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Zablocki-Thomas PB, Savidge LE, Witczak LR, Ferrer E, Hobson BA, Chaudhari AJ, Freeman SM, Bales KL. Neural correlates and effect of jealousy on cognitive flexibility in the female titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus). Horm Behav 2023; 152:105352. [PMID: 37018894 PMCID: PMC10957291 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
Jealousy is a social emotion that manifests as behavioral reactions from an individual toward a threat to a valuable relationship. Monogamous species exhibit jealousy-type behaviors as an adaptive response to preserve the relationship. Jealousy is also a complex, negatively-valenced emotion which may include fear of loss, anxiety, suspiciousness, and anger. Negative emotion may impair cognitive processes such as cognitive flexibility, an ability important for coping with new situations. However, little is known about how complex social emotions influence cognitive flexibility. To understand the interaction between jealousy and cognitive flexibility, we examined the neural, physiological, and behavioral factors involved in jealousy and cognitive flexibility in female titi monkeys. We presented subjects with a jealousy provoking scenario, followed by a reversal learning task and a PET scan with a glucose-analog radiotracer. We found that female titi monkeys reacted to a jealousy provoking scenario with increased locomotor behavior and higher glucose uptake in the cerebellum; however, hormone measures and were not affected. As only two females demonstrated cognitive flexibility, the effects of jealousy were difficult to interpret. Locomotion behavior was also negatively correlated with glucose uptake in brain areas linked with motivation, sociality, and cognitive flexibility. Surprisingly, glucose uptake in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) was significantly decreased during jealousy scenarios, while uptake in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was decreased during reversal tasks. Our findings suggest that the presence of an intruder produces less visible behavioral reactions in female titis than in males, while still reducing activity in the OFC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Logan E Savidge
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Lynea R Witczak
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Emilio Ferrer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Brad A Hobson
- Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Abhijit J Chaudhari
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States; Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Radiology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Sara M Freeman
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States of America
| | - Karen L Bales
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States; Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, United States
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Witczak LR, Blozis SA, Bales KL. Assessing variability in affiliative maintenance behaviours in captive coppery titi monkeys, Plecturocebus cupreus. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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3
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Arias del Razo R, Velasco Vazquez MDL, Turcanu P, Legrand M, Lau AR, Weinstein TAR, Goetze LR, Bales KL. Effects of Chronic and Acute Intranasal Oxytocin Treatments on Temporary Social Separation in Adult Titi Monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus). Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:877631. [PMID: 35813591 PMCID: PMC9257099 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.877631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In socially monogamous titi monkeys, involuntary separation from a pair mate can produce behavioral distress and increased cortisol production. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is thought to play an important role in the separation response of pair-bonded species. Previous studies from our lab have shown that chronic intranasal oxytocin (IN OXT) during development can have long-term effects on adult social behavior. In the current study, we examined the chronic and acute effects of IN OXT or Saline (SAL) on the subjects’ response to a brief separation from their pair mates. Subjects with a history of chronic IN OXT or SAL treatment during development received a single dose of OXT or SAL as adults 30 min before being separated from their pair mate. Chronic treatment consisted of a daily dose of IN OXT (0.8 IU/kg) or SAL (control) from 12 to 18 months of age. Subjects (N = 29) were introduced to a pair mate at 30 months of age. After the pairs had cohabitated for 5 months, pairs underwent two “Brief Separation” (OXT and SAL) and two “Non-Separation” (OXT and SAL) test sessions. Vocalizations and locomotion were measured as behavioral indices of agitation or distress during the Brief Separation and Non-Separation periods (30 min each). We collected blood samples after the Brief Separation and Non-Separation periods to measure cortisol levels. Our results showed subjects treated with chronic OXT had a reduction in long call and peep vocalizations compared to subjects treated with chronic SAL. Subjects treated with chronic SAL and acute OXT produced more peeps and long calls compared to animals treated with acute SAL; however, patterns in this response depended on sex. Cortisol and locomotion were significantly higher during the Brief Separation period compared to the Non-Separation period; however, we did not find any treatment or sex effects. We conclude that chronic IN OXT given during development blunts the separation response, while acute OXT in chronic SAL subjects had sexually dimorphic effects, which could reflect increased partner seeking behaviors in males and increased anxiety in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Arias del Razo
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Petru Turcanu
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Mathieu Legrand
- CNRS, LNCA UMR 7364, Strasbourg, France
- Centre de Primatologie de l’Université de Strasbourg, Niederhausbergen, France
| | - Allison R. Lau
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | | | - Leana R. Goetze
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Karen L. Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States
- Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Karen L. Bales
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4
