Epinephrine and Nor-Epinephrine Effects on Social Dominance Behavior

1970 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-198 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl W. Lawrence ◽  
Jack R. Haynes

Effects of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine on social dominance behavior in 24 male C57BL/6J mice were investigated. The social dominance hierarchy was created by placing pairs of Ss in a linear maze. The only way S could get to the goal box was by pushing the opposing S out. The dominant S pushed the submissive S out of the maze. After the dominance hierarchy was established, each S was placed in the dominance situation under each of the drug conditions, epinephrine and nor-epinephrine. The results showed that all conditions were significantly different from each other, with the greatest amount of dominance behavior being shown under nor-epinephrine and the greatest submissive behavior under epinephrine. It was concluded that epinephrine and nor-epinephrine may have differential effects on social dominance behavior.

1974 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Dove ◽  
R. G. Beilharz ◽  
J. L. Black

SUMMARY1. Observations were conducted to ascertain the social dominance structure in two small groups of castrated male Corriedale sheep. In these and a third group, the order of the sheep past a fixed point was recorded, when they were moving either voluntarily or under force. Records were also made of the way in which the sheep distributed themselves spatially in a confined area, relative to one or two men simulating yard work. In a fourth group divided into two sub-groups, the social dominance structure was determined before and after the subgroups were mixed, to assess the effect of mixing.2. The small groups showed a distinct social dominance hierarchy of a linear type, similar to that found in cattle and pigs. The dominance status of individual animals was correlated with their body weight, wither height and height at hocks. Dominance status within a subgroup remained stable following the mixing of sub-groups.3. The sheep adopted consistent positions in forced movement, and in relation to one or two men simulating yard work. There was no consistency in voluntary movement. Dominant animals did not lead the forced movement, were usually some distance from man, and were widely scattered from each other.4. Dominance status was closely related to positional behaviour.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 201985
Author(s):  
Yuri Robbers ◽  
Mayke M. H. Tersteeg ◽  
Johanna H. Meijer ◽  
Claudia P. Coomans

In this study, we investigated the effect of social environment on circadian patterns in activity by group housing either six male or six female mice together in a cage, under regular light–dark cycles. Based on the interactions among the animals, the social dominance rank of individual mice was quantitatively established by calculating Elo ratings. Our results indicated that, during our experiment, the social dominance hierarchy was rapidly established, stable yet complex, often showing more than one dominant mouse and several subordinate mice. Moreover, we found that especially dominant male mice, but not female mice, displayed a significantly higher fraction of their activity during daytime. This resulted in reduced rhythm amplitude in dominant males. After division into separate cages, male mice showed an enhancement of their 24 h rhythm, due to lower daytime activity. Recordings of several physiological parameters showed no evidence for reduced health as a potential consequence of reduced rhythm amplitude. For female mice, transfer to individual housing did not affect their daily activity pattern. We conclude that 24 h rhythms under light–dark cycles are influenced by the social environment in males but not in females, and lead to a decrement in behavioural rhythm amplitude that is larger in dominant mice.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucy K. Bicks ◽  
Michelle Peng ◽  
Alana Taub ◽  
Schahram Akbarian ◽  
Hirofumi Morishita

Social dominance hierarchies are a common adaptation to group living and exist across a broad range of the animal kingdom. Social dominance is known to rely on the prefrontal cortex (PFC), a brain region that shows a protracted developmental trajectory in mice. However, it is unknown to what extent the social dominance hierarchy is plastic across postnatal development and how it is regulated. Here we identified a sensitive period for experience-dependent social dominance plasticity in adolescent male mice, which is regulated by mechanisms that affect cortical plasticity. We show that social dominance hierarchies in male mice are already formed at weaning and are highly stable into adulthood. However, one experience of forced losing significantly reduces social dominance during the adolescent period but not in adulthood, suggesting adolescence as a sensitive period for experience-dependent social dominance plasticity. Notably, robust adolescent plasticity can be prolonged into adulthood by genetic deletion of Lynx1, a molecular brake that normally limits cortical plasticity through modulation of cortical nicotinic signaling. This plasticity is associated with increased activation of established nodes of the social dominance network including dorsal medial PFC and medial dorsal thalamus evidenced by increased c-Fos. Pharmacologically mediated elevation of cortical plasticity by valproic acid rapidly destabilizes the hierarchy of adult wildtype animals. These findings provide insight into mechanisms through which increased behavioral plasticity may be achieved to improve therapeutic recovery from psychiatric disorders that are associated with social deficits.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Justin A. Varholick ◽  
Alice Pontiggia ◽  
Eimear Murphy ◽  
Vanessa Daniele ◽  
Rupert Palme ◽  
...  

Abstract A tacit assumption in laboratory animal research is that animals housed within the same cage or pen are phenotypically more similar than animals from different cages or pens, due to their shared housing environment. This assumption drives experimental design, randomization schemes, and statistical analysis plans, while neglecting social context. Here, we examined whether a domain of social context—social dominance—accounted for more phenotypic variation in mice than cage-identity. First, we determined that cages of mice could be categorized into one of three dominance hierarchies with varying degrees of dominance behavior between cage-mates, and low levels of agonistic behavior in the home-cage. Most groups formed dynamic hierarchies with unclear ranks, contrasting with recent accounts of stable transitive hierarchies in groups of mice. Next, we measured some phenotypic traits, and found that social dominance (i.e. dominance hierarchy type and degree of dominance behavior) consistently accounted for some phenotypic variation in all outcome measures, while cage-identity accounted for phenotypic variation in some measures but virtually no variation in others. These findings highlight the importance of considering biologically relevant factors, such as social dominance, in experimental designs and statistical plans.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e0158665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Selene S. C. Nogueira ◽  
Christini B. Caselli ◽  
Thaise S. O. Costa ◽  
Leiliany N. Moura ◽  
Sérgio L. G. Nogueira-Filho

1966 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 207-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. N. Bunnell ◽  
J. R. Bemporad ◽  
Carol K. Flesher

1985 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 273-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan R. Lang

This article reviews the experimental social psychology literature addressing the relation between drinking and sexuality in normal adult populations. In particular, it examines the role that psychosocial, as opposed to pharmacological, factors may play in alcohol's reputation as an aphrodisiac. The action of learned cognitive expectancies and social meanings surrounding drinking are illustrated in the differential effects that drinking has on the sexual reactions of men and women and of persons with differing personality dispositions. It is concluded that to the extent alcohol serves as an aphrodisiac, it is largely through psychosocially-determined interpretations of physical states and the ease with which attributions to drinking can be used to explain violations of sexual propriety that otherwise would have ego threatening implications.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. F. Reiter ◽  
Philipp Kanske ◽  
Ben Eppinger ◽  
Shu-Chen Li

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