1
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Snyder MC, Qi KK, Yartsev MM. Neural representation of human experimenters in the bat hippocampus. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:1675-1679. [PMID: 38956164 PMCID: PMC11374686 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01690-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Here we conducted wireless electrophysiological recording of hippocampal neurons from Egyptian fruit bats in the presence of human experimenters. In flying bats, many neurons modulated their activity depending on the identity of the human at the landing target. In stationary bats, many neurons carried significant spatial information about the position and identity of humans traversing the environment. Our results reveal that hippocampal activity is robustly modulated by the presence, movement and identity of human experimenters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin K Qi
- Biophysics Graduate Group, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael M Yartsev
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Biophysics Graduate Group, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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2
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Yu JH, Napoli JL, Lovett-Barron M. Understanding collective behavior through neurobiology. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2024; 86:102866. [PMID: 38852986 DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2024.102866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
A variety of organisms exhibit collective movement, including schooling fish and flocking birds, where coordinated behavior emerges from the interactions between group members. Despite the prevalence of collective movement in nature, little is known about the neural mechanisms producing each individual's behavior within the group. Here we discuss how a neurobiological approach can enrich our understanding of collective behavior by determining the mechanisms by which individuals interact. We provide examples of sensory systems for social communication during collective movement, highlight recent discoveries about neural systems for detecting the position and actions of social partners, and discuss opportunities for future research. Understanding the neurobiology of collective behavior can provide insight into how nervous systems function in a dynamic social world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo-Hsien Yu
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. https://twitter.com/anitajhyu
| | - Julia L Napoli
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. https://twitter.com/juliadoingneuro
| | - Matthew Lovett-Barron
- Department of Neurobiology, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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3
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Lee J, Kwak D, Lee GU, Kim CY, Kim J, Park SH, Choi JH, Lee SQ, Choe HK. Social context modulates multibrain broadband dynamics and functional brain-to-brain coupling in the group of mice. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11439. [PMID: 38769416 PMCID: PMC11106301 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62070-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Although mice are social, multiple animals' neural activities are rarely explored. To characterise the neural activities during multi-brain interaction, we simultaneously recorded local field potentials (LFP) in the prefrontal cortex of four mice. The social context and locomotive states predominately modulated the entire LFP structure. The power of lower frequency bands-delta to alpha-were correlated with each other and anti-correlated with gamma power. The high-to-low-power ratio (HLR) provided a useful measure to understand LFP changes along the change of behavioural and locomotive states. The HLR during huddled conditions was lower than that during non-huddled conditions, dividing the social context into two. Multi-brain analyses of HLR indicated that the mice in the group displayed high cross-correlation. The mice in the group often showed unilateral precedence of HLR by Granger causality analysis, possibly comprising a hierarchical social structure. Overall, this study shows the importance of the social environment in brain dynamics and emphasises the simultaneous multi-brain recordings in social neuroscience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeongyoon Lee
- Brain Science Research Center, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Daegu, 42996, Republic of Korea
| | - Damhyeon Kwak
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42996, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwang Ung Lee
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42996, Republic of Korea
| | - Chan Yeong Kim
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42996, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihoon Kim
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42996, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hyun Park
- Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering, DGIST, Daegu, 42996, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Hyun Choi
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Q Lee
- Electronics Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Daejeon, 34129, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA.
| | - Han Kyoung Choe
- Department of Brain Sciences, DGIST, Daegu, 42996, Republic of Korea.
- Convergence Research Advanced Centre for Olfaction, DGIST, Daegu, 42996, Republic of Korea.
