SOMATOSENSORY CORTEX IN THE EXPRESSION OF AFFECTIVE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Objective: To understand the neurobiology of social behavior by tracing transmission of somatosensory information from the body surface to neuronal regions concerned with processing tactile information essential for social behavior interactions. The propensity to seek contact and to form strong positive relationships is exemplified in the extreme by the South American titi monkey. In nature and in the laboratory, these monogamous primates spend up to 90% of their day in physical contact with other members of their family group. Animals sit side-by-side with their lateral surface in close contact with another monkey. Contact between titi monkeys also includes active contact, such as grooming or grasping. A unique aspect of social contact in titi monkeys is tail-twining. Very often all members of a family group (3-5 individuals) sit in a row and combine their tails in a single twine. Using multiunit electrophysiological recording this research examines the role of several somatosensory cortical areas involved in social contact. The research involves two steps: The first is to map, in individual animals, the flow of somatosensory information from the body surface to regions of the neocortex that utilize somatosensory information in regulation of social behavior. This phase of the research relies on electophysiological recording in anesthetized monkeys. To evaluate the extent to which cortical regions are involved in social behavior, focal lesions will be performed and the effects of the lesion on social motivation and social cognition will be evaluated. These studies are unique in that they take advantage of an overt behavior, directly mediated by the somatosensory system, to examine the role of cortical mechanisms.