Direct Social Interaction Research Articles

Social interactions generate complex selection patterns in virtual worlds.

Understanding the influence of social interactions on individual fitness is key to improving our predictions of phenotypic evolution. However, we often overlook the different components of selection regimes arising from interactions among organisms, including social, correlational, and indirect selection. This is due to the challenging sampling efforts required in natural populations to measure phenotypes expressed during interactions and individual fitness. Furthermore, behaviours are crucial in mediating social interactions, yet few studies have explicitly quantified these selection components on behavioural traits. In this study, we capitalize on an online multiplayer video game as a source of extensive data recording direct social interactions among prey, where prey collaborate to escape a predator in realistic ecological settings. We estimate natural and social selection and their contribution to total selection on behavioural traits mediating competition, cooperation, and predator-prey interactions. Behaviours of other prey in a group impact an individual's survival, and thus are under social selection. Depending on whether selection pressures on behaviours are synergistic or conflicting, social interactions enhance or mitigate the strength of natural selection, although natural selection remains the main driving force. Indirect selection through correlations among traits also contributed to the total selection. Thus, failing to account for the effects of social interactions and indirect selection would lead to a misestimation of the total selection acting on traits. Dissecting the contribution of each component to the total selection differential allowed us to investigate the causal mechanisms relating behaviour to fitness and quantify the importance of the behaviours of conspecifics as agents of selection. Our study emphasizes that social interactions generate complex selective regimes even in a relatively simple ecological environment.

Revisiting the impact of public spaces on the mental health of rural migrants in Wuhan: an integrated multi-source data analysis

Current research on public spaces and mental health often focuses on the independent relationship of one or more social mediators, neglecting the nuanced implications and serial mechanisms inherent in the progressive social process. Using Wuhan city, China, as a study case with multi-source data, this research applies Multilevel Generalized Structural Equation Modeling and deep learning techniques to explore the differential effects of public spaces with varying degrees of publicness (i.e., typical, semi-, and privately owned) on rural migrants’ mental health. Crucially, this study scrutinizes both explicit (social interaction) and implicit (perceived integration) social mechanisms to revisit the relationships. The findings reveal that not all public spaces equally influence mental health, with typical and privately owned public spaces conferring profound benefits. Notably, public spaces impact mental health chiefly through perceived integration instead of through direct social interaction. Social interaction improves mental health primarily by enhancing perceived integration, suggesting that meaningful connections beyond superficial encounters are critical. In particular, we observed significant social effects in typical and privately owned public spaces but limited social functionality in semi-public spaces. This evidence contributes to the knowledge required to create supportive social environments within public spaces, integral to nurturing inclusive urban development.

Adolescent social isolation disrupts developmental tuning of neuropeptide circuits in the hypothalamus to amygdala regulating social and defensive behavior

Engaging in positive social (i.e., prosocial) interactions during adolescence acts to modulate neural circuits that determine adult adaptive behavior. While accumulating evidence indicates that a strong craving for prosocial behavior contributes to sustaining neural development, the consequences of social deprivation during adolescence on social neural circuits, including those involving oxytocin (OXT) and vasopressin (AVP), are poorly characterized. We evaluated adaptive behaviors in socially isolated mice, including anxiety-like, social, and defensive behaviors, along with OXT and AVP neural profiles in relevant brain regions. Social isolation from postnatal day (P-)22 to P-48 induced enhanced defensive and exploratory behaviors, in nonsocial and social contexts. Unlike OXT neurons, AVP+ cell density in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus increases with age in males. Social isolation also modulated gene expression in the medial amygdala (MeA), including the upregulation of OXT receptors in males and the downregulation of AVP1a receptors in both sexes. Socially isolated mice showed an enhanced defensive, anogenital approach toward a novel adult female during direct social interactions. Subsequent c-Fos mapping revealed diminished neural activity in restricted brain areas, including the MeA, lateral septum, and posterior intralaminar nucleus of the thalamus, in socially isolated mice. These data indicate that neural signals arising from daily social interactions invoke region-specific modification of neuropeptide expression that coordinates with altered defensiveness and neural responsivities, including OXT- and AVP-projecting regions. The present findings indicate an involvement of OXT and AVP circuits in adolescent neural and behavioral plasticity that is tuned by daily social interaction.