- Korean Brain Research Institute (KBRI), Daegu, 41062, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Wirthlin ME, Schmid TA, Elie JE, Zhang X, Kowalczyk A, Redlich R, Shvareva VA, Rakuljic A, Ji MB, Bhat NS, Kaplow IM, Schäffer DE, Lawler AJ, Wang AZ, Phan BN, Annaldasula S, Brown AR, Lu T, Lim BK, Azim E, Clark NL, Meyer WK, Pond SLK, Chikina M, Yartsev MM, Pfenning AR. Vocal learning-associated convergent evolution in mammalian proteins and regulatory elements. Science 2024; 383:eabn3263. [PMID: 38422184 PMCID: PMC11313673 DOI: 10.1126/science.abn3263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Vocal production learning ("vocal learning") is a convergently evolved trait in vertebrates. To identify brain genomic elements associated with mammalian vocal learning, we integrated genomic, anatomical, and neurophysiological data from the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus) with analyses of the genomes of 215 placental mammals. First, we identified a set of proteins evolving more slowly in vocal learners. Then, we discovered a vocal motor cortical region in the Egyptian fruit bat, an emergent vocal learner, and leveraged that knowledge to identify active cis-regulatory elements in the motor cortex of vocal learners. Machine learning methods applied to motor cortex open chromatin revealed 50 enhancers robustly associated with vocal learning whose activity tended to be lower in vocal learners. Our research implicates convergent losses of motor cortex regulatory elements in mammalian vocal learning evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E. Wirthlin
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Tobias A. Schmid
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Julie E. Elie
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Xiaomeng Zhang
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Amanda Kowalczyk
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Ruby Redlich
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Varvara A. Shvareva
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Ashley Rakuljic
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Maria B. Ji
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Ninad S. Bhat
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Irene M. Kaplow
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Daniel E. Schäffer
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Alyssa J. Lawler
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
- Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Andrew Z. Wang
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - BaDoi N. Phan
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Siddharth Annaldasula
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ashley R. Brown
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Present address: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University; Durham, NC 27705
| | - Tianyu Lu
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Byung Kook Lim
- Neurobiology section, Division of Biological Science, University of California, San Diego; La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Eiman Azim
- Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory, Salk Institute for Biological Studies; La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Nathan L. Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Wynn K. Meyer
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University; Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA
| | | | - Maria Chikina
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Michael M. Yartsev
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94708, USA
| | - Andreas R. Pfenning
- Department of Computational Biology, Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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5
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Franch M, Yellapantula S, Parajuli A, Kharas N, Wright A, Aazhang B, Dragoi V. Visuo-frontal interactions during social learning in freely moving macaques. Nature 2024; 627:174-181. [PMID: 38355804 PMCID: PMC10959748 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07084-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Social interactions represent a ubiquitous aspect of our everyday life that we acquire by interpreting and responding to visual cues from conspecifics1. However, despite the general acceptance of this view, how visual information is used to guide the decision to cooperate is unknown. Here, we wirelessly recorded the spiking activity of populations of neurons in the visual and prefrontal cortex in conjunction with wireless recordings of oculomotor events while freely moving macaques engaged in social cooperation. As animals learned to cooperate, visual and executive areas refined the representation of social variables, such as the conspecific or reward, by distributing socially relevant information among neurons in each area. Decoding population activity showed that viewing social cues influences the decision to cooperate. Learning social events increased coordinated spiking between visual and prefrontal cortical neurons, which was associated with improved accuracy of neural populations to encode social cues and the decision to cooperate. These results indicate that the visual-frontal cortical network prioritizes relevant sensory information to facilitate learning social interactions while freely moving macaques interact in a naturalistic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Franch
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sudha Yellapantula
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Arun Parajuli
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Natasha Kharas
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anthony Wright
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Behnaam Aazhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Valentin Dragoi
- Deparment of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Neuroengineering Initiative, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA.
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX, USA.
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6
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Fricker BA, Kelly AM. From grouping and cooperation to menstruation: Spiny mice (Acomys cahirinus) are an emerging mammalian model for sociality and beyond. Horm Behav 2024; 158:105462. [PMID: 38000170 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
While spiny mice are primarily used as a model for Type II diabetes and for studying complex tissue regeneration, they are also an emerging model for a variety of studies examining hormones, behavior, and the brain. We began studying the spiny mouse to take advantage of their highly gregarious phenotype to examine how the brain facilitates large group-living. However, this unique rodent can be readily bred and maintained in the lab and can be used to ask a wide variety of scientific questions. In this brief communication we provide an overview of studies that have used spiny mice for exploring physiology and behavior. Additionally, we describe how the spiny mouse can serve as a useful model for researchers interested in studying precocial development, menstruation, cooperation, and various grouping behaviors. With increasingly available technological advancements for non-traditional organisms, spiny mice are well-positioned to become a valuable organism in the behavioral neuroscience community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon A Fricker
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America.
| | - Aubrey M Kelly
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, 36 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States of America.
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7
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Elie JE, Muroy SE, Genzel D, Na T, Beyer LA, Swiderski DL, Raphael Y, Yartsev MM. Effects of deafening on vocal production learning in the Egyptian fruit-bat. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.21.568126. [PMID: 38045408 PMCID: PMC10690156 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.21.568126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Some species have evolved the ability to use the sense of hearing to modify existing vocalizations, or even create new ones. This ability corresponds to various forms of vocal production learning that are all possessed by humans, and independently displayed by distantly related species. Among mammals, a few species, including the Egyptian fruit-bat, would possess such vocal production learning abilities. Yet the necessity of an intact auditory system for the development of the Egyptian fruit-bat typical vocal repertoire has not been tested. Here we addressed this gap by eliminating pups' sense of hearing at birth and assessing its effects on vocal production in adulthood. The deafening treatment enabled us to both causally test these bats vocal learning ability and discern learned from innate aspects of their vocalizations. Leveraging wireless individual audio recordings from freely interacting adults, we show that a subset of the Egyptian fruit-bat vocal repertoire necessitates auditory feedback. Intriguingly, these affected vocalizations belong to different acoustic groups in the vocal repertoire of males and females. These findings open the possibilities for targeted studies of the mammalian neural circuits that enable sexually dimorphic forms of vocal learning. Significance Vocal production learning is the rare capacity amongst animals where hearing is used to modify or create new vocalizations. The Egyptian fruit-bat is believed to possess this capacity, yet whether they need audition to achieve a mature vocal repertoire is unknown. Furthermore, a systematic causal examination of learned and innate aspects of the entire repertoire has never been performed in a vocal learner. Here, we addressed these major gaps directly by abolishing hearing in Egyptian fruit-bats at birth and investigating its effects on the vocal production in adulthood. Leveraging simultaneous individual wireless audio-recordings from freely interacting adult bats, we identify the subset of learned vocalizations and provide evidence that vocal learning is sexually dimorphic in that species.
