Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 4 of 4
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
A Neuroscientist's Guide To The Vole, William M. Kenkel, Morgan L. Gustison, Annaliese K. Beery
A Neuroscientist's Guide To The Vole, William M. Kenkel, Morgan L. Gustison, Annaliese K. Beery
Psychology: Faculty Publications
Prairie voles have emerged as an important rodent model for understanding the neuroscience of social behavior. Prairie voles are well known for their capacity for pair bonding and alloparental care. These behavioral phenomena overlap with human social behavior but are not commonly observed in traditional rodent models. In this article, we highlight the many benefits of using prairie voles in neuroscience research. We begin by describing the advantages of using diverse and non-traditional study models. We then focus on social behaviors, including pair bonding, alloparental care, and peer interactions, that have brought voles to the forefront of social neuroscience. We …
Natural Variation In The Oxytocin Receptor Gene And Rearing Interact To Influence Reproductive And Nonreproductive Social Behavior And Receptor Binding, Todd H. Ahern, Sara Olsen, Ryan Tudino, Annaliese K. Beery
Natural Variation In The Oxytocin Receptor Gene And Rearing Interact To Influence Reproductive And Nonreproductive Social Behavior And Receptor Binding, Todd H. Ahern, Sara Olsen, Ryan Tudino, Annaliese K. Beery
Psychology: Faculty Publications
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 …
Familiarity And Mate Preference Assessment With The Partner Preference Test, Annaliese K. Beery
Familiarity And Mate Preference Assessment With The Partner Preference Test, Annaliese K. Beery
Psychology: Faculty Publications
In contrast to traditional laboratory animals, prairie voles form socially monogamous partnerships in the wild and exhibit lasting social preferences for familiar individuals-both mates and same-sex peers-in the laboratory. Decades of research into the mechanisms supporting pair bonding behavior have made prairie voles an important model organism for the study of social relationships. The partner preference test is a laboratory test of familiarity preference that takes place over an extended interval (typically 3 hr), during which test subjects can directly interact with conspecifics and often engage in resting side-by-side contact (i.e., huddling). The use of this test has enabled study …
The Role Of Dopamine Signaling In Prairie Vole Peer Relationships, Nicole S. Lee, Annaliese K. Beery
The Role Of Dopamine Signaling In Prairie Vole Peer Relationships, Nicole S. Lee, Annaliese K. Beery
Psychology: Faculty Publications
Dopamine signaling mediates the formation of some types of social relationships, including reproductive pair bonds in the socially monogamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster). In addition to these pair bonds with mates, prairie voles demonstrate selective preferences for familiar same-sex peers. The dependence of peer relationships on dopamine signaling has not been tested, and the mechanisms supporting these relationships may differ from those underlying pair bonds. We examined the effects of pharmacological manipulations of dopamine signaling on peer partner preference and socially conditioned place preference in female prairie voles. Haloperidol blockade of dopamine receptors at multiple doses did not alter selective …