Zona incerta somatostatin neurons as an integration node for the first social bond
Date of Award
Spring 2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Neuroscience
First Advisor
Dietrich, Marcelo
Abstract
In humans, as in other mammals, infants have an inborn tendency to form a strong attachment bond with their mother. This social bond determines the infant’s healthy development. Impairments in early social relationships can have severe consequences on health and behavior in both childhood and adulthood. However, which neurons in the infant brain are involved in this bond remain largely unknown. In the first part of the study, we report that somatostatin-expressing neurons in the zona incerta (ZI-SST) are tuned to the early social experiences of mouse pups. Social interactions, particularly with the mother, strongly activate ZI-SST neurons. The activation of ZI-SST neurons exhibit generalized suppression effects on the distress responses of socially isolated pups. The activity of ZI-SST neurons is necessary for the effects of maternal reunion in alleviating the infant’s distress. Similar to how mothers promote infant learning, the activation of ZI-SST neurons in pups facilitates the learning of new positive associations. In the second half of this work, we investigated the representation of social stimuli in individual ZI-SST neurons using microendoscopy calcium imaging and opto-assisted single-unit electrophysiology. We identify a subpopulation of ZI-SST neurons that selectively respond to social interactions with the mother. We demonstrate that social information is encoded by the dynamics of neuronal ensembles. In summary, this study reveals a population of neurons that is tuned to the early social experiences of the infant with their mother to alleviate distress and facilitate learning. Moreover, this study provides insights into mechanism underlying theselective social representation towards the mother within individual ZI-SST neurons.
Recommended Citation
Li, Yuexuan, "Zona incerta somatostatin neurons as an integration node for the first social bond" (2024). Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dissertations. 1278.
https://elischolar.library.yale.edu/gsas_dissertations/1278
