Social Interaction and Brain Connections in Female Voles
Research on prairie voles reveals that brief social interaction with a male can alter brain structure in areas linked to reward, increasing neuron connections.
This phenomenon is observed in female prairie voles, which form strong pair bonds, making them a useful subject for studying attachment.
Key Findings
- Social experience and cohabitation with a mate promote spinogenesis in the nucleus accumbens of adult female prairie voles.
- Studies on the neurobiology of love and pair bonding provide insights from both human and animal perspectives.
- A gender-specific mechanism for pair bonding involves oxytocin and partner preference formation in monogamous voles.
Even brief contact with a male alters brain structure in areas linked to reward, increasing neuron connections.
References:
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335626
- https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12060844
- Behavioral Neuroscience, Vol 109, Issue 4, Aug 1995
Author's summary: Social interaction affects brain connections in female voles.
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