Brain functional connectivity modulates social bonding in monogamous voles

Abstract

Previous studies have related pair bonding in Microtus ochrogaster, the prairie vole, with plastic changes in several brain regions. However, their socially-relevant interactions have yet to be described. In this study, we used resting state magnetic resonance imaging to explore longitudinal changes in functional connectivity of brain regions associated with pair bonding. Male and female prairie voles were scanned at baseline, after 24 hours and two weeks of cohabitation with mating. Network based statistics revealed a common network with significant longitudinal changes including prefrontal and cortical regions, the hippocampus, the anterior olfactory nucleus, the lateral septum, the paraventricular nucleus, and the ventral tegmental area. Furthermore, baseline functional connectivity of three sub-networks predicted the onset of affiliative behavior, and a relationship was found between partner preference with long-term changes in the functional connectivity between the medial amygdala and ventral pallidum. Overall, our findings revealed the association between network-level changes and social bonding.