Brain circuitry in the regulation of social behaviour in mice

人类的认知依赖于大脑在发育过程中形成的一系列精确的连接。这些连接的一个子集在我们的感觉系统中，比如嗅觉系统，使我们能够收集信息并对环境中的刺激做出反应。虽然我们的感官系统允许我们享受食物或美丽的玫瑰花园的气味，但我们并不依赖它们来生存和繁殖。与人类不同的是，许多动物依靠探测化学物质（通常称为信息素）的能力来调节它们的社会和性行为，并帮助它们探测环境中的捕食者。这些行为是天生的，依赖于附属嗅觉系统对这些信号的检测。通过研究调节小鼠副嗅觉系统中相对简单的神经回路中神经细胞之间连接形成的机制，我们可以了解很多关于脑回路形成与行为之间存在的关系。我实验室的研究项目集中在了解调节这个系统中回路形成的基本机制，以及这个回路如何调节老鼠的社会行为。

Cognition in humans relies on the formation of a precise array of connections in our brains during development. A subset of these connections in our sensory systems, such as the olfactory systems, allows us to gather information and react to stimuli in our environment. While our sensory systems allow us to enjoy food or the smell of a beautiful garden of roses, we do not rely on them to survive and reproduce. In contrast to humans, many animals are dependent on their ability to detect chemical compounds, often termed pheromones, to regulate their social and sexual behaviour as well as to help them detect predators in their environment. These behaviors are innate and rely on the detection of these signals by the accessory olfactory system. We can learn a lot about the relationship that exists between the formation of brain circuitry and behavior by studying the mechanisms that regulate the formation of connections between nerve cells in the relatively simple neuronal circuit of the accessory olfactory system of the mouse. My laboratory's research program focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms that regulate the formation of circuitry in this system and how this circuitry regulates social behavior in mice.