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8
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Tyree TJ, Metke M, Miller CT. Cross-modal representation of identity in the primate hippocampus. Science 2023; 382:417-423. [PMID: 37883535 PMCID: PMC11086670 DOI: 10.1126/science.adf0460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Faces and voices are the dominant social signals used to recognize individuals among primates. Yet, it is not known how these signals are integrated into a cross-modal representation of individual identity in the primate brain. We discovered that, although single neurons in the marmoset hippocampus exhibited selective responses when presented with the face or voice of a specific individual, a parallel mechanism for representing the cross-modal identities for multiple individuals was evident within single neurons and at the population level. Manifold projections likewise showed the separability of individuals as well as clustering for others' families, which suggests that multiple learned social categories are encoded as related dimensions of identity in the hippocampus. Neural representations of identity in the hippocampus are thus both modality independent and reflect the primate social network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J Tyree
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory, University of California San Diego; 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92039, USA
- Department of Physics, University of California San Diego; 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92039, USA
| | - Michael Metke
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory, University of California San Diego; 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92039, USA
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego; 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92039, USA
| | - Cory T Miller
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory, University of California San Diego; 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92039, USA
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California San Diego; 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92039, USA
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9
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Park J, Choi S, Takatoh J, Zhao S, Harrahill A, Han BX, Wang F. Brainstem premotor mechanisms underlying vocal production and vocal-respiratory coordination. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.12.562111. [PMID: 37873071 PMCID: PMC10592834 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.12.562111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Speech generation critically depends on precise controls of laryngeal muscles and coordination with ongoing respiratory activity. However, the neural mechanisms governing these processes remain unknown. Here, we mapped laryngeal premotor circuitry in adult mice and viral-genetically identified excitatory vocal premotor neurons located in the retroambiguus nucleus (RAm VOC ) as both necessary and sufficient for driving vocal-cord closure and eliciting mouse ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs). The duration of RAm VOC activation determines the lengths of USV syllables and post-inspiration phases. RAm VOC -neurons receive inhibitory inputs from the preBötzinger complex, and inspiration needs can override RAm VOC -mediated vocal-cord closure. Ablating inhibitory synapses in RAm VOC -neurons compromised this inspiration gating of laryngeal adduction, resulting in de-coupling of vocalization and respiration. Our study revealed the hitherto unknown circuits for vocal pattern generation and vocal-respiratory coupling. One-Sentence Summary Identification of RAm VOC neurons as the critical node for vocal pattern generation and vocal-respiratory coupling.
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10
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Gan-Or B, London M. Cortical circuits modulate mouse social vocalizations. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade6992. [PMID: 37774030 PMCID: PMC10541007 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade6992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Vocalizations provide a means of communication with high fidelity and information rate for many species. Diencephalon and brainstem neural circuits have been shown to control mouse vocal production; however, the role of cortical circuits in this process is debatable. Using electrical and optogenetic stimulation, we identified a cortical region in the anterior cingulate cortex in which stimulation elicits ultrasonic vocalizations. Moreover, fiber photometry showed an increase in Ca2+ dynamics preceding vocal initiation, whereas optogenetic suppression in this cortical area caused mice to emit fewer vocalizations. Last, electrophysiological recordings indicated a differential increase in neural activity in response to female social exposure dependent on vocal output. Together, these results indicate that the cortex is a key node in the neuronal circuits controlling vocal behavior in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Gan-Or
- Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain Sciences and Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91904, Israel
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11
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Forli A, Yartsev MM. Hippocampal representation during collective spatial behaviour in bats. Nature 2023; 621:796-803. [PMID: 37648869 PMCID: PMC10533399 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06478-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Social animals live and move through spaces shaped by the presence, motion and sensory cues of multiple other individuals1-6. Neural activity in the hippocampus is known to reflect spatial behaviour7-9 yet its study is lacking in such dynamic group settings, which are ubiquitous in natural environments. Here we studied hippocampal activity in groups of bats engaged in collective spatial behaviour. We find that, under spontaneous conditions, a robust spatial structure emerges at the group level whereby behaviour is anchored to specific locations, movement patterns and individual social preferences. Using wireless electrophysiological recordings from both stationary and flying bats, we find that many hippocampal neurons are tuned to key features of group dynamics. These include the presence or absence of a conspecific, but not typically of an object, at landing sites, shared spatial locations, individual identities and sensory signals that are broadcasted in the group setting. Finally, using wireless calcium imaging, we find that social responses are anatomically distributed and robustly represented at the population level. Combined, our findings reveal that hippocampal activity contains a rich representation of naturally emerging spatial behaviours in animal groups that could in turn support the complex feat of collective behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Forli
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael M Yartsev
- Department of Bioengineering, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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12
