.

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Incorporating the social context into neurocognitive models of adolescent decision-making: A neuroimaging meta-analysis

Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 101 ◽

pp. 129-142 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jorien van Hoorn ◽

Holly Shablack ◽

Kristen A. Lindquist ◽

Eva H. Telzer

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Social Context ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

The Social

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Prosocial Influence and Opportunistic Conformity in Adolescents and Young Adults

Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/0956797620957625 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 31 (12) ◽

pp. 1585-1601 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabriele Chierchia ◽

Blanca Piera Pi-Sunyer ◽

Sarah-Jayne Blakemore

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Young Adults ◽

Social Context ◽

Social Influence ◽

Social Decision ◽

Charitable Donations ◽

The Social ◽

Social Decision Making ◽

Age Range ◽

Value Of Money

Adolescence is associated with heightened social influence, especially from peers. This can lead to detrimental decision-making in domains such as risky behavior but may also raise opportunities for prosocial behavior. We used an incentivized charitable-donations task to investigate how people revise decisions after learning about the donations of others and how this is affected by age ( N = 220; age range = 11–35 years). Our results showed that the probability of social influence decreased with age within this age range. In addition, whereas previous research has suggested that adults are more likely to conform to the behavior of selfish others than to the behavior of prosocial others, here we observed no evidence of such an asymmetry in midadolescents. We discuss possible interpretations of these findings in relation to the social context of the task, the perceived value of money, and social decision-making across development.

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The collaborative dimensions of argument maps: A socio-visual approach

Semiotica ◽

10.1515/sem-2015-0140 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 (220) ◽

pp. 199-216

Author(s):

Sabrina Bresciani ◽

Martin J. Eppler

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Evaluation Tool ◽

Organizational Decision Making ◽

Argument Mapping ◽

The Social ◽

Visual Approach ◽

The Rich ◽

Complex Argumentation

AbstractThis paper examines the collaborative use of visual argument maps in the context of argument production in organizations. Argument maps are highly multimodal, as their use involves the combination of diagrams, text elements, as well as spoken statements. In this theoretical piece, we apply a Collaborative Dimensions framework to argument maps that can be used to better design, understand, evaluate, and use argument maps in collaborative settings for decision making purposes. Specifically, our conceptual framework – derived from interdisciplinary perspectives – takes into consideration how the visual dimensions of argument maps have a bearing on the social interactions of people involved in a complex argumentation process. We posit that cognitive dimensions of argument maps need to be enriched with additional communicative and collaborative dimensions in order to foster a more widespread adoption of argument mapping in organizational decision making. In our socio-visual approach to argument mapping, we thus distinguish the following seven dimensions: Visual Insight, Outcome Clarity, Directed Focus, Perceived Finishedness, Visual Appeal, Content Modifiability, and Collaboration Support. We illustrate the use of the framework as an evaluation tool and analyze three different approaches to argument mapping with the help of the seven dimensions. In this way, the framework can be used to improve collaborative argument mapping. Our contribution thus lies in proposing an interdisciplinary and theoretically grounded set of factors to augment the quality of argument maps, both from a process and a results perspective. In this manner we hope to contribute to the theory of argumentation through the rich notion of “collaborative dimensions,” as well as further the practice of collaborative argument production through a more reflective and systematic use of interactive argument visualization.

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Stress response, gut microbial diversity and sexual signals correlate with social interactions

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2016.0352 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 20160352 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Iris I. Levin ◽

David M. Zonana ◽

Bailey K. Fosdick ◽

Se Jin Song ◽

Rob Knight ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stress Response ◽

Social Context ◽

Network Analysis ◽

Microbial Diversity ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Sexual Signals ◽

Body Contact ◽

The Social ◽

Barn Swallows

Theory predicts that social interactions are dynamically linked to phenotype. Yet because social interactions are difficult to quantify, little is known about the precise details on how interactivity is linked to phenotype. Here, we deployed proximity loggers on North American barn swallows ( Hirundo rustica erythrogaster ) to examine intercorrelations among social interactions, morphology and features of the phenotype that are sensitive to the social context: stress-induced corticosterone (CORT) and gut microbial diversity. We analysed relationships at two spatial scales of interaction: (i) body contact and (ii) social interactions occurring between 0.1 and 5 m. Network analysis revealed that relationships between social interactions, morphology, CORT and gut microbial diversity varied depending on the sexes of the individuals interacting and the spatial scale of interaction proximity. We found evidence that body contact interactions were related to diversity of socially transmitted microbes and that looser social interactions were related to signalling traits and CORT.

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Social interaction in males of the Amazon river prawn Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862) (Decapoda, Palaemonidae)

Crustaceana ◽

10.1163/15685403-bja10081 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 94 (3) ◽

pp. 325-341

Author(s):

Adriana N. A. F. Ibrahim ◽

Ilan Karplus ◽

Wagner C. Valenti

Keyword(s):

Social Interaction ◽

Social Interactions ◽

Dominance Hierarchy ◽

Size Variation ◽

Large Size ◽

The Social ◽

Complex Population ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Macrobrachium Amazonicum ◽

Survival And Growth

Abstract The large size variation of Macrobrachium amazonicum reflects a complex population structure that consists of four morphotypes, called TC (Translucent Claw), CC (Cinnamon Claw), GC1 (Green Claw 1), and GC2 (Green Claw 2). The effect of the largest morphotype (GC2) claws on development and behaviour of the smallest male morphotype (TC) was analysed through manipulations of the large prawn’s second pair of claws. TC males were paired for 75 days in aquaria with (a) an intact GC2, (b) a GC2 with immobilized dactyls, and (c) a GC2 without chelipeds. Isolated TC males served as a control. The maintenance activities of TC males and social interactions with the GC2 morphotype were monitored. Survival and growth of TC males was lower in relation to the control when they were paired with intact GC2 males. Aggressive interactions were carried out almost exclusively by GC2 and strongly affected the behaviour of the small prawns. The absence of chelipeds and immobilization of dactyls in GC2 prawns reduced the negative effect on the development of TC males and agonistic behaviour. The social interactions between GC2 and TC prawns reflect a stable dominance hierarchy. The large claw of the GC2 morphotype plays a major role in the social interaction.

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An Autonomy-Based Argument for Democracy

Oxford Studies in Political Philosophy Volume 7 ◽

10.1093/oso/9780192897480.003.0007 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 194-226

Author(s):

James Lindley Wilson

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Social Context ◽

Basic Structure ◽

Second Order ◽

Ideal Self ◽

Political Equality ◽

Common Life ◽

First Order ◽

The Social

Democracy uniquely respects an important set of persons’ autonomy claims. Along with standard first-order autonomy claims to act without interference, persons have second-order autonomy claims to authority over the social context of their choice. These second-order claims are grounded in the same ideal self-direction that grounds first-order claims. One triggers another’s second-order claims when one directs another’s will by shaping the context of her choice, or when one implicates another’s will by shaping the nature of her responsibility for her actions. When a basic structure exists in which individuals continuously direct and implicate one another’s wills, each person has a second-order autonomy claim to authority over the terms of that structure. Because each person is equally entitled to respect for her autonomy, each is equally entitled to authority over the basic structure. Political equality—the equal authority of each citizen over the terms of common life—therefore uniquely respects these autonomy claims of each citizen. We therefore have non-instrumental, autonomy-based reasons to support democratic decision-making.

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