Mice in social conflict show rule-observance behavior enhancing long-term benefit

Il-Hwan Choe,Isaac Kim,Sol Park,Hee-Sup Shin,Junweon Byun,Jaeseung Jeong,Ko Keun Kim

doi:10.1038/s41467-017-01091-5

Abstract

Disorderly resolution of conflict is costly, whereas orderly resolution by consent rules enables quick settlement. However, it is unclear whether non-human animals can make and observe rules to resolve conflict without aggression. Here we report a new behavioral paradigm for mice: a modified two-armed maze that uses wireless electrical brain stimulation as reward. First, the mice were individually operant-trained to initiate and then receive the reward at the signaled arm. Next, two mice were coupled and had to cooperate to initiate reward but then to compete over reward allocation. Mice develop and observe a rule of reward zone allocation that increases the total amount of reward and reward equity between the pair. In the mutual rule-observance behavior, positive reciprocity and tolerance to the other’s violation are also observed. These findings suggest that rodents can learn to make and observe rules to resolve conflict, enhancing long-term benefit and payoff equity.

Highlights

Resolution of conflict is costly, whereas orderly resolution by consent rules enables quick settlement
For example, are a species that utilizes the Bourgeois strategy, making and observing rules that are learned in the course of socialization[15]. These learned strategies can be transmitted generation by generation; yet when the capacity to learn such rules evolved remains unknown[16]. It is not known whether fellow mammals, such as rodents, have the cognitive capability to develop the Bourgeois strategy and, if they do, how such rule observance behavior is spontaneously learned during social conflict over limited rewards
We developed an operant system that utilizes wireless electrical brain stimulation (WBS) as reward (Fig. 1a and Supplementary Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Resolution of conflict is costly, whereas orderly resolution by consent rules enables quick settlement. The orderly resolution of conflict by making and observing rules (or conventions), could save costs and increase mutual benefits These social rules include examples as the first to arrive is the first who is served/has the first choice, and respect of ownership[7]. Individuals who are cognitively able to will develope and adopt simple behavioral rules, such as habits, rituals, routines and norms, when these rules are beneficial[22] It remains unclear whether nonhuman animals, such as mice, can spontaneously learn to adopt this Bourgeois strategy to save time, energy or other conflictinduced costs[12]

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