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Razo RAD, Velasco Vazquez MDL, Turcanu P, Legrand M, Floch M, Weinstein TAR, Goetze LR, Freeman SM, Baxter A, Witczak LR, Sahagún E, Berger T, Jacob S, Lawrence RH, Rothwell ES, Savidge LE, Solomon M, Mendoza SP, Bales KL. Long term effects of chronic intranasal oxytocin on adult pair bonding behavior and brain glucose uptake in titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus). Horm Behav 2022; 140:105126. [PMID: 35123106 PMCID: PMC9250651 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2022.105126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Intranasal oxytocin (IN OXT) administration has been proposed as a pharmacological treatment for a range of biomedical conditions including neurodevelopmental disorders. However, studies evaluating the potential long-lasting effects of chronic IN OXT during development are still scarce. Here we conducted a follow-up study of a cohort of adult titi monkeys that received intranasal oxytocin 0.8 IU/kg (n = 15) or saline (n = 14) daily for six months during their juvenile period (12 to 18 months of age), with the goal of evaluating the potential long-lasting behavioral and neural effects one year post-treatment. Subjects were paired with an opposite-sex mate at 30 months of age (one year post-treatment). We examined pair affiliative behavior in the home cage during the first four months and tested for behavioral components of pair bonding at one week and four months post-pairing. We assessed long-term changes in brain glucose uptake using 18FDG positron emission tomography (PET) scans. Our results showed that OXT-treated animals were more affiliative across a number of measures, including tail twining, compared to SAL treated subjects (tail twining is considered the "highest" type of affiliation in titi monkeys). Neuroimaging showed no treatment differences in glucose uptake between SAL and OXT-treated animals; however, females showed higher glucose uptake in whole brain at 23 months, and in both the whole brain and the social salience network at 33 months of age compared to males. Our results suggest that chronic IN OXT administration during development can have long-term effects on adult social behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Arias-Del Razo
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Petru Turcanu
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | | | | | - Tamara A R Weinstein
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Leana R Goetze
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Sara M Freeman
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America; Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States of America
| | - Alexander Baxter
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Lynea R Witczak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Sahagún
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America; Department of Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States of America
| | - Trish Berger
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Suma Jacob
- University of Minnesota, Department of Psychiatry Center for Neurobehavioral Development, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Rebecca H Lawrence
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Emily S Rothwell
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America; Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States of America
| | - Logan E Savidge
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Marjorie Solomon
- MIND Institute, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Sally P Mendoza
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | - Karen L Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America; California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America; Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, CA, United States of America.
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5
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Witczak LR, Arias Del Razo R, Baxter A, Conley AJ, Cotterman R, Dufek M, Goetze LR, Lau AR, Mendoza SP, Savidge LE, Bales KL. Relationships between cortisol and urinary androgens in female titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 2021; 314:113927. [PMID: 34653435 PMCID: PMC9250648 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Steroid hormones are critical to the regulation of sociosexual behavior. Their role in the formation of pair bonds is complicated by the relative scarcity of this social system in mammals, as well as species and taxonomic differences in endocrine systems. In the present study, we experimentally manipulated the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in female titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus), a neotropical monkey studied for its strong, selective pair bonds. We validated an assay for plasma and urinary cortisol in this species, showing a strong suppression of cortisol following dexamethasone injection, and a significant but somewhat blunted response to adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH) stimulation. Urinary androgens did not change in response to dexamethasone or ACTH. Plasma and urinary cortisol were moderately correlated, whereas urinary cortisol and androgens were only correlated when extreme cortisol values were included. In this study, we laid groundwork for studying the role of glucocorticoids and androgens (and eventually, their interactions with peptides) in the behavioral endocrinology of pair bonds in female titi monkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynea R Witczak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Rocío Arias Del Razo
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Alexander Baxter
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Alan J Conley
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Rebecca Cotterman
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Madison Dufek
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Leana R Goetze
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Allison R Lau
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States; Graduate Program in Animal Behavior, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Sally P Mendoza
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Logan E Savidge
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Karen L Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, United States; California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, United States; Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior, University of California, Davis, United States; Graduate Program in Animal Behavior, University of California, Davis, United States.
