Ca2+ imaging of self and other in medial prefrontal cortex during social dominance interactions in a tube test

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107942119
• Publication Date: 2022-07-26T18:37:08Z
• Authors: Nuria Garcia-Font; Rufus Mitchell-Heggs; Kapil Saxena; Carolin Gabbert; Georgina Taylor; Giulia Mastrobera...; Patrick A. Spooner; Francesco Gobbo; Julia K. Dabrowska; Sumantra Chattarji; Peter C. Kind; Simon R. Schultz; Richard G. M. Morris
• Keywords: Dominance (genetics); Self-reference effect

The study of social dominance interactions between animals offers a window onto the decision-making involved in establishing hierarchies and an opportunity to examine changes behavior observed certain neurogenetic disorders. Competitive interactions, such as widely used tube test, reflect this decision-making. Previous studies have focused on different patterns seen dominant submissive animal, neural correlates effortful believed mediate outcome encounters, interbrain correlations activity. Using rigorous mutual information criterion, we now report that responses recorded with endoscopic calcium imaging prelimbic zone medial prefrontal cortex show unique specific dominance-related behaviors. Interanimal analyses revealed cell/behavior are primarily animal's own or other behavior, coincident both (such pushing by one resisting other). comparison cells helps disentangle cell firing reflects other's from situations reflecting conjoint action. These point more cognitive rather than solely behavioral dimension needs be considered design neurobiological behavior. could prove useful disorders affecting recognition engagement, treatment interaction.