Neural mechanisms of pair bonding behaviors and the evolution of social behavior.

Larry J. Young.

Monogamous prairie voles provide an opportunity to identify brain mechanisms underlying social adaptions associated with pair bonding. Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) signaling in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) and prefrontal cortex (PFC) is critical for mating-induced pair bond formation between mates. Diversity in OXTR expression patterns in brain contribute to diversity in social behaviors across and within species. In prairie voles, oxytocin links the neural encoding of the social signature of the partner with the rewarding aspects of mating through interactions with dopamine and by coordinating communication across a neural network linking social information with reward. Genetic polymorphisms robustly predict variation in OXTR expression in the NAcc, which predict resilience to neonatal social neglect. Oxytocin acting in anterior cingulate cortex mediates empathy-based consoling behavior toward a distressed partner. The absence of OXTR signaling in the striatum after loss of a partner results in depressive-like “grieving” behavior, which may serve to maintain social bonds. The role of OXTR in mate choice in medaka fish will be discussed. Unlike rodents, primate OXTR is concentrated in areas involved in visual processing, consistent with differences in modes of social communication. I will discuss potential genetic mechanisms promoting diversity in OXTR patterns in relation to evolution of behavior.

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