Social behaviour shapes hypothalamic neural ensemble representations of conspecific sex.

ABSTRACT: All animals possess a repertoire of innate (or instinctive) behaviours, which can be performed without training. Whether such behaviours are mediated by anatomically distinct and/or genetically specified neural pathways remains unknown. Here we report that neural representations within the mouse hypothalamus, that underlie innate social behaviours, are shaped by social experience. Oestrogen receptor 1-expressing (Esr1⁺) neurons in the ventrolateral subdivision of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHvl) control mating and fighting in rodents. We used microendoscopy to image Esr1⁺ neuronal activity in the VMHvl of male mice engaged in these social behaviours. In sexually and socially experienced adult males, divergent and characteristic neural ensembles represented male v

SUBMITTER: Remedios R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5674977 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature