The study found that the aVMHvl region, located on the underside of the hypothalamus, is responsible for associating pain signals with the opponent’s odor, allowing the mice to associate that odor with danger and avoid the attacker in subsequent encounters.
The researchers demonstrated this link by blocking oxytocin receptors on aVMHvl cells, which prevented mice from associating pain with the smell of the enemy. As a result, these mice are less likely to avoid the attacker in subsequent encounters.
The team also found that artificially activating αVMHvl cells caused the mice to remain lonely even if they did not experience social defeat; This suggested that this region plays a broader role in regulating social behavior.
The study’s implications extend beyond mice, as similar social avoidance behavior has been observed in humans, particularly in children who are bullied. Researchers believe that understanding the neural mechanisms underlying this behavior may lead to the development of oxytocin-based therapies to treat social disorders such as autism, social anxiety, attention deficit disorder, and ADHD.
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Source: Ferra
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