scholarly journals Rat ultrasonic vocalizations and novelty-induced social and non-social investigation behavior in a seminatural environment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Indrek Heinla ◽  
Xi Chu ◽  
Anders Agmo ◽  
Eelke Snoeren
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Ultrasonic Vocalizations ◽  
Sensory Cues ◽  
Social Investigation ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Vocal Signals ◽  
Transfer Of Information

Although rats are known to emit ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), it remains unclear whether these calls serve an auditory communication purpose. For USVs to be part of communication, the vocal signals will need to be a transfer of information between two or more conspecifics, and with the possibility to induce changes in the behavior of the recipient. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the role of USVs in rats' social and non-social investigation strategies when introduced into a large novel environment with unfamiliar conspecifics. We quantified a wide range of social and non-social behaviors in the seminatural environment, which could be affected by subtle signals, including USVs. We found that during the first hour in the seminatural environment the ability to vocalize did not affect how quickly rats met each other, their overall social investigation behavior, their passive social behavior nor their aggressive behavior. Furthermore, the non-social exploratory behaviors and behaviors reflecting anxiety/stress-like states were also unaffected. These results demonstrated that a disability to vocalize did not result in significant disadvantages (or changes) compared to intact conspecifics regarding social and non-social behaviors. This suggests that other (multi)sensory cues are more relevant in social interactions than USVs.

scholarly journals Exploring Interactions between the Gut Microbiota and Social Behavior through Nutrition

Genes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Pasquaretta ◽  
Tamara Gómez-Moracho ◽  
Philipp Heeb ◽  
Mathieu Lihoreau
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Nutritional Ecology ◽  
Social Consequences ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Nutritional Geometry ◽  
Social Animals

Microbes influence a wide range of host social behaviors and vice versa. So far, however, the mechanisms underpinning these complex interactions remain poorly understood. In social animals, where individuals share microbes and interact around foods, the gut microbiota may have considerable consequences on host social interactions by acting upon the nutritional behavior of individual animals. Here we illustrate how conceptual advances in nutritional ecology can help the study of these processes and allow the formulation of new empirically testable predictions. First, we review key evidence showing that gut microbes influence the nutrition of individual animals, through modifications of their nutritional state and feeding decisions. Next, we describe how these microbial influences and their social consequences can be studied by modelling populations of hosts and their gut microbiota into a single conceptual framework derived from nutritional geometry. Our approach raises new perspectives for the study of holobiont nutrition and will facilitate theoretical and experimental research on the role of the gut microbiota in the mechanisms and evolution of social behavior.

scholarly journals Unconscious influences on decision making: A critical review

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben R. Newell ◽  
David R. Shanks
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Social Behavior ◽  
Behavioral Economics ◽  
Cognitive Neuroscience ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cognitive Unconscious

AbstractTo what extent do we know our own minds when making decisions? Variants of this question have preoccupied researchers in a wide range of domains, from mainstream experimental psychology (cognition, perception, social behavior) to cognitive neuroscience and behavioral economics. A pervasive view places a heavy explanatory burden on an intelligent cognitive unconscious, with many theories assigning causally effective roles to unconscious influences. This article presents a novel framework for evaluating these claims and reviews evidence from three major bodies of research in which unconscious factors have been studied: multiple-cue judgment, deliberation without attention, and decisions under uncertainty. Studies of priming (subliminal and primes-to-behavior) and the role of awareness in movement and perception (e.g., timing of willed actions, blindsight) are also given brief consideration. The review highlights that inadequate procedures for assessing awareness, failures to consider artifactual explanations of “landmark” results, and a tendency to uncritically accept conclusions that fit with our intuitions have all contributed to unconscious influences being ascribed inflated and erroneous explanatory power in theories of decision making. The review concludes by recommending that future research should focus on tasks in which participants' attention is diverted away from the experimenter's hypothesis, rather than the highly reflective tasks that are currently often employed.

scholarly journals Sex-Specific Social Behavior and Amygdala Proteomic Deficits in Foxp2+/− Mutant Mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Jesus Herrero ◽  
Li Wang ◽  
David Hernandez-Pineda ◽  
Payal Banerjee ◽  
Heidi Y. Matos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Neuronal Communication ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Spectrum Disorders ◽  
Encoding Gene ◽  
Dopamine Signaling