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Verga L, Kotz SA, Ravignani A. The evolution of social timing. Phys Life Rev 2023; 46:131-151. [PMID: 37419011 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Sociality and timing are tightly interrelated in human interaction as seen in turn-taking or synchronised dance movements. Sociality and timing also show in communicative acts of other species that might be pleasurable, but also necessary for survival. Sociality and timing often co-occur, but their shared phylogenetic trajectory is unknown: How, when, and why did they become so tightly linked? Answering these questions is complicated by several constraints; these include the use of divergent operational definitions across fields and species, the focus on diverse mechanistic explanations (e.g., physiological, neural, or cognitive), and the frequent adoption of anthropocentric theories and methodologies in comparative research. These limitations hinder the development of an integrative framework on the evolutionary trajectory of social timing and make comparative studies not as fruitful as they could be. Here, we outline a theoretical and empirical framework to test contrasting hypotheses on the evolution of social timing with species-appropriate paradigms and consistent definitions. To facilitate future research, we introduce an initial set of representative species and empirical hypotheses. The proposed framework aims at building and contrasting evolutionary trees of social timing toward and beyond the crucial branch represented by our own lineage. Given the integration of cross-species and quantitative approaches, this research line might lead to an integrated empirical-theoretical paradigm and, as a long-term goal, explain why humans are such socially coordinated animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Verga
- Comparative Bioacoustic Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands.
| | - Sonja A Kotz
- Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Andrea Ravignani
- Comparative Bioacoustic Group, Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, Netherlands; Center for Music in the Brain, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Department of Human Neurosciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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13
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Koul A, Ahmar D, Iannetti GD, Novembre G. Spontaneous dyadic behaviour predicts the emergence of interpersonal neural synchrony. Neuroimage 2023:120233. [PMID: 37348621 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.120233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Synchronization of neural activity across brains - interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) - is emerging as a powerful marker of social interaction that predicts success of multi-person coordination, communication, and cooperation. As the origins of INS are poorly understood, we tested whether and how INS might emerge from spontaneous dyadic behavior. We recorded neural activity (EEG) and human behavior (full-body kinematics, eye movements and facial expressions) while dyads of participants were instructed to look at each other without speaking or making co-verbal gestures. We made four fundamental observations. First, despite the absence of a structured social task, INS emerged spontaneously only when participants were able to see each other. Second, we show that such spontaneous INS, comprising specific spectral and topographic profiles, did not merely reflect intra-personal modulations of neural activity, but it rather reflected real-time and dyad-specific coupling of neural activities. Third, using state-of-art video-image processing and deep learning, we extracted the temporal unfolding of three notable social behavioral cues - body movement, eye contact, and smiling - and demonstrated that these behaviors also spontaneously synchronized within dyads. Fourth, we probed the correlates of INS in such synchronized social behaviors. Using cross-correlation and Granger causality analyses, we show that synchronized social behaviors anticipate and in fact Granger cause INS. These results provide proof-of-concept evidence for studying interpersonal neural and behavioral synchrony under natural and unconstrained conditions. Most importantly, the results suggest that INS could be conceptualized as an emergent property of two coupled neural systems: an entrainment phenomenon, promoted by real-time dyadic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atesh Koul
- Neuroscience of Perception and Action Lab, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, Italy.
| | - Davide Ahmar
- Neuroscience of Perception and Action Lab, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Domenico Iannetti
- Neuroscience and Behavior Lab, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, Italy; Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College London (UCL), WC1E 6BT, London, UK
| | - Giacomo Novembre
- Neuroscience of Perception and Action Lab, Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), Viale Regina Elena 291, Rome, Italy.
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14
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Kong E, Lee KH, Do J, Kim P, Lee D. Dynamic and stable hippocampal representations of social identity and reward expectation support associative social memory in male mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2597. [PMID: 37147388 PMCID: PMC10163237 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38338-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recognizing an individual and retrieving and updating the value information assigned to the individual are fundamental abilities for establishing social relationships. To understand the neural mechanisms underlying the association between social identity and reward value, we developed Go-NoGo social discrimination paradigms that required male subject mice to distinguish between familiar mice based on their individually unique characteristics and associate them with reward availability. We found that mice could discriminate individual conspecifics through a brief nose-to-nose investigation, and this ability depended on the dorsal hippocampus. Two-photon calcium imaging revealed that dorsal CA1 hippocampal neurons represented reward expectation during social, but not non-social tasks, and these activities were maintained over days regardless of the identity of the associated mouse. Furthermore, a dynamically changing subset of hippocampal CA1 neurons discriminated between individual mice with high accuracy. Our findings suggest that the neuronal activities in CA1 provide possible neural substrates for associative social memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunji Kong
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KI for Health Science and Technology (KIHST), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyu-Hee Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongrok Do
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Pilhan Kim
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
- KI for Health Science and Technology (KIHST), Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
| | - Doyun Lee
- Center for Cognition and Sociality, Institute for Basic Science, Daejeon, 34126, Republic of Korea.
