Comparative neurobiology and genetics of mammalian social behavior

Beery, Annaliese K.; Kamal, Yasmin; Sobrero, Raúl; Hayes, Loren D.

doi:10.1002/9781118846506.ch3

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 173 publications

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“…In addition to selecting ideal avian models, advancing the neuroecological study of collective behaviors requires that we identify candidate neural systems, ideally with demonstrated involvement in regulating social behaviors. The nonapeptide (NP) systems are an excellent place to start because they mediate a wide variety of social behaviors, including pair bonding, parent-offspring bonding, same-sex interactions, and group size preference (reviewed in Beery et al, 2016 ). All vertebrate species examined thus far produce NPs, a highly conserved class of neurohormones that includes oxytocin, vasopressin, and their non-mammalian homologs mesotocin and vasotocin, respectively ( Gimpl and Fahrenholz, 2001 ; Goodson, 2005 , 2013 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonapeptide Receptor Distributions in Promising Avian Models for the Neuroecology of Flocking

et al. 2018

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Collective behaviors, including flocking and group vocalizing, are readily observable across a diversity of free-living avian populations, yet we know little about how neural and ecological factors interactively regulate these behaviors. Because of their involvement in mediating a variety of social behaviors, including avian flocking, nonapeptides are likely mediators of collective behaviors. To advance the neuroecological study of collective behaviors in birds, we sought to map the neuroanatomical distributions of nonapeptide receptors in three promising avian models that are found across a diversity of environments and widely ranging ecological conditions: European starlings, house sparrows, and rock doves. We performed receptor autoradiography using the commercially available nonapeptide receptor radioligands, 125I-ornithine vasotocin analog and 125I-linear vasopressin antagonist, on brain tissue sections from wild-caught individuals from each species. Because there is known pharmacological cross-reactivity between nonapeptide receptor subtypes, we also performed a novel, competitive-binding experiment to examine the composition of receptor populations. We detected binding in numerous regions throughout the brains of each species, with several similarities and differences worth noting. Specifically, we report that all three species exhibit binding in the lateral septum, a key brain area known to regulate avian flocking. In addition, sparrows and starlings show dense binding in the dorsal arcopallium, an area that has received scant attention in the study of social grouping. Furthermore, our competitive binding results suggest that receptor populations in sparrows and starlings differ in the lateral septum versus the dorsal arcopallium. By providing the first comprehensive maps of nonapeptide receptors in European starlings, house sparrows, and rock doves, our work supports the future use of these species as avian models for neuroecological studies of collective behaviors in wild birds.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonapeptide Receptor Distributions in Promising Avian Models for the Neuroecology of Flocking

et al. 2018

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“…In humans, changes in social relationships (linked to power and affiliation) predict adult hippocampal activity, implying this brain area is simultaneously involved in processing spatial and social information [Tavares et al, 2015]. Most importantly, social behavior may act as a potent stressor or can buffer the response to an external stressor [Silk, 2007;Beery and Kaufer, 2015], actions that in some wild social rodents (Octodon and Ctenomys) are linked to the density of oxytocin receptors in the forebrain, including areas of the hippocampus [Beery et al, 2016]. Thus, the processing of social cues derived from group living may be in part mediated by components of the stress response and the brain areas associated with it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Habitat and Social Complexity on Brain Size, Brain Asymmetry and Dentate Gyrus Morphology in Two Octodontid Rodents

et al. 2016

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Navigational and social challenges due to habitat conditions and sociality are known to influence dentate gyrus (DG) morphology, yet the relative importance of these factors remains unclear. Thus, we studied three natural populations of O. lunatus (Los Molles) and Octodon degus (El Salitre and Rinconada), two caviomorph species that differ in the extent of sociality and with contrasting vegetation cover of habitat used. The brains and DG of male and female breeding degus with simultaneous information on their physical and social environments were examined. The extent of sociality was quantified from total group size and range area overlap. O. degus at El Salitre was more social than at Rinconada and than O. lunatus from Los Molles. The use of transects to quantify cover of vegetation (and other physical objects in the habitat) and measures of the spatial behavior of animals indicated animal navigation based on unique cues or global landmarks is more cognitively challenging to O. lunatus. During lactation, female O. lunatus had larger brains than males. Relative DG volume was similar across sexes and populations. The right hemisphere of male and female O. lunatus had more cells than the left hemisphere, with DG directional asymmetry not found in O. degus. Degu population differences in brain size and DG cell number seemed more responsive to differences in habitat than to differences in sociality. Yet, large-sized O. degus (but not O. lunatus) that ranged over larger areas and were members of larger social groups had more DG cells per hemisphere. Thus, within-population variation in DG cell number by hemisphere was consistent with a joint influence of habitat and sociality in O. degus at El Salitre.

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“…Studies of the role of oxytocin in opposite-sex partner preferences laid the foundation for studies of same-sex social behavior in peers. Decades of work on this topic have been reviewed extensively elsewhere (Beery et al, 2016; Carter, 1998; Johnson and Young, 2015). Striking early findings included that oxytocin plays a critical role in formation of female preferences for a mate.…”

Section: Proximate Factors Influencing Peer Social Behavior In Meadowmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Important work on mechanisms supporting the evolution of group living in particular has been conducted in a variety of non-human primates (e.g. Dunbar and Shultz, 2007), rodents (reviewed in Anacker and Beery, 2013; Beery et al, 2016), birds (Goodson, 2013; Goodson and Kingsbury, 2011; Wilson et al, 2016), fish (Gonzalez-Voyer and Kolm, 2010; Weitekamp and Hofmann, 2014), and insects (e.g. Shpigler et al, 2017; Kocher et al, 2018).…”

Section: Additional Species Additional Avenuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Frank Beach award winner: Neuroendocrinology of group living

Beery

2019

Hormones and Behavior

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Why do members of some species live in groups while others are solitary? Group living (sociality) has often been studied from an evolutionary perspective, but less is known about the neurobiology of affiliation outside the realms of mating and parenting. Colonial species offer a valuable opportunity to study nonsexual affiliative behavior between adult peers. Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) display environmentally induced variation in social behavior, maintaining exclusive territories in summer months, but living in social groups in winter. Research on peer relationships in female meadow voles demonstrates that these selective preferences are mediated differently than mate relationships in socially monogamous prairie voles, but are also impacted by oxytocin and HPA axis signaling. This review addresses day-length dependent variation in physiology and behavior, and presents the current understanding of the mechanisms supporting selective social relationships in meadow voles, with connections to lessons from other species.

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Comparative neurobiology and genetics of mammalian social behavior

Cited by 7 publications

References 173 publications

Nonapeptide Receptor Distributions in Promising Avian Models for the Neuroecology of Flocking

Nonapeptide Receptor Distributions in Promising Avian Models for the Neuroecology of Flocking

Effects of Habitat and Social Complexity on Brain Size, Brain Asymmetry and Dentate Gyrus Morphology in Two Octodontid Rodents

Frank Beach award winner: Neuroendocrinology of group living

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