Novel framework for studying neural mechanisms of naturalistic complex social interactions in wild mouse colonies

The ability to behave appropriately within social group, interacting and communicating with others and establishing and maintaining social status, is essential to the wellbeing of the individual and to survival of the species. Dominance hierarchy, is a ubiquitous principle of social organization across a variety of social species, has a profound impact on social interactions and reproductive success.

We developed new approaches to study the underlying molecular and neuronal mechanism of social behavior in groups of males and females using ethologically relevant methodologies.

We have established a custom-made automated behavioral phenotyping system for mouse colonies, which allow defining group organization, under semi-natural conditions as well as novel wild-backcrossed transgenic mouse models. I will present the way we harness these tools to study the neuronal mechanisms underlying aggression and dominant-subordinate hierarchy in groups of wild-derived males and females mice.