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Oxytocin induces the formation of distinctive cortical representations and cognitions biased toward familiar mice

Social recognition is essential for the formation of social structures. Many times, recognition comes with lesser exploration of familiar animals. This lesser exploration has led to the assumption that recognition may be a habituation memory. The underlying memory mechanisms and the thereby acquired...

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Main Authors: Wolf, David (Author) , Hartig, Renée (Author) , Zhuo, Yi (Author) , Scheller, Max F. (Author) , Articus, Mirko (Author) , Moor, Marcel (Author) , Grinevich, Valéry (Author) , Linster, Christiane (Author) , Russo, Eleonora (Author) , Weber-Fahr, Wolfgang (Author) , Reinwald, Jonathan Rochus (Author) , Kelsch, Wolfgang (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 25 July 2024
In: Nature Communications
Year: 2024, Volume: 15, Pages: 1-19
ISSN:2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-50113-6
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-50113-6
Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50113-6
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Author Notes:David Wolf, Renée Hartig, Yi Zhuo, Max F. Scheller, Mirko Articus, Marcel Moor, Valery Grinevich, Christiane Linster, Eleonora Russo, Wolfgang Weber-Fahr, Jonathan R. Reinwald & Wolfgang Kelsch
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Summary:Social recognition is essential for the formation of social structures. Many times, recognition comes with lesser exploration of familiar animals. This lesser exploration has led to the assumption that recognition may be a habituation memory. The underlying memory mechanisms and the thereby acquired cortical representations of familiar mice have remained largely unknown, however. Here, we introduce an approach directly examining the recognition process from volatile body odors among male mice. We show that volatile body odors emitted by mice are sufficient to identify individuals and that more salience is assigned to familiar mice. Familiarity is encoded by reinforced population responses in two olfactory cortex hubs and communicated to other brain regions. The underlying oxytocin-induced plasticity promotes the separation of the cortical representations of familiar from other mice. In summary, neuronal encoding of familiar animals is distinct and utilizes the cortical representational space more broadly, promoting storage of complex social relationships.
Item Description:Gesehen am 03.02.2025
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-50113-6

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