The neurobiology of pair bonding: insights from a socially monogamous rodent
- PMID: 20688099
- PMCID: PMC3012750
- DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2010.07.006
The neurobiology of pair bonding: insights from a socially monogamous rodent
Abstract
The formation of enduring relationships between adult mates (i.e., pair bonds) is an integral aspect of human social behavior and has been implicated in both physical and psychological health. However, due to the inherent complexity of these bonds and the relative rarity with which they are formed in other mammalian species, we know surprisingly little about their underlying neurobiology. Over the past few decades, the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) has emerged as an animal model of pair bonding. Research in this socially monogamous rodent has provided valuable insight into the neurobiological mechanisms that regulate pair bonding behaviors. Here, we review these studies and discuss the neural regulation of three behaviors inherent to pair bonding: the formation of partner preferences, the subsequent development of selective aggression toward unfamiliar conspecifics, and the bi-parental care of young. We focus on the role of vasopressin, oxytocin, and dopamine in the regulation of these behaviors, but also discuss the involvement of other neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and hormones. These studies may not only contribute to the understanding of pair bonding in our own species, but may also offer insight into the underlying causes of social deficits noted in several mental health disorders.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Figures
![Figure 1](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/3012750/bin/nihms227401f1.gif)
![Figure 2](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/3012750/bin/nihms227401f2.gif)
![Figure 3](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/3012750/bin/nihms227401f3.gif)
![Figure 4](https://cdn.statically.io/img/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/instance/3012750/bin/nihms227401f4.gif)
Similar articles
-
The prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster): an animal model for behavioral neuroendocrine research on pair bonding.ILAR J. 2004;45(1):35-45. doi: 10.1093/ilar.45.1.35. ILAR J. 2004. PMID: 14752206 Review.
-
Neurochemical regulation of pair bonding in male prairie voles.Physiol Behav. 2004 Nov 15;83(2):319-28. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.08.024. Physiol Behav. 2004. PMID: 15488548 Review.
-
The ties that bond: neurochemistry of attachment in voles.Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2016 Jun;38:80-8. doi: 10.1016/j.conb.2016.04.011. Epub 2016 Apr 30. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2016. PMID: 27131991 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Physiological substrates of mammalian monogamy: the prairie vole model.Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 1995 Summer;19(2):303-14. doi: 10.1016/0149-7634(94)00070-h. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 1995. PMID: 7630584 Review.
-
A role for central vasopressin in pair bonding in monogamous prairie voles.Nature. 1993 Oct 7;365(6446):545-8. doi: 10.1038/365545a0. Nature. 1993. PMID: 8413608
Cited by
-
Quantifying social roles in multi-animal videos using subject-aware deep-learning.bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2024 Jul 10:2024.07.07.602350. doi: 10.1101/2024.07.07.602350. bioRxiv. 2024. PMID: 39026890 Free PMC article. Preprint.
-
Effects of oxytocin receptor agonism on acquisition and expression of pair bonding in male prairie voles.Transl Psychiatry. 2024 Jul 15;14(1):286. doi: 10.1038/s41398-024-02993-x. Transl Psychiatry. 2024. PMID: 39009600 Free PMC article.
-
Social experiences shape song preference learning independently of developmental exposure to song.Proc Biol Sci. 2024 Jun;291(2024):20240358. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0358. Epub 2024 Jun 5. Proc Biol Sci. 2024. PMID: 38835281
-
Effects of Oxytocin Receptor Agonism on Acquisition and Expression of Pair Bonding in Male Prairie Voles.Res Sq [Preprint]. 2024 May 15:rs.3.rs-4351761. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4351761/v1. Res Sq. 2024. Update in: Transl Psychiatry. 2024 Jul 15;14(1):286. doi: 10.1038/s41398-024-02993-x. PMID: 38798348 Free PMC article. Updated. Preprint.
-
Sexual coordination in a whole-brain map of prairie vole pair bonding.Elife. 2024 Feb 21;12:RP87029. doi: 10.7554/eLife.87029. Elife. 2024. PMID: 38381037 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Abel T, Lattal KM. Molecular mechanisms of memory acquisition, consolidation and retrieval. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2001;11:180–187. - PubMed
-
- Afonso VM, Sison M, Lovic V, Fleming AS. Medial prefrontal cortex lesions in the female rat affect sexual and maternal behavior and their sequential organization. Behav Neurosci. 2007;121:515–526. - PubMed
-
- Afonso VM, King S, Chatterjee D, Fleming AS. Hormones that increase maternal responsiveness affect accumbal dopaminergic responses to pup- and food-stimuli in the female rat. Horm Behav. 2009;56:11–23. - PubMed
-
- Almond RE, Brown GR, Keverne EB. Suppression of prolactin does not reduce infant care by parentally experienced male common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) Horm Behav. 2006;49:673–680. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
- R01-DA19627/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- F31-MH79600/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- K02 DA023048/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- R01 MH058616/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- R01 DA019627/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- R01-MH58616/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- R01 DA019627-05/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- K02-DA23048/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- R01 MH058616-10S1/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- R21-MH83128/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
- F31-DA25570/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- K02 DA023048-05/DA/NIDA NIH HHS/United States
- R01 MH058616-10/MH/NIMH NIH HHS/United States
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Miscellaneous