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Davis MT, Grogan KE, Fraccaroli I, Libecap TJ, Pilgeram NR, Maney DL. Expression of oxytocin receptors in the zebra finch brain during vocal development. Dev Neurobiol 2022; 82:3-15. [PMID: 34562056 PMCID: PMC8795483 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Like human language, song in songbirds is learned during an early sensitive period and is facilitated by motivation to seek out social interactions with vocalizing adults. Songbirds are therefore powerful models with which to understand the neural underpinnings of vocal learning. Social motivation and early social orienting are thought to be mediated by the oxytocin system; however, the developmental trajectory of oxytocin receptors in songbirds, particularly as it relates to song learning, is currently unknown. This gap in knowledge has hindered the development of songbirds as a model of the role of social orienting in vocal learning. In this study, we used quantitative PCR to measure oxytocin receptor expression during the sensitive period of song learning in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata). We focused on brain regions important for social motivation, attachment, song recognition, and song learning. We detected expression in these regions in both sexes from posthatch day 5 to adulthood, encompassing the entire period of song learning. In this species, only males sing; we found that in regions implicated in song learning specifically, oxytocin receptor mRNA expression was higher in males than females. These sex differences were largest during the developmental phase when males attend to and memorize tutor song, suggesting a functional role of expression in learning. Our results show that oxytocin receptors are expressed in relevant brain regions during song learning, and thus provide a foundation for developing the zebra finch as a model for understanding the mechanisms underlying the role of social motivation in vocal development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Donna L. Maney
- Department of Psychology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA USA
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Pendergraft LT, Marzluff JM, Cross DJ, Shimizu T, Templeton CN. American Crow Brain Activity in Response to Conspecific Vocalizations Changes When Food Is Present. Front Physiol 2021; 12:766345. [PMID: 34867472 PMCID: PMC8637333 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.766345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Social interaction among animals can occur under many contexts, such as during foraging. Our knowledge of the regions within an avian brain associated with social interaction is limited to the regions activated by a single context or sensory modality. We used 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) to examine American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) brain activity in response to conditions associated with communal feeding. Using a paired approach, we exposed crows to either a visual stimulus (the sight of food), an audio stimulus (the sound of conspecifics vocalizing while foraging) or both audio/visual stimuli presented simultaneously and compared to their brain activity in response to a control stimulus (an empty stage). We found two regions, the nucleus taenia of the amygdala (TnA) and a medial portion of the caudal nidopallium, that showed increased activity in response to the multimodal combination of stimuli but not in response to either stimulus when presented unimodally. We also found significantly increased activity in the lateral septum and medially within the nidopallium in response to both the audio-only and the combined audio/visual stimuli. We did not find any differences in activation in response to the visual stimulus by itself. We discuss how these regions may be involved in the processing of multimodal stimuli in the context of social interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- LomaJohn T Pendergraft
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - John M Marzluff
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Donna J Cross
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Toru Shimizu
- Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States
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Ahern TH, Olsen S, Tudino R, Beery A. Natural variation in the oxytocin receptor gene and rearing interact to influence reproductive and nonreproductive social behavior and receptor binding. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2021; 128:105209. [PMID: 33839431 PMCID: PMC8131238 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Individual variation in social behavior offers an opportunity to explore gene-by-environment interactions that could contribute to adaptative or atypical behavioral profiles (e.g., autism spectrum disorders). Outbred, socially monogamous prairie voles provide an excellent model to experimentally explore how natural variations in rearing and genetic diversity interact to shape reproductive and nonreproductive social behavior. In this study, we manipulated rearing (biparental versus dam-only), genotyped the intronic NT213739 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the oxytocin receptor gene (Oxtr), and then assessed how each factor and their interaction related to reciprocal interactions and partner preference in male and female adult prairie voles. We found that C/T subjects reared biparentally formed more robust partner preferences than T/T subjects. In general, dam-only reared animals huddled less with a conspecific in reproductive and nonreproductive contexts, but the effect of rearing was more pronounced in T/T animals. In line with previous literature, C/T animals exhibited higher densities of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) in the striatum (caudoputamen, nucleus accumbens) compared to T/T subjects. There was also a gene-by-rearing interaction in the striatum and insula of females: In the insula, T/T females expressed varying OXTR densities depending on rearing. Overall, this study demonstrates that significant differences in adult reproductive and nonreproductive social behavior and OXTR density can arise due to natural differences in Oxtr, experimental manipulations of rearing, and their interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd H. Ahern
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Ave., BC-SCI, Hamden, CT, USA,Correspondence: Todd H. Ahern, PhD, , (203) 582-6402
| | - Sara Olsen
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Ave., BC-SCI, Hamden, CT, USA
| | - Ryan Tudino
- Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Ave., BC-SCI, Hamden, CT, USA
| | - Annaliese Beery
- Department of Psychology, Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Smith College, 44 College Lane, Northampton, MA, USA,Department of Integrative Biology, University of California Berkeley, 3030 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA, USA
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Robinson KJ, Bosch OJ, Levkowitz G, Busch KE, Jarman AP, Ludwig M. Social creatures: Model animal systems for studying the neuroendocrine mechanisms of social behaviour. J Neuroendocrinol 2019; 31:e12807. [PMID: 31679160 PMCID: PMC6916380 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The interaction of animals with conspecifics, termed social behaviour, has a major impact on the survival of many vertebrate species. Neuropeptide hormones modulate the underlying physiology that governs social interactions, and many findings concerning the neuroendocrine mechanisms of social behaviours have been extrapolated from animal models to humans. Neurones expressing neuropeptides show similar distribution patterns within the hypothalamic nucleus, even when evolutionarily distant species are compared. During evolution, hypothalamic neuropeptides and releasing hormones have retained not only their structures, but also their biological functions, including their effects on behaviour. Here, we review the current understanding of the mechanisms of social behaviours in several classes of animals, such as worms, insects and fish, as well as laboratory, wild and domesticated mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly J. Robinson
- Sea Mammal Research UnitScottish Oceans InstituteUniversity of St AndrewsSt AndrewsUK
| | - Oliver J. Bosch
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular NeurobiologyUniversity of RegensburgRegensburgGermany
| | - Gil Levkowitz
- Department of Molecular Cell BiologyWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | | | - Andrew P. Jarman
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Mike Ludwig
- Centre for Discovery Brain SciencesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
- Centre for NeuroendocrinologyDepartment of ImmunologyUniversity of PretoriaPretoriaSouth Africa
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Loveland JL, Stewart MG, Vallortigara G. Effects of oxytocin‐family peptides and substance P on locomotor activity and filial preferences in visually naïve chicks. Eur J Neurosci 2019; 50:3674-3687. [DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine L. Loveland
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC) University of Trento Rovereto Italy
- Behavioural Genetics and Evolutionary Ecology Research Group Max Planck Institute for Ornithology Seewiesen Germany
| | - Michael G. Stewart
- Department of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences The Open University Milton Keynes UK
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Riters LV, Kelm-Nelson CA, Spool JA. Why Do Birds Flock? A Role for Opioids in the Reinforcement of Gregarious Social Interactions. Front Physiol 2019; 10:421. [PMID: 31031641 PMCID: PMC6473117 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of social groups provides safety and opportunities for individuals to develop and practice important social skills. However, joining a social group does not result in any form of obvious, immediate reinforcement (e.g., it does not result in immediate copulation or a food reward), and individuals often remain in social groups despite agonistic responses from conspecifics. Much is known about neural and endocrine mechanisms underlying the motivation to perform mate- or offspring-directed behaviors. In contrast, relatively little is known about mechanisms underlying affiliative behaviors outside of these primary reproductive contexts. Studies on flocking behavior in songbirds are beginning to fill this knowledge gap. Here we review behavioral evidence that supports the hypothesis that non-sexual affiliative, flocking behaviors are both (1) rewarded by positive social interactions with conspecifics, and (2) reinforced because affiliative contact reduces a negative affective state caused by social isolation. We provide evidence from studies in European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, that mu opioid receptors in the medial preoptic nucleus (mPOA) play a central role in both reward and the reduction of a negative affective state induced by social interactions in flocks, and discuss potential roles for nonapeptide/opioid interactions and steroid hormones. Finally, we develop the case that non-sexual affiliative social behaviors may be modified by two complementary output pathways from mPOA, with a projection from mPOA to the periaqueductal gray integrating information during social interactions that reduces negative affect and a projection from mPOA to the ventral tegmental area integrating information leading to social approach and reward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren V. Riters
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Cynthia A. Kelm-Nelson
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Jeremy A. Spool
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
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Beery AK. Frank Beach award winner: Neuroendocrinology of group living. Horm Behav 2019; 107:67-75. [PMID: 30439353 PMCID: PMC6371784 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Why do members of some species live in groups while others are solitary? Group living (sociality) has often been studied from an evolutionary perspective, but less is known about the neurobiology of affiliation outside the realms of mating and parenting. Colonial species offer a valuable opportunity to study nonsexual affiliative behavior between adult peers. Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) display environmentally induced variation in social behavior, maintaining exclusive territories in summer months, but living in social groups in winter. Research on peer relationships in female meadow voles demonstrates that these selective preferences are mediated differently than mate relationships in socially monogamous prairie voles, but are also impacted by oxytocin and HPA axis signaling. This review addresses day-length dependent variation in physiology and behavior, and presents the current understanding of the mechanisms supporting selective social relationships in meadow voles, with connections to lessons from other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annaliese K Beery
- Department of Psychology, Department of Biology, Program in Neuroscience, Smith College, Northampton, MA 01063, United States of America.
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