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15
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Salles A, Neunuebel J. What do mammals have to say about the neurobiology of acoustic communication? MOLECULAR PSYCHOLOGY : BRAIN, BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIETY 2023; 2:5. [PMID: 38827277 PMCID: PMC11141777 DOI: 10.12688/molpsychol.17539.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Auditory communication is crucial across taxa, including humans, because it enables individuals to convey information about threats, food sources, mating opportunities, and other social cues necessary for survival. Comparative approaches to auditory communication will help bridge gaps across taxa and facilitate our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying this complex task. In this work, we briefly review the field of auditory communication processing and the classical champion animal, the songbird. In addition, we discuss other mammalian species that are advancing the field. In particular, we emphasize mice and bats, highlighting the characteristics that may inform how we think about communication processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles Salles
- Biological Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Joshua Neunuebel
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware, USA
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16
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Ham GX, Lim KE, Augustine GJ, Leong V. Synchrony in parent-offspring social interactions across development: A cross-species review of rodents and humans. J Neuroendocrinol 2023:e13241. [PMID: 36929715 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
In humans, parent-child neural synchrony has been shown to support early communication, social attunement and learning. Further, some animal species (including rodents and bats) are now known to share neural synchrony during certain forms of social behaviour. However, very little is known about the developmental origins and sequelae of neural synchrony, and whether this neural mechanism might play a causal role in the control of social and communicative behaviour across species. Rodent models are optimal for exploring such questions of causality, with a plethora of tools available for both disruption/induction (optogenetics) and even mechanistic dissection of synchrony-induction pathways (in vivo electrical or optical recording of neural activity). However, before the benefits of rodent models for advancing research on parent-infant synchrony can be realised, it is first important to address a gap in understanding the forms of parent-pup synchrony that occur during rodent development, and how these social relationships evolve over time. Accordingly, this review seeks to identify parent-pup social behaviours that could potentially drive or facilitate synchrony and to discuss key differences or limitations when comparing mouse to human models of parent-infant synchrony. Uniquely, our review will focus on parent-pup dyadic social behaviours that have particular analogies to the human context, including instrumental, social interactive and vocal communicative behaviours. This review is intended to serve as a primer on the study of neurobehavioral synchrony across human and rodent dyadic developmental models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gao Xiang Ham
- Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Lee Kong China School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kai En Lim
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - George J Augustine
- Lee Kong China School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Victoria Leong
- Psychology, School of Social Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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17
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Wallace R. Formal perspectives on shared interbrain activity in social communication: Insights from information and control theories. Cogn Neurodyn 2023; 17:25-38. [PMID: 36704628 PMCID: PMC9871155 DOI: 10.1007/s11571-022-09811-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying a reorientation of neuroscience from a single-brain to a multi-brain frame of reference have long been with us. These revolve around the evolutionary exaptation of the inevitable second-law 'leakage' of crosstalk between co-resident cognitive phenomena. Crosstalk characterizes such processes as immune response, wound-healing, gene expression, as so on, up through and including far more rapid neural processes. It is not a great leap-of-faith to infer that similar phenomena affect/afflict social interactions between individuals within and across populations.
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18
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Selection levels on vocal individuality: strategic use or byproduct. Curr Opin Behav Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2022.101140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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19
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Abstract
Until recently laboratory tasks for studying behavior were highly artificial, simplified, and designed without consideration for the environmental or social context. Although such an approach offers good control over behavior, it does not allow for researching either voluntary responses or individual differences. Importantly for neuroscience studies, the activity of the neural circuits involved in producing unnatural, artificial behavior is variable and hard to predict. In addition, different ensembles may be activated depending on the strategy the animal adopts to deal with the spurious problem. Thus, artificial and simplified tasks based on responses, which do not occur spontaneously entail problems with modeling behavioral impairments and underlying brain deficits. To develop valid models of human disorders we need to test spontaneous behaviors consistently engaging well-defined, evolutionarily conserved neuronal circuits. Such research focuses on behavioral patterns relevant for surviving and thriving under varying environmental conditions, which also enable high reproducibility across different testing settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Puścian
- Nencki-EMBL Partnership for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders – BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteur 3 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewelina Knapska
- Nencki-EMBL Partnership for Neural Plasticity and Brain Disorders – BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Pasteur 3 Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
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20
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Mirror neurons 30 years later: implications and applications. Trends Cogn Sci 2022; 26:767-781. [PMID: 35803832 DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Mirror neurons (MNs) were first described in a seminal paper in 1992 as a class of monkey premotor cells discharging during both action execution and observation. Despite their debated origin and function, recent studies in several species, from birds to humans, revealed that beyond MNs properly so called, a variety of cell types distributed among multiple motor, sensory, and emotional brain areas form a 'mirror mechanism' more complex and flexible than originally thought, which has an evolutionarily conserved role in social interaction. Here, we trace the current limits and envisage the future trends of this discovery, showing that it inspired translational research and the development of new neurorehabilitation approaches, and constitutes a point of no return in social and affective neuroscience.