In humans, mutations in the transcription factor encoding gene, FOXP2, are associated with language and Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), the latter characterized by deficits in social interactions. However, little is known regarding the function of Foxp2 in male or female social behavior. Our previous studies in mice revealed high expression of Foxp2 within the medial subnucleus of the amygdala (MeA), a limbic brain region highly implicated in innate social behaviors such as mating, aggression, and parental care. Here, using a comprehensive panel of behavioral tests in male and female Foxp2+/– heterozygous mice, we investigated the role Foxp2 plays in MeA-linked innate social behaviors. We reveal significant deficits in olfactory processing, social interaction, mating, aggressive, and parental behaviors. Interestingly, some of these deficits are displayed in a sex-specific manner. To examine the consequences of Foxp2 loss of function specifically in the MeA, we conducted a proteomic analysis of microdissected MeA tissue. This analyses revealed putative sex differences expression of a host of proteins implicated in neuronal communication, connectivity, and dopamine signaling. Consistent with this, we discovered that MeA Foxp2-lineage cells were responsive to dopamine with differences between males and females. Thus, our findings reveal a central and sex-specific role for Foxp2 in social behavior and MeA function.

scholarly journals Sex- and context-dependent effects of acute isolation on vocal and non-vocal social behaviors in mice

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (9) ◽  
pp. e0255640
Author(s):  
Xin Zhao ◽  
Patryk Ziobro ◽  
Nicole M. Pranic ◽  
Samantha Chu ◽  
Samantha Rabinovich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Social Motivation ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Female Mice ◽  
The Social ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Brain And Behavior

Humans are extraordinarily social, and social isolation has profound effects on our behavior, ranging from increased social motivation following short periods of social isolation to increased anti-social behaviors following long-term social isolation. Mice are frequently used as a model to understand how social isolation impacts the brain and behavior. While the effects of chronic social isolation on mouse social behavior have been well studied, much less is known about how acute isolation impacts mouse social behavior and whether these effects vary according to the sex of the mouse and the behavioral context of the social encounter. To address these questions, we characterized the effects of acute (3-day) social isolation on the vocal and non-vocal social behaviors of male and female mice during same-sex and opposite-sex social interactions. Our experiments uncovered pronounced effects of acute isolation on social interactions between female mice, while revealing more subtle effects on the social behaviors of male mice during same-sex and opposite-sex interactions. Our findings advance the study of same-sex interactions between female mice as an attractive paradigm to investigate neural mechanisms through which acute isolation enhances social motivation and promotes social behavior.

scholarly journals Neural Circuits for Social Interactions: From Microcircuits to Input-Output Circuits

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sen Xu ◽  
Ming Jiang ◽  
Xia Liu ◽  
Yahan Sun ◽  
Liang Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Social Preference ◽  
Neural Circuits ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Social Cues ◽  
Input Output ◽  
Social Exploration ◽  
Pathological Development

Social behaviors entail responses to social information and requires the perception and integration of social cues through a complex cognition process that involves attention, memory, motivation, and emotion. Neurobiological and molecular mechanisms underlying social behavior are highly conserved across species, and inter- and intra-specific variability observed in social behavior can be explained to large extent by differential activity of a conserved neural network. However, neural microcircuits and precise networks involved in social behavior remain mysterious. In this review, we summarize the microcircuits and input-output circuits on the molecular, cellular, and network levels of different social interactions, such as social exploration, social hierarchy, social memory, and social preference. This review provides a broad view of how multiple microcircuits and input-output circuits converge on the medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala to regulate complex social behaviors, as well as a potential novel view for better control over pathological development.

Extensions, elaborations, and explanations of the role of evolution and learning in the control of social behavior

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-276
Author(s):  
Michael Domjan ◽  
Brian Cusato ◽  
Ronald Villarreal
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Pavlovian Conditioning ◽  
Maladaptive Behavior ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Homeostatic Model ◽  
Conditioned Responses ◽  
Reproductive Consequences

Reactions to the target article included requests for extensions and elaborations of the schema we proposed and discussions of apparent shortcomings of our approach. In general, we welcome suggestions for extension of the schema to additional kinds of social behavior and to forms of learning other than Pavlovian conditioning. Many of the requested elaborations of the schema are consistent with our approach, but some may limit its generality. Many of the apparent shortcomings that commentators discussed do not seem problematic. Our schema encourages a broad view of the behavioral consequences of Pavlovian conditioning – including learned modifications of responding to the unconditioned stimulus. Costs and benefits addressed by our schema are the long-range reproductive consequences of learning – not the immediate reinforcing consequences of particular conditioned responses. Our approach allows the evolution of learning to yield maladaptive behavior and can be extended to characterize dynamic social interactions. We clarify that ours is not a homeostatic model involving ideal set points, and we clarify and defend our application of Pavlovian concepts to the analysis of social play.