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6
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Zablocki-Thomas PB, Boulinguez-Ambroise G, Pacou C, Mézier J, Herrel A, Aujard F, Pouydebat E. Exploring the behavioral reactions to a mirror in the nocturnal grey mouse lemur: sex differences in avoidance. PeerJ 2021; 9:e11393. [PMID: 34035991 PMCID: PMC8126259 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.11393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most mirror-image stimulation studies (MIS) have been conducted on social and diurnal animals in order to explore self-recognition, social responses, and personality traits. Small, nocturnal mammals are difficult to study in the wild and are under-represented in experimental behavioral studies. In this pilot study, we explored the behavioral reaction of a small nocturnal solitary forager-the grey mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus)-an emergent animal model in captivity. We assessed whether MIS can be used to detect a repeatable behavioral reaction, whether individuals will present a similar reaction toward a conspecific and the mirror, and whether males and females respond similarly. We tested 12 individuals (six males and six females) twice in three different contexts: with a mirror, with a live conspecific, and with a white board as a neutral control. We detected significant repeatability for the activity component of the behavioral reaction. There was a significant effect of the context and the interaction between presentation context and sex for avoidance during the first session for males but not for females. Males avoided the mirror more than they avoided a live conspecific. This pilot study opens a discussion on the behavioral differences between males and females regarding social interactions and reproduction in the nocturnal solitary species, and suggests that males are more sensitive to context of stimulation than females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline B. Zablocki-Thomas
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Camille Pacou
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Justine Mézier
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Anthony Herrel
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
- Evolutionary Morphology of Vertebrates, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fabienne Aujard
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Pouydebat
- Département d’Écologie et de Gestion de la Biodiversité, Muséum national d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
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7
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Hernani Lineros LM, Chimènes A, Maille A, Dingess K, Rumiz DI, Adret P. Response of Bolivian gray titi monkeys ( Plecturocebus donacophilus) to an anthropogenic noise gradient: behavioral and hormonal correlates. PeerJ 2020; 8:e10417. [PMID: 33240684 PMCID: PMC7682439 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Worldwide urban expansion and deforestation have caused a rapid decline of non-human primates in recent decades. Yet, little is known to what extent these animals can tolerate anthropogenic noise arising from roadway traffic and human presence in their habitat. We studied six family groups of titis residing at increasing distances from a busy highway, in a park promoting ecotourism near Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. We mapped group movements, sampled the titis’ behavior, collected fecal samples from each study group and conducted experiments in which we used a mannequin simulating a human intrusion in their home range. We hypothesized that groups of titi monkeys exposed to higher levels of anthropogenic noise and human presence would react weakly to the mannequin and show higher concentrations of fecal cortisol compared with groups in least perturbed areas. Sound pressure measurements and systematic monitoring of soundscape inside the titis’ home ranges confirmed the presence of a noise gradient, best characterized by the root-mean-square (RMS) and median amplitude (M) acoustic indices; importantly, both anthropogenic noise and human presence co-varied. Study groups resided in small, overlapping home ranges and they spent most of their time resting and preferentially used the lower forest stratum for traveling and the higher levels for foraging. Focal sampling analysis revealed that the time spent moving by adult pairs was inversely correlated with noise, the behavioral change occurring within a gradient of minimum sound pressures ranging from 44 dB(A) to 52 dB(A). Validated enzyme-immunoassays of fecal samples however detected surprisingly low cortisol concentrations, unrelated to the changes observed in the RMS and M indices. Finally, titis’ response to the mannequin varied according to our expectation, with alarm calling being greater in distant groups relative to highway. Our study thus indicates reduced alarm calling through habituation to human presence and suggests a titis’ resilience to anthropogenic noise with little evidence of physiological stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucero M Hernani Lineros
- Zoología Vertebrados, Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.,Carrera de Biología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Amélie Chimènes
- Unité Eco-anthropologie UMR 7206, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Maille
- Unité Eco-anthropologie UMR 7206, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | | | - Damián I Rumiz
- Zoología Vertebrados, Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.,Fundación Simón I. Patiño, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
| | - Patrice Adret
- Zoología Vertebrados, Museo de Historia Natural Noel Kempff Mercado, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia
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8