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21
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Gachomba MJM, Esteve-Agraz J, Caref K, Maroto AS, Bortolozzo-Gleich MH, Laplagne DA, Márquez C. Multimodal cues displayed by submissive rats promote prosocial choices by dominants. Curr Biol 2022; 32:3288-3301.e8. [PMID: 35803272 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.06.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Animals often display prosocial behaviors, performing actions that benefit others. Although prosociality is essential for social bonding and cooperation, we still know little about how animals integrate behavioral cues from those in need to make decisions that increase their well-being. To address this question, we used a two-choice task where rats can provide rewards to a conspecific in the absence of self-benefit and investigated which conditions promote prosociality by manipulating the social context of the interacting animals. Although sex or degree of familiarity did not affect prosocial choices in rats, social hierarchy revealed to be a potent modulator, with dominant decision-makers showing faster emergence and higher levels of prosocial choices toward their submissive cage mates. Leveraging quantitative analysis of multimodal social dynamics prior to choice, we identified that pairs with dominant decision-makers exhibited more proximal interactions. Interestingly, these closer interactions were driven by submissive animals that modulated their position and movement following their dominants and whose 50-kHz vocalization rate correlated with dominants' prosociality. Moreover, Granger causality revealed stronger bidirectional influences in pairs with dominant focals and submissive recipients, indicating increased behavioral coordination. Finally, multivariate analysis highlighted body language as the main information dominants use on a trial-by-trial basis to learn that their actions have effects on others. Our results provide a refined understanding of the behavioral dynamics that rats use for action-selection upon perception of socially relevant cues and navigate social decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Joe Munyua Gachomba
- Neural Circuits of Social Behaviour Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Joan Esteve-Agraz
- Neural Circuits of Social Behaviour Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Kevin Caref
- Neural Circuits of Social Behaviour Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Aroa Sanz Maroto
- Neural Circuits of Social Behaviour Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Maria Helena Bortolozzo-Gleich
- Neural Circuits of Social Behaviour Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain
| | - Diego Andrés Laplagne
- Laboratory of Behavioural Neurophysiology, Brain Institute, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil
| | - Cristina Márquez
- Neural Circuits of Social Behaviour Laboratory, Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (UMH-CSIC), Sant Joan d'Alacant, Alicante, Spain.
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22
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Echolocation-related reversal of information flow in a cortical vocalization network. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3642. [PMID: 35752629 PMCID: PMC9233670 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31230-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The mammalian frontal and auditory cortices are important for vocal behavior. Here, using local-field potential recordings, we demonstrate that the timing and spatial patterns of oscillations in the fronto-auditory network of vocalizing bats (Carollia perspicillata) predict the purpose of vocalization: echolocation or communication. Transfer entropy analyses revealed predominant top-down (frontal-to-auditory cortex) information flow during spontaneous activity and pre-vocal periods. The dynamics of information flow depend on the behavioral role of the vocalization and on the timing relative to vocal onset. We observed the emergence of predominant bottom-up (auditory-to-frontal) information transfer during the post-vocal period specific to echolocation pulse emission, leading to self-directed acoustic feedback. Electrical stimulation of frontal areas selectively enhanced responses to sounds in auditory cortex. These results reveal unique changes in information flow across sensory and frontal cortices, potentially driven by the purpose of the vocalization in a highly vocal mammalian model.
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23
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Salles A, Marino Lee S, Moss CF. Sound evoked fos-like immunoreactivity in the big brown bat. IBRO Neurosci Rep 2022; 12:197-202. [PMID: 35746972 PMCID: PMC9210485 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2022.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Most bat species have highly developed audio-vocal systems, which allow them to adjust the features of echolocation calls that are optimized for different sonar tasks, such as detecting, localizing, discriminating and tracking targets. Furthermore, bats can also produce a wide array of social calls to communicate with conspecifics. The acoustic properties of some social calls differ only subtly from echolocation calls, yet bats have the ability to distinguish them and reliably produce appropriate behavioral responses. Little is known about the underlying neural processes that enable the correct classification of bat social communication sounds. One approach to this question is to identify the brain regions that are involved in the processing of sounds that carry behavioral relevance. Here, we present preliminary data on neuronal activation, as measured by c-fos expression, in big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) exposed to either social calls, echolocation calls or kept in silence. We focused our investigation on five relevant brain areas; three within the canonical auditory pathway (auditory cortex, inferior colliculus and medial geniculate body) and two that are involved in the processing of emotive stimulus content (amygdala and nucleus accumbens). In this manuscript we report c-fos staining of the areas of interest after exposure to conspecific calls. We discuss future work designed to overcome experimental limitations and explore whether c-fos staining reveals anatomical segregation of neurons activated by echolocation and social call categories.