scholarly journals Ethnic markers and the emergence of group-specific norms

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Ozaita ◽  
Andrea Baronchelli ◽  
Angel Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Reinforcement Learning ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Alternative Explanation ◽  
Coordination Games ◽  
Microscopic Mechanism ◽  
Social Traits ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Globalized World

AbstractObservable social traits determine how we interact meaningfully in society even in our globalized world. While a popular hypothesis states that observable traits may help promote cooperation, the alternative explanation that they facilitate coordination has gained ground in recent years. Here we explore this possibility and present a model that investigates the role of ethnic markers in coordination games. In particular, we aim to test the role of reinforcement learning as the microscopic mechanism used by the agents to update their strategies in the game. For a wide range of parameters, we observe the emergence of a collective equilibrium in which markers play an assorting role. However, if individuals are too conformist or too greedy, markers fail to shape social interactions. These results extend and complement previous work focused on agent imitation and show that reinforcement learning is a good candidate to explain many instances where ethnic markers influence coordination.

scholarly journals The Impact of Early Amygdala Damage on Juvenile Rhesus Macaque Social Behavior

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2124-2140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eliza Bliss-Moreau ◽  
Gilda Moadab ◽  
Melissa D. Bauman ◽  
David G. Amaral
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Rhesus Macaque ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Ibotenic Acid ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Facial Displays ◽  
The Impact

The present experiments continue a longitudinal study of rhesus macaque social behavior following bilateral neonatal ibotenic acid lesions of the amygdala or hippocampus, or sham operations. Juvenile animals (approximately 1.5–2.5 years) were tested in four different social contexts—alone, while interacting with one familiar peer, while interacting with one unfamiliar peer, and in their permanent social groups. During infancy, the amygdala-lesioned animals displayed more interest in conspecifics (indexed by increased affiliative signaling) and paradoxically demonstrated more submission or fear (Bauman, Lavenex, Mason, Capitanio, & Amaral, 2004a, this journal). When these animals were assessed as juveniles, differences were less striking. Amygdala-lesioned animals generated fewer aggressive and affiliative signals (e.g., vocalizations, facial displays) and spent less time in social interactions with familiar peers. When animals were observed alone or with an unfamiliar peer, amygdala-lesioned animals, compared with other subjects, spent more time being inactive and physically explored the environment less. Despite the subtle, lesion-based differences in the frequency and duration of specific social behaviors, there were lesion-based differences in the organization of behavior such that lesion groups could be identified based on the patterning of social behaviors in a discriminant function analysis. The findings indicate that, although overall frequencies of many of the observed behaviors do not differ between groups, the general patterning of social behavior may distinguish the amygdala-lesioned animals.

Social Rewards: From Basic Social Building Blocks to Complex Social Behavior

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 700-717 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana I. Tamir ◽  
Brent L. Hughes
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Social Goals ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Dual Approach ◽  
Complex Social Behavior ◽  
Social Act ◽  
Social Rewards

Humans are social creatures, engaging almost constantly in social behaviors that serve ultimate social goals, such as forming strong bonds with one another. However, most social behaviors provide only incremental progress toward an ultimate goal. Instead, the drive to engage in any individual social act may derive from its proximal value rather than its ultimate goal. Thus, this proximal value forms the foundation on which the complexities of human sociality are built. We describe two complementary approaches for using proximal social rewards to understand social behaviors and their ultimate goals: (a) decontextualizing social rewards—paring down complex social interactions can help identify which basic building blocks remain valuable even in minimalistic contexts—and (b) recontextualizing social rewards—reintroducing motivational and contextual factors into the study of social experience can help identify how proximal rewards serve their ultimate function. We discuss how this dual-approach framework can inform future research by bridging basic social building blocks and real-world social goals.

scholarly journals Acoustic camera system for measuring ultrasound communication in mice

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jumpei Matsumoto ◽  
Kouta Kanno ◽  
Masahiro Kato ◽  
Hiroshi Nishimaru ◽  
Tsuyoshi Setogawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Behavior ◽  
Sound Localization ◽  
Microphone Array ◽  
Social Behaviors ◽  
Ultrasonic Vocalizations ◽  
Physiological Mechanisms ◽  
Camera System ◽  
Ultrasound Communication ◽  
Vocal Interactions ◽  
Localization Systems

Ultrasonic vocalizations in mice have recently been widely investigated as social behavior; however, using existing sound localization systems in home cages, which allow observations of more undisturbed behavior expressions, is challenging. We introduce a novel system, named USVCAM, that uses a phased microphone array and demonstrate novel vocal interactions under a resident-intruder paradigm. The extended applicability and usability of USVCAM may facilitate investigations of social behaviors and underlying physiological mechanisms.

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