Social Interaction and Brain Connections in Female Voles
Research on prairie voles has shown that social interaction can boost brain connections linked to bonding. These voles form strong pair bonds, making them a useful subject for studying attachment.
A study found that even brief contact with a male can alter brain structure in areas linked to reward, increasing neuron connections in female prairie voles.
- Social experience and cohabitation with a mate promote spinogenesis in the nucleus accumbens of adult female prairie voles.
- The neurobiology of love and pair bonding has been studied from both human and animal perspectives.
- A gender-specific mechanism for pair bonding involves oxytocin and partner preference formation in monogamous voles.
References:
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335626
- https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12060844
- Journal: Behavioral neuroscience, Issue: Vol 109, Issue 4, Aug 1995
No specific quote available in the given text.
Author's summary: Social interaction alters brain structure in female prairie voles.