Neuroendocrinology of Social Cognition

社会认知神经内分泌学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2018-04699
• 负责人: Choleris, Elena
• 金额: $ 5.76万
• 依托单位: University of Guelph
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2022
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2022-01-01 至 2023-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=763981
• 关键词: Neuroendocrinology; Social; Cognition

Social species have specialized behavioral and cognitive mechanisms. They approach, not avoid, conspecifics. They establish complex relationships (e.g. hierarchies, bonds) via social recognition processes and specific approach and avoidance behaviors, and they can acquire adaptive information from conspecifics via social learning. Males and females often differ in these behaviors in a sex hormone-dependent manner. This affects whether and how each sex engages in social behavior, and has important implications for the understanding of the neurobiology of male and female sociality. My and my trainees' research program investigates the neurobiology of cognitive aspects of social behavior in mammals. So far we have shown that estrogens regulate social cognition via both delayed, long-term mechanisms that involve the regulation of genes as well as more recently discovered and less understood rapid and dynamic mechanisms. We have identified two brain regions and a few neurochemical and hormonal systems mediating these rapid effects. In the next 5 years my trainees and I will test the overarching hypothesis that a number of neurochemical systems all interact as part of a neuronal network subserving rapid hormone-regulation of social cognition. These systems include membrane receptor-activated kinase cascades and both neuropeptides (oxytocin, vasopressin) and neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, dopamine). We will pursue 3 specific research aims: we will (1) further elucidate/identify brain regions underling rapid hormonal regulation of social cognition; investigate (2) the neurochemical mechanisms in networks of brain regions mediating hormonal regulation of social cognition; investigate (3) sex differences in the neuronal networks and neurochemical systems involved in the hormonal regulation of social cognition. We will investigate these hormonal/neurochemical interactions in 3 mouse assays that assess conceptually different aspects of social cognition: Social Recognition (learning about others), Social Learning (learning from others) and Social Approach/Avoidance (sociability: the preferences for social vs non-social stimuli).Our investigations will allow the identification of specific brain networks and neurochemical systems of hormonal regulation of social cognition in males and females, ultimately elucidating sex differences in social cognition. Our integrative, multidisciplinary approach is highly innovative in that it links the functioning of basic neurobiological systems to complex social cognition. The proposed research will advance our understanding of the male and female social brain. Importantly, our research will also inform the current discussion on the need for inclusion of both males and females in research.

群居物种有专门的行为和认知机制。他们会接近而不是回避同种物。他们通过社会认知过程和特定的接近和回避行为建立复杂的关系（如等级、纽带），并通过社会学习从同种个体中获取适应性信息。雄性和雌性在这些依赖性激素的行为上常常有所不同。这影响到两性是否以及如何参与社会行为，并对理解男性和女性社会性的神经生物学具有重要意义。我和我的学员的研究项目是研究哺乳动物社会行为认知方面的神经生物学。到目前为止，我们已经表明，雌激素通过涉及基因调节的延迟、长期机制以及最近发现的、尚不清楚的快速和动态机制来调节社会认知。我们已经确定了两个大脑区域和一些神经化学和激素系统介导这些快速效应。在接下来的5年里，我和我的学员们将测试一个重要的假设，即许多神经化学系统作为神经网络的一部分相互作用，服务于社会认知的快速激素调节。这些系统包括膜受体激活的激酶级联反应和神经肽（催产素、加压素）和神经递质（乙酰胆碱、多巴胺）。我们将追求3个具体的研究目标：我们将(1)进一步阐明/确定在社会认知的快速激素调节下的大脑区域；(2)社会认知激素调节脑区网络的神经化学机制；研究(3)参与社会认知激素调节的神经网络和神经化学系统的性别差异。我们将研究这些激素/神经化学相互作用，在3个小鼠实验中评估社会认知的概念不同方面：社会认知（了解他人），社会学习（向他人学习）和社会接近/回避（社交性：对社会与非社会刺激的偏好）。我们的研究将允许识别特定的大脑网络和神经化学系统的荷尔蒙调节社会认知在男性和女性，最终阐明社会认知的性别差异。我们的综合多学科方法是高度创新的，因为它将基本神经生物学系统的功能与复杂的社会认知联系起来。这项提议的研究将促进我们对男性和女性社会大脑的理解。重要的是，我们的研究也将为当前关于在研究中纳入男性和女性的必要性的讨论提供信息。