Mesocorticolimbic circuit mechanisms of social dominance behavior

Abstract

Social animals, including rodents, primates, and humans, partake in competition for finite resources, thereby establishing social hierarchies wherein an individual’s social standing influences diverse behaviors. Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of social dominance is imperative, given its ramifications for health, survival, and reproduction. Social dominance behavior comprises several facets, including social recognition, social decision-making, and actions, indicating the concerted involvement of multiple brain regions in orchestrating this behavior. While extensive research has been dedicated to elucidating the neurobiology of social interaction, recent studies have increasingly delved into adverse social behaviors such as social competition and hierarchy. This review focuses on the latest advancements in comprehending the mechanisms of the mesocorticolimbic circuit governing social dominance, with a specific focus on rodent studies, elucidating the intricate dynamics of social hierarchies and their implications for individual well-being and adaptation. In the animal world, the fight for food and mates often results in social rankings, with dominant animals getting better access to resources. This review explores the brain biology of social dominance, focusing on specific brain circuits in rodents. Using behavioral tests, they’ve started to understand how different brain areas and their connections affect social ranking among animals. The study combines results from many experiments to better understand how social dominance is wired in the brain. The results highlight the complexity of social dominance, showing it as a trait influenced by multiple brain areas and their interactions. They conclude that understanding these brain processes is key for understanding the wider implications of social behavior in health and disease. Their work improves our understanding of the biological basis of social hierarchies, suggesting potential targets for treating social behavior disorders. This summary was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then revised and fact-checked by the author.