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24
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Salles A. Chatting bats think alike. Learn Behav 2022; 50:201-202. [PMID: 35181856 PMCID: PMC9246856 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-022-00517-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Bats are social animals with highly developed audio-vocal systems whose brains share many similarities with that of humans, and thus, they emerge as an outstanding mammalian model to study social communication. In this article I focus on the findings from Rose, Styr et al., 2021 who discovered coordinated neural activity in the frontal cortex of socially communicating bats, and I review other recent advances in the field that explore the neural representation of social communication in bats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles Salles
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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25
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Miller CT, Gire D, Hoke K, Huk AC, Kelley D, Leopold DA, Smear MC, Theunissen F, Yartsev M, Niell CM. Natural behavior is the language of the brain. Curr Biol 2022; 32:R482-R493. [PMID: 35609550 PMCID: PMC10082559 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The breadth and complexity of natural behaviors inspires awe. Understanding how our perceptions, actions, and internal thoughts arise from evolved circuits in the brain has motivated neuroscientists for generations. Researchers have traditionally approached this question by focusing on stereotyped behaviors, either natural or trained, in a limited number of model species. This approach has allowed for the isolation and systematic study of specific brain operations, which has greatly advanced our understanding of the circuits involved. At the same time, the emphasis on experimental reductionism has left most aspects of the natural behaviors that have shaped the evolution of the brain largely unexplored. However, emerging technologies and analytical tools make it possible to comprehensively link natural behaviors to neural activity across a broad range of ethological contexts and timescales, heralding new modes of neuroscience focused on natural behaviors. Here we describe a three-part roadmap that aims to leverage the wealth of behaviors in their naturally occurring distributions, linking their variance with that of underlying neural processes to understand how the brain is able to successfully navigate the everyday challenges of animals' social and ecological landscapes. To achieve this aim, experimenters must harness one challenge faced by all neurobiological systems, namely variability, in order to gain new insights into the language of the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cory T Miller
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Laboratory, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92039, USA.
| | - David Gire
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Guthrie Hall, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Kim Hoke
- Department of Biology, Colorado State University, 1878 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Alexander C Huk
- Center for Perceptual Systems, Departments of Neuroscience and Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 116 Inner Campus Drive, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Darcy Kelley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, 1212 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - David A Leopold
- Section of Cognitive Neurophysiology and Imaging, National Institute of Mental Health, 49 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Matthew C Smear
- Department of Psychology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 1227 University Street, Eugene, OR 97403, USA
| | - Frederic Theunissen
- Department of Psychology, University of California Berkeley, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Michael Yartsev
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, 306 Stanley Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Cristopher M Niell
- Department of Biology and Institute of Neuroscience, University of Oregon, 222 Huestis Hall, Eugene, OR 97403, USA.
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26
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Holroyd CB. Interbrain synchrony: on wavy ground. Trends Neurosci 2022; 45:346-357. [PMID: 35236639 DOI: 10.1016/j.tins.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In recent years the study of dynamic, between-brain coupling mechanisms has taken social neuroscience by storm. In particular, interbrain synchrony (IBS) is a putative neural mechanism said to promote social interactions by enabling the functional integration of multiple brains. In this article, I argue that this research is beset with three pervasive and interrelated problems. First, the field lacks a widely accepted definition of IBS. Second, IBS wants for theories that can guide the design and interpretation of experiments. Third, a potpourri of tasks and empirical methods permits undue flexibility when testing the hypothesis. These factors synergistically undermine IBS as a theoretical construct. I finish by recommending measures that can address these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clay B Holroyd
- Department of Experimental Psychology, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
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27
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Connecting the dots in ethology: applying network theory to understand neural and animal collectives. Curr Opin Neurobiol 2022; 73:102532. [DOI: 10.1016/j.conb.2022.102532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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28
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Brusman LE, Protter DSW, Fultz AC, Paulson MU, Chapel GD, Elges IO, Cameron RT, Beery AK, Donaldson ZR. Emergent intra-pair sex differences and organized behavior in pair bonded prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). GENES, BRAIN, AND BEHAVIOR 2022; 21:e12786. [PMID: 35044090 PMCID: PMC8917086 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In pair bonding animals, coordinated behavior between partners is required for the pair to accomplish shared goals such as raising young. Despite this, experimental designs rarely assess the behavior of both partners within a bonded pair. Thus, we lack an understanding of the interdependent behavioral dynamics between partners that likely facilitate relationship success. To identify intra-pair behavioral correlates of pair bonding, we used socially monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and tested both partners using social choice and non-choice tests at short- and long-term pairing timepoints. Females developed a preference for their partner more rapidly than males, with preference driven by different behaviors in each sex. Further, as bonds matured, intra-pair behavioral sex differences and organized behavior emerged-females consistently huddled more with their partner than males did regardless of overall intra-pair affiliation levels. When animals were allowed to freely interact with a partner or a novel vole in sequential free interaction tests, pairs spent more time interacting together than either animal did with a novel vole, consistent with partner preference in the more commonly employed choice test. Total pair interaction in freely moving voles was correlated with female, but not male, behavior. Via a social operant paradigm, we found that pair-bonded females, but not males, are more motivated to access and huddle with their partner than a novel vole. Together, our data indicate that as pair bonds mature, sex differences and organized behavior emerge within pairs, and that these intra-pair behavioral changes are likely organized and driven by the female animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza E. Brusman
