11.2022 - 02.2026

Oxytocin induces the formation of distinctive cortical representations and cognitions biased toward familiar mice

Social recognition is essential for the formation of social structures. Many times, recognition comes with lesser exploration of familiar animals. This lesser exploration has led to the assumption that recognition may be a habituation memory. The underlying memory mechanisms and the thereby acquired cortical representations of familiar mice have remained largely unknown, however. Here, we introduce an approach directly examining the recognition process from volatile body odors among male mice. We show that volatile body odors emitted by mice are sufficient to identify individuals and that more salience is assigned to familiar mice. Familiarity is encoded by reinforced population responses in two olfactory cortex hubs and communicated to other brain regions. The underlying oxytocin-induced plasticity promotes the separation of the cortical representations of familiar from other mice. In summary, neuronal encoding of familiar animals is distinct and utilizes the cortical representational space more broadly, promoting storage of complex social relationships.

This project provides a mechanistic framework for understanding how the brain encodes social recognition, revealing that oxytocin-dependent plasticity in olfactory cortex supports the separation of familiar from unfamiliar individuals. Such insights have translational potential for developing targeted interventions in neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social cognition, including autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia.

Settori Scientifico Disciplinari

ING-IND/34  INDUSTRIAL BIOENGINEERING

Spoke 1 : Neurodevelopment, Cognition and Social Interaction