Brain circuitry in the regulation of social behaviour in mice

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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.