The Role of Synaptic Cell Adhesion Molecules and Associated Scaffolding Proteins in Social Affiliative Behaviors.

ABSTRACT: Social affiliative behaviors-engagement in positive (i.e., nonaggressive) social approach and reciprocal social interactions with a conspecific-comprise a construct within the National Institute of Mental Health Research Domain Criteria Social Processes Domain. These behaviors are disrupted in multiple human neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, social phobia, and others. Human genetic studies have strongly implicated synaptic cell adhesion molecules (sCAMs) in several such disorders that involve marked reductions, or other dysregulations, of social affiliative behaviors. Here, we review the literature on the role of sCAMs in social affiliative behaviors. We integrate findings pertaining to synapse structure and morphology, neurotransmission, pos

SUBMITTER: Taylor SC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7442706 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature