Dissertation Research: The Effects of Early Social Environment on the Physical, Behavioral, and Social Development of Prairie Voles, Microtus Ochrogaster

论文研究：早期社会环境对草原田鼠身体、行为和社会发育的影响早期家庭环境对个体的身体和行为发育都有深远的影响。双亲或单亲或有或没有兄弟姐妹的抚养会影响某些动物和人类的生长速度，甚至成年后的行为和个性。然而，早期社会条件(被定义为家庭单位)与后来的行为和个性之间的相互作用还没有被很好地理解。本研究考察了断奶前早期社会条件对群居啮齿动物草原田鼠个性和行为差异的影响。可变的早期社会条件包括父亲、兄弟姐妹的存在或不存在，以及兄弟姐妹的性别。个性是通过在受控的实验室条件下测试社交能力和对新奇事物的反应的行为集群来评估的。

Dissertation Research: The effects of early social environment on the physical, behavioral and social development of prairie voles, Microtus ochrogasterPI: Zuleyma Tang-Martinez & Danielle N. LeeEarly family environment can have profound effects on both the physical and behavioral development of individuals. Being raised by two versus one parent or with or without siblings can influence growth rate and even adult behavior and personality of some animals and humans. However, the interaction of early social conditions, defined as the family unit, and later behavior and personality are not yet well understood. This study examines the early social conditions during the pre-weaning period on the personality and behavioral differences in a social rodent, the prairie vole. Variable early social conditions include the presence or absence of the father, siblings, and the sex of siblings. Personality is assessed through behavioral clusters that measure sociability and response to novelty, examined under controlled laboratory conditions.