What did the yale scientists discover?
brain region that controls hunting, and have found a way to switch it on and off
two sets of neurons in the mouse brain underpin the instinct to kill
What are the two sets of neurons in the mouse brain?
What is the consequence of modifying these neurons?
They could be activated by laser light
A technique called optogenetics
Able to switch these circuits on whenever they wanted
What happened when the laser was off?
The mice padded around their cages normally
What was the consequence of the laser being on?
The mice suddenly launched frenzied attacks on almost anything in their paths
After jumping on the “prey”, the mice grabbed it with their paws and repeatedly sunk in teeth
Why was optogenetics used?
to create new receptors that open up to ions in the presence of blue light
What is monogamous pairing?
General relationship between an adult male and an adult female for the purpose of sexual reproduction
What was a strong interest from scientists, psychologists and neuroscientists in 1950?
Identify the neurobiological circuitry of behaviour
What does microtine rodent provide?
Unique model to study the neurobiology underlying pair bonding and selective attachments that form between adults
What has been linked to individual and species differences in monogamy-related behaviours?
Diversity in vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR) distribution
such as:
What does the monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) provide?
Laboratory-amenable species for studying the neural and molecular basis of selective social attachment between adults
What can be manipulated in a laboratory setting similar to mice and rats?
Voles
What is a partner preference test?
What is required for partner preference and other components behaviours of monogamy?
signaling initiated by oxytocin, dopamine, endogenous opioids, and AVP
How does the species-specific characteristic of these neuromodulatory system identified?
researchers compared prairie voles with the closely related but nonmonogamous meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) or montane voles (Microtus montanus)
What is the mating system of the prairie vole and montane vole?
2. Montane vole - Promiscuous
What is the parental care for prairie vole and montane vole?
2. Montane - Maternal
What is the partner preference?
2. Montane - low
What is the selective aggression and social contact for prairie vole ?
What were biologists looking at?
Differences in habitats
Contribute to differences in the evolution of the behaviours
What does a prairie vole display?
A monogamous mating system
What are the differences between these 2 voles?
Social and mating behaviour of these animals
What is social behaviour correlate with?
Individual differences in V1aR patterning
What happened in the brain regions implicated in social monogamy?
There was little variation in V1aR densities betwen individuals