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Mercier F, Witczak LR, Bales KL. Coppery titi monkey (Plecturocebus cupreus) pairs display coordinated behaviors in response to a simulated intruder. Am J Primatol 2020; 82:e23141. [PMID: 32415703 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Mate guarding and coordinated behaviors between partners are important for the maintenance of monogamous pair bonds. To study the effects of a perceived unfamiliar social intruder on females' behavior, we used coppery titi monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus). We examined the effects of male aggressive temperament on females' behavior and the effects of each behavior performed by the male on the same female behavior. Using a mirror, we simulated a social intruder in the home territory and scored behaviors using an established ethogram. Based on our analysis of self-directed behaviors, females do not recognize themselves in the mirror. We then used general linear mixed models to predict percent change in females' behaviors as a function of (a) males' temperament, (b) males' behavior, and (c) an interaction between males' temperament and behavior. Male temperament did not significantly predict female behavior for any of our best fitting models. For percent change in female lip-smacking, male lip-smacking significantly predicted female lip-smacking (β = 0.74, SE = 0.22, t = 3.39; p = .004). There was a positive correlation between male and female agonistic behaviors such as back-arching/tail-lashing (β = 0.51, SE = 0.23, t = 2.22; p = .04) and for anxiety-related behaviors such as leaving the partner (β = 0.50, SE = 0.19, t = 2.68; p = .015), locomotion duration (β = 0.19, SE = 0.06, t = 2.98; p = .02), and locomotion frequency (β = 0.71, SE = 0.14, t = 5.17; p < .001). These findings on coordination of pair-mate behaviors may explain how titi monkeys display pair bond strength and ensure their reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Mercier
- Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.,California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California
| | - Lynea R Witczak
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Karen L Bales
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
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Rothwell ES, Mendoza SP, Ragen BJ, Bales KL. Dopamine D1-like receptors regulate agonistic components of pair bond maintenance behaviors in male titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus). Psychoneuroendocrinology 2019; 106:259-267. [PMID: 31022585 PMCID: PMC7430189 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Several neurobiological mechanisms are implicated in the formation of selective pair bonds in socially monogamous mammals, however much less is known about the mechanisms that underlie the long-term behavioral maintenance of these bonds. In prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), agonistic behavior that contributes to pair bond maintenance are regulated by dopamine activity at D1-like receptors (D1R) within the mesocorticolimbic system. Evidence suggests D1Rs similarly regulate the behavioral components of pair bond maintenance in socially monogamous titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus); however, evaluation with behavioral pharmacology is necessary to evaluate this hypothesis. In the current study we evaluated the role of D1Rs in behavioral components of pair bond maintenance in captive male titi monkeys (N = 8). We administered two doses of a D1R selective antagonist, SCH23390, (0.1 mg/kg, 0.01 mg/kg) or saline vehicle to male titi monkeys and presented pairs with a simulated intruder monkey via the use of a mirror stimulus. The non-reflective back of the mirror stimulus was used for control sessions. We video recorded responses to the five-minute stimulus presentations and later scored for arousal and agonistic behaviors relevant to mate guarding as well as affiliative behavior between the pair mates. We also conducted a locomotor assessment to evaluate the potential side effect for SCH23390 of impaired locomotion. Finally, we collected blood samples at the end of each session to assay for plasma cortisol responses. We found evidence of locomotor impairment only with the high dose of SCH23390, and therefore analyses were conducted comparing only test sessions where low dose SCH23390 and saline were administered. With saline administration, males displayed more agonistic behavior via back arching and tail lashing as well as restraining their female partners when viewing the mirror compared to the back of the mirror. D1R antagonist treatment attenuated these agonistic behaviors indicative of mate guarding when males viewed the mirror. Results also indicated that this reduction in agonistic behavior occurred without evidence of overall behavioral blunting or generally reduced social interest. Likewise changes in agonistic behavior were not driven by differences in HPA activity across testing sessions. Mate-directed affiliative behavior, including lip smacks and approaches to female partners, were not altered by D1R antagonist treatment. Dyadic social contact was higher with D1R antagonist treatment, but this was due to a reduction in contact termination by the treated males, which was typically followed by an approach or arousal display to the simulated intruder. These results provide further evidence that D1R activity regulates mate guarding behaviors in titi monkeys and suggests that the dopamine system plays a similar role in the agonistic behavioral components of pair bond maintenance behavior in non-human primates and rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily S Rothwell
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California- Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA; Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California- Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Sally P Mendoza
- Department of Psychology, University of California- Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Benjamin J Ragen
- Department of Psychology, University of California- Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Karen L Bales