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - David S. W. Protter
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Allison C. Fultz
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Maya U. Paulson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Gabriel D. Chapel
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Isaiah O. Elges
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Ryan T. Cameron
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Annaliese K. Beery
- Department of Integrative BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyColoradoUSA
| | - Zoe R. Donaldson
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental BiologyUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- Department of Psychology and NeuroscienceUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
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29
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Malmierca MS. How the bat brain detects novel sounds (commentary on Wetekam et al., 2021). Eur J Neurosci 2022; 55:895-897. [PMID: 35075703 PMCID: PMC9304208 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel S. Malmierca
- Cognitive and Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory (CANELAB), Institute of Neuroscience of Castilla y León (INCYL) University of Salamanca Salamanca Spain
- Institute for Biomedical Research of Salamanca University of Salamanca Salamanca Spain
- Department of Cell Biology and Pathology, School of Medicine University of Salamanca Salamanca Spain
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30
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Warren MR, Campbell D, Borie AM, Ford CL, Dharani AM, Young LJ, Liu RC. Maturation of Social-Vocal Communication in Prairie Vole ( Microtus ochrogaster) Pups. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 15:814200. [PMID: 35087387 PMCID: PMC8787284 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.814200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Impairments in social communication are common among neurodevelopmental disorders. While traditional animal models have advanced our understanding of the physiological and pathological development of social behavior, they do not recapitulate some aspects where social communication is essential, such as biparental care and the ability to form long-lasting social bonds. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) have emerged as a valuable rodent model in social neuroscience because they naturally display these behaviors. Nonetheless, the role of vocalizations in prairie vole social communication remains unclear. Here, we studied the ontogeny [from postnatal days (P) 8-16] of prairie vole pup ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs), both when isolated and when the mother was present but physically unattainable. In contrast to other similarly sized rodents such as mice, prairie vole pups of all ages produced isolation USVs with a relatively low fundamental frequency between 22 and 50 kHz, often with strong harmonic structure. Males consistently emitted vocalizations with a lower frequency than females. With age, pups vocalized less, and the acoustic features of vocalizations (e.g., duration and bandwidth) became more stereotyped. Manipulating an isolated pup's social environment by introducing its mother significantly increased vocal production at older (P12-16) but not younger ages, when pups were likely unable to hear or see her. Our data provide the first indication of a maturation in social context-dependent vocal emission, which may facilitate more active acoustic communication. These results help lay a foundation for the use of prairie voles as a model organism to probe the role of early life experience in the development of social-vocal communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan R. Warren
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Drayson Campbell
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Amélie M. Borie
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Charles L. Ford
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Ammar M. Dharani
- Summer Opportunities of Academic Research Program, James T. Laney School of Graduate Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Larry J. Young
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Robert C. Liu
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
- Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Jung J. Bats’ brains encode single neurons for each of their buddies. J Exp Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Zhang W, Rose MC, Yartsev MM. A unifying mechanism governing inter-brain neural relationship during social interactions. eLife 2022; 11:70493. [PMID: 35142287 PMCID: PMC8947764 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
A key goal of social neuroscience is to understand the inter-brain neural relationship-the relationship between the neural activity of socially interacting individuals. Decades of research investigating this relationship have focused on the similarity in neural activity across brains. Here, we instead asked how neural activity differs between brains, and how that difference evolves alongside activity patterns shared between brains. Applying this framework to bats engaged in spontaneous social interactions revealed two complementary phenomena characterizing the inter-brain neural relationship: fast fluctuations of activity difference across brains unfolding in parallel with slow activity covariation across brains. A model reproduced these observations and generated multiple predictions that we confirmed using experimental data involving pairs of bats and a larger social group of bats. The model suggests that a simple computational mechanism involving positive and negative feedback could explain diverse experimental observations regarding the inter-brain neural relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wujie Zhang
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Maimon C Rose
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Michael M Yartsev
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and Department of Bioengineering, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
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Li SW, Williams ZM, Báez-Mendoza R. Investigating the Neurobiology of Abnormal Social Behaviors. Front Neural Circuits 2021; 15:769314. [PMID: 34916912 PMCID: PMC8670406 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2021.769314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- S William Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ziv M Williams
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States.,Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Boston, MA, United States.,Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Raymundo Báez-Mendoza
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Abstract
[Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Sliwa
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute-Institut du Cerveau, Inserm, CNRS, APHP, Hopital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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