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California- Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA; Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California- Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA; Department of Psychology, University of California- Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
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10
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Cavanaugh J, Mustoe A, Womack SL, French JA. Oxytocin modulates mate-guarding behavior in marmoset monkeys. Horm Behav 2018; 106:150-161. [PMID: 30342885 PMCID: PMC6298842 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2018] [Revised: 10/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In socially-monogamous species, intolerance of interactions between a pairmate and a sexual rival (i.e., mate-guarding) promotes the preservation of long-lasting partnerships. One promising neurobiological candidate for the regulation of mate-guarding behavior in monogamous primates is the oxytocin (OT) system, given its established role in both the development of monogamous bonds and the behavioral processes that facilitate the preservation of those bonds. In this study, male and female marmosets were exposed to a same-sex intruder in their home environment during conditions when their pairmate was present and absent, and across three treatment conditions (OT receptor agonist; saline control; OT receptor antagonist). Saline-treated marmosets spent significantly more time in proximity to the intruder, relative to the empty pairmate enclosure, when their pairmate was absent. However, when marmosets received OT they spent less time in proximity to the intruder, indicating that OT may reduce interest in a same-sex stranger in a territorial context. When their pairmate was present, saline-treated marmosets spent equal time in proximity to both intruder and pairmate; yet when they received OT they spent significantly more time in proximity to the intruder, indicating that OT may increase interest in a same-sex stranger in a mate-guarding context. While OT treatment did not directly influence the expression of aggression, OT system manipulations impacted the expression of selective social interest during an intruder challenge, suggesting that OT may enhance adaptive responses to social challenges. Moreover, these findings add to the converging evidence that the OT system regulates behavioral processes that underlie the preservation of established relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Cavanaugh
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, United States of America.
| | - Aaryn Mustoe
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, United States of America
| | - Stephanie L Womack
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey A French
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, United States of America; Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, United States of America
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11
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Witczak LR, Ferrer E, Bales KL. Effects of aggressive temperament on endogenous oxytocin levels in adult titi monkeys. Am J Primatol 2018; 80:e22907. [PMID: 30106168 PMCID: PMC6719780 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 07/09/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Coordination of oxytocin (OT) activity and partner interactions is important for the facilitation and maintenance of monogamous pair bonds. We used coppery titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus) to identify the effects of male aggressive temperament on OT activity, affiliative partner-directed behaviors, aggressive partner-directed behaviors, anxiety-related behaviors, and hormone-behavior interactions. We used a mirror technique, simulating an intruder in the home territory of pairs to elicit behavioral responses, and quantified behaviors using an established ethogram. Plasma concentrations of OT (pg/ml) were quantified using enzyme immunoassay. We used general linear mixed models to predict 1) percent change in OT as a function of aggression score, and 2) percent change in behaviors as a function of aggression, OT, and OT by aggression interactions. High-aggressive males exhibited a significant drop in OT concentration relative to control when exposed to the front of the mirror (β = -0.22, SE = 0.10, t = -2.20, p = 0.04). High-aggressive males spent significantly less time in contact with their mates (β = -1.35, SE = 0.60, t = -2.26, p = 0.04) and lip-smacked less (β = -1.02, SE = 0.44, t = -2.32, p = 0.03) relative to control. We also saw a trend toward an interaction effect between OT and proximity such that High-aggressive males displaying a drop in OT exhibited a smaller percent increase in social proximity (β = 6.80, SE = 3.48, t = 1.96, p = 0.07). Males exhibiting a decrease in OT also trended toward back-arching and tail-lashing less in response to the mirror (β = 4.53, SE = 2.5, t = 1.82, p = 0.09). To our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to examine interactions between OT and temperament in adult monogamous primates. Future studies should incorporate measures of pair-mate interactions and early-life experience to further understand variation in responses to social stressors and their effects on pair bonding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynea R Witczak
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California
| | - Emilio Ferrer
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Karen L Bales
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California
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12
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French JA, Cavanaugh J, Mustoe AC, Carp SB, Womack SL. Social Monogamy in Nonhuman Primates: Phylogeny, Phenotype, and Physiology. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2018; 55:410-434. [PMID: 28704071 PMCID: PMC6004613 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2017.1339774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Monogamy as a social system has been both a scientific puzzle and a sociocultural issue for decades. In this review, we examine social monogamy from a comparative perspective with a focus on primates, our closest genetic relatives. We break down monogamy into component elements, including pair-bonding and partner preference, mate guarding or jealousy, social attachment, and biparental care. Our survey of primates shows that not all features are present in species classified as socially monogamous, in the same way that human monogamous relationships may not include all elements-a perspective we refer to as "monogamy à la carte." Our review includes a survey of the neurobiological correlates of social monogamy in primates, exploring unique or common pathways for the elemental components of monogamy. This compilation reveals that the components of monogamy are modulated by a suite of androgenic steroids, glucocorticoid hormones, the nonapeptide hormones oxytocin and vasopressin, and other neurotransmitter systems (e.g., dopamine and opioids). We propose that efforts to understand the biological underpinnings of complex human and animal sociosexual relationships will be well served by exploring individual phenotypic traits, as opposed to pursuing these questions with the assumption that monogamy is a unitary trait or a species-specific characteristic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A French
- a Department of Psychology and Department of Biology , University of Nebraska Omaha
| | - Jon Cavanaugh
- b Department of Psychology , University of Nebraska Omaha
| | - Aaryn C Mustoe
- b Department of Psychology , University of Nebraska Omaha
| | - Sarah B Carp
- b Department of Psychology , University of Nebraska Omaha
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13
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Maninger N, Mendoza SP, Williams DR, Mason WA, Cherry SR, Rowland DJ, Schaefer T, Bales KL. Imaging, Behavior and Endocrine Analysis of "Jealousy" in a Monogamous Primate. Front Ecol Evol 2017; 5. [PMID: 29682503 DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the neurobiology of social bonding in non-human primates is a critical step in understanding the evolution of monogamy, as well as understanding the neural substrates for emotion and behavior. Coppery titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus) form strong pair bonds, characterized by selective preference for their pair mate, mate-guarding, physiological and behavioral agitation upon separation, and social buffering. Mate-guarding, or the "maintenance" phase of pair bonding, is relatively under-studied in primates. In the current study, we used functional imaging to examine how male titi monkeys viewing their pair mate in close proximity to a stranger male would change regional cerebral glucose metabolism. We predicted that this situation would challenge the pair bond and induce "jealousy" in the males. Animals were injected with [18F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG), returned to their cage for 30 min of conscious uptake, placed under anesthesia, and then scanned for 1 hour on a microPET P4 scanner. During the FDG uptake, males (n=8) had a view of either their female pair mate next to a stranger male ("jealousy" condition) or a stranger female next to a stranger male (control condition). Blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected and assayed for testosterone, cortisol, oxytocin, and vasopressin. Positron emission tomography (PET) was co-registered with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and region of interest analysis was carried out. Bayesian multivariate multilevel analyses found that the right lateral septum (Pr(b>0)=93%), left posterior cingulate cortex (Pr(b>0)=99%), and left anterior cingulate (Pr(b>0)=96%) showed higher FDG uptake in the jealousy condition compared to the control condition, while the right medial amygdala (Pr(b>0)=85%) showed lower FDG uptake. Plasma testosterone and cortisol concentrations were higher during the jealousy condition. During the jealousy condition, duration of time spent looking across at the pair mate next to a stranger male was associated with higher plasma cortisol concentrations. The lateral septum has been shown to be involved in mate-guarding and mating-induced aggression in monogamous rodents, while the cingulate cortex has been linked to territoriality. These neural and physiological changes may underpin the emotion of jealousy, which can act in a monogamous species to preserve the long-term integrity of the pair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Maninger
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Sally P Mendoza
- Department of Psychology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
| | - Donald R Williams
- Department of Psychology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
| | - William A Mason
- Department of Psychology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
| | - Simon R Cherry
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.,Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Douglas J Rowland
- Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging, University of California, Davis, Davis, California
| | - Thomas Schaefer
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Karen L Bales
- California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.,Department of Psychology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California
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14
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Corley MK, Xia S, Fernandez-Duque E. The role of intragroup agonism in parent-offspring relationships and natal dispersal in monogamous owl monkeys (Aotus azarae) of Argentina. Am J Primatol 2017; 79. [PMID: 29034979 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2016] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Agonistic behaviors are common in many group-living taxa and may serve a variety of functions, ranging from regulating conflicts over reproduction to defending food resources. However, high rates of agonism are not expected to occur among close relatives or individuals in established mating relationships, which are characteristics of monogamous groups. To contribute to our understanding of agonism within socially monogamous groups, we collected behavioral and demographic data from Azara's owl monkeys (Aotus azarae) in the Gran Chaco of Argentina over 14 years. We examined factors related to age, sex, kinship, and behavioral context to evaluate predictions of the hypotheses that agonism functions to regulate dispersal and that it mediates competition for food and/or mates. Intragroup agonism was relatively rare: the group rate was approximately one event every three and a half hours. Rates of agonism were generally similar for both sexes, but there were marked differences among age categories. Agonism performed by adults was more frequently directed at subadults than at younger offspring. In contrast, agonistic interactions involving infants were very rare. Among interactions between adults and subadults, adults were much more frequently the actors than the recipients, suggesting that agonism from adults may influence natal dispersal of subadults. Agonistic events were most frequent during foraging, but also occurred more frequently than expected during bouts of social behavior. Overall, our results suggest that agonism in owl monkeys serves as a mechanism for regulating dispersal, and also likely plays a role in mediating mating and feeding competition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret K Corley
- Department of Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Siyang Xia
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Eduardo Fernandez-Duque
- Department of Anthropology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.,Facultad de Recursos Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Formosa, Formosa, Argentina
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15
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Hostetler CM, Hinde K, Maninger N, Mendoza SP, Mason WA, Rowland DJ, Wang GB, Kukis D, Cherry SR, Bales KL. Effects of pair bonding on dopamine D1 receptors in monogamous male titi monkeys (Callicebus cupreus). Am J Primatol 2016; 79:1-9. [PMID: 27757971 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pair bonding leads to increases in dopamine D1 receptor (D1R) binding in the nucleus accumbens of monogamous prairie voles. In the current study, we hypothesized that there is similar up-regulation of D1R in a monogamous primate, the titi monkey (Callicebus cupreus). Receptor binding of the D1R antagonist [11 C]-SCH23390 was measured in male titi monkeys using PET scans before and after pairing with a female. We found that within-subject analyses of pairing show significant increases in D1R binding in the lateral septum, but not the nucleus accumbens, caudate, putamen, or ventral pallidum. The lateral septum is involved in a number of processes that may contribute to social behavior, including motivation, affect, reward, and reinforcement. This region also plays a role in pair bonding and paternal behavior in voles. Our observations of changes in D1R in the lateral septum, but not the nucleus accumbens, suggest that there may be broadly similar dopaminergic mechanisms underlying pair bonding across mammalian species, but that the specific changes to neural circuitry differ. This study is the first research to demonstrate neuroplasticity of the dopamine system following pair bonding in a non-human primate; however, substantial variability in the response to pairing suggests the utility of further research on the topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline M Hostetler
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Katherine Hinde
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California.,School of Human Evolution and Social Change, Center for Evolution and Medicine, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona
| | - Nicole Maninger
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California
| | - Sally P Mendoza
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - William A Mason
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Douglas J Rowland
- Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Guobao B Wang
- Department of Radiology, University of California, Davis, California
| | - David Kukis
- Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Simon R Cherry
- Center for Molecular and Genomic Imaging, University of California, Davis, California.,Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis, California
| | - Karen L Bales
- California National Primate Research Center, Davis, California.,Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, California
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16
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Barnett AA, Boyle SA, Thompson CL. Pitheciid research comes of age: Past puzzles, current progress, and future priorities. Am J Primatol 2015; 78:487-92. [PMID: 26456235 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2015] [Revised: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
For a long time, members of the Pitheciidae were among the least studied of all Neotropical primates. But times have changed. Here, we trace the trajectory of this change and show how the articles in this special edition illustrate new knowledge and developments in our understanding of pitheciid ecology, behavior, and conservation. We propose new directions and priorities for future research, especially to ensure the effective conservation of pitheciids, and demonstrate how studies of this family are now the focus of hypothesis-driven research that not only allows the details of this family's biology to be explored, but will allow its biology to be compared with other primate lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian A Barnett
- Amazon Mammal Research Group, Biodiversity Sector, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.,Department of Life Sciences, University of Roehampton, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah A Boyle
- Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Cynthia L Thompson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan
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