Neurobehavioral Abnormalities in Offspring of Young Adult Male Rats With a History of Traumatic Brain Injury.

Children of parents with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are more likely to develop psychiatric disorders. This association is usually attributed to TBI-induced changes in parents' personality and families' social environment. We tested the hypothesis that offspring of young adult male rats with TBI develop neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the absence of direct social contact with sires. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (F0 generation) in the TBI group underwent moderate TBI via a midline fluid percussion injury that involved craniectomy under sevoflurane (SEVO) anesthesia for 40 min on post-natal Day 60 (P60), while F0 rats in the control group were placed in a new cage, one per cage, for the equivalent time duration. A subset of F0 rats was sacrificed on P66 to assess acute changes in hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and inflammation markers. The remaining F0 males were mated with naive females on P90 to generate offspring (F1 generation). The F0 males and F1 males and females were sequentially evaluated in the elevated plus maze, for pre-pulse inhibition of acoustic startle, in the Morris water maze, and for resting and stress levels of serum corticosterone starting on ∼P105 (F0) and ∼P60 (F1), followed by tissue collection for further analyses. Acutely, the F0 TBI males had messenger RNA (mRNA) transcripts altered to support an increased hypothalamic and hippocampal Na+-K+-Cl- (Slc12a2) Cl- importer / K+-2Cl- (Slc12a5) Cl- exporter ratio and decreased hippocampal glucocorticoid receptors (Nr3c1), as well as increased serum levels of corticosterone, interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and biomarkers of activated hippocampal microglia and astrocytes. Long-term, F0 TBI rats exhibited increased corticosterone concentrations at rest and under stress, anxiety-like behavior, impaired sensory-motor gating, and impaired spatial memory. These abnormalities were underpinned by reduced mRNA levels of hypothalamic and hippocampal mineralocorticoid receptors (Nr3c2), hippocampal Nr3c1, and hypothalamic brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), as well as elevated serum levels of IL-1β, and biomarkers of activated hippocampal microglia and astrocytes. F1 male offspring of TBI sires exhibited abnormalities in all behavioral tests, while their F1 female counterparts had abnormal pre-pulse inhibition responses only. F1 male offspring of TBI sires also had reduced mRNA levels of hippocampal Nr3c1 and Nr3c2, as well as hypothalamic and hippocampal Bdnf, whereas increases in inflammatory markers were more profound in F1 females. These findings suggest that offspring of sires with a history of a moderate TBI that involved craniectomy under SEVO anesthesia for 40 min, develop sex-dependent neurobehavioral abnormalities in the absence of direct social interaction between the sire and the offspring.

Menghadapi Degradasi Moral Generasi Muda Melalui Penerapan Pendidikan Islam Pada Peserta Didik

This research discusses the moral degradation of the younger generation in Indonesia and the role of Islamic education in overcoming this problem. The phenomenon of moral degradation of the younger generation is increasingly disturbing with the increasing number of cases of tarnished morals, both in direct social interactions and via social media. The main causes of this moral degradation include promiscuity, unwise use of social media, and lack of supervision from parents. Islamic education is considered a relevant solution to face this problem. In this research, the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method was used to collect and analyze related literature. The findings of this research show that Islamic education has an integral, progressive and functional role in overcoming the moral degradation of the younger generation. The integration of Islamic education in the school curriculum is also considered important to shape the character of students. However, there are internal and external challenges faced in implementing Islamic education, including a less comprehensive understanding of Islamic teachings, as well as the negative influence of scientific and technological progress. This research contributes to understanding the complexity of the moral degradation of the younger generation and the relevance of Islamic education as a solution in facing these challenges. Therefore, it is important for Islamic educational institutions to continue to develop effective and relevant strategies in shaping the morals of the younger generation through Islamic education.

ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF ANDROID USAGE ON SOCIAL INTERACTION OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Android affects not only the lives of adults, but also the daily lives of elementary school-aged children. This includes how these children behave, act, or think, all of which contribute to the lack of effective interactions between kids and their parents, teachers, friends, peers, and the people around them. In order to describe the effects of Android use on social interaction among fifth grade kids at MIN 5 Jember, the researchers set out to perform this study. With the sort of case study employed in the research, qualitative research techniques were applied. The researcher is a key tool in research, and supporting tools like interview and observation guidelines can help the researcher collect data. Data collection activities are obtained through in-depth interview techniques, observation, and documentation studies. Researchers employed the Miles and Huberman approach, which was completed in four stages, to analyse the data. Source triangulation was employed by the researchers in the interim to ensure the accuracy of the data. The results of the research show that children who use androids excessively can develop ego and individualism. Particularly, lack of responsibility and supervision will have an effect, leading to a lack of direct social interaction, turning children into anti-social and reclusive individuals.

A Multi-Method Examination of Peer Functioning in Children with and without Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome.

Cognitive disengagement syndrome (CDS) includes excessive daydreaming, mental confusion, and hypoactive behaviors that are distinct from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder inattentive (ADHD-IN) symptoms. A growing number of studies indicate that CDS symptoms may be associated with ratings of social withdrawal. However, it is important to examine this association in children specifically recruited for the presence or absence of CDS, and to incorporate multiple methods including direct observations of peer interactions. The current study builds on previous research by recruiting children with and without clinically elevated CDS symptoms and using a multi-method, multi-informant design including recess observations and parent, teacher, and child rating scales. Participants were 207 children in grades 2-5 (63.3% male), including 103 with CDS and 104 without CDS, closely matched on grade and sex. Controlling for family income, medication status, internalizing symptoms, and ADHD-IN severity, children with CDS were observed during recess to spend more time alone or engaging in parallel play, as well as less time involved in direct social interactions, than children without CDS. Children with CDS were also rated by teachers as being more asocial, shy, and socially disinterested than children without CDS. Although children with and without CDS did not differ on parent- or self-report ratings of shyness or social disinterest, children with CDS rated themselves as lonelier than children without CDS. Findings indicate that children with CDS have a distinct profile of peer functioning and point to the potential importance of targeting withdrawal in interventions for youth with elevated CDS symptoms.

Case Study: Parenting Use of Digital Technology in Preschool Children by Middle-Class Digital Immigrant Parents

This study explores parents' knowledge of digital technology among the digital immigrant generation, who often face difficulties in utilizing technology, parenting practices for preschool children, and associated challenges. It employs qualitative research through a case study method, conducting interviews with parents born before 1981, having children aged 0-6 years, and falling within the lower-middle-class income bracket. This research was conducted from May to June 2023 in Bandung. From the five informants, it was evident that they possessed various digital devices, including smartphones, televisions, computers, and laptops with internet connections. Despite not growing up with digital technology, these parents utilize smartphones to enhance their children's motor and language development, often through educational videos or entertainment, such as games. Nonetheless, they face challenges and risks, such as children becoming overly reliant on technology and reducing their direct social interaction. In the current digital age, parents play a crucial role in ensuring appropriate and safe digital technology usage for preschool-aged children whose cognitive and functional abilities are still developing. Consequently, these findings emphasize the need for parents to exercise careful supervision of the content accessed by their children, potentially by implementing special rules or restrictions on screen time.

Analisis Interaksi Sosial Mahasiswa Pelanggan Aplikasi Tiktok

TikTok is the newest social media application that allows users to create interesting videos, interact in comments and private chat. The purpose of writing this article is to analyze the role of the TikTok application as a medium for interaction, the impact of the TikTok application on students social interaction, and wise strategies for becoming a TikTok applicatin customer. The research methode used is a qualitative method, namely research carried out through observation and searchng for data directly. The result of this research show that, 1) the TikTok application has a role as a medium for carrying out interaction processes, for example increasing friendships, getting motivation from shared content, finding people with the same vision; 2) one of the negative impacts of TikTok is the lack of direct social interaction because users are engrossed in the application. Meanwhile, the positive impact is the establishment of a friendship which then gives each other a good influence; 3) strategy to become a good TikTok costumer, namely by creating content that can attract the attention of other TikTok cutomers, for example creating content selling food, clothing and others, following positive accounts and using the TikTok application for creativity and innovation.

Activity Budget and Sociality of the Northern Lesser Galago, Galago senegalensis

AbstractComplex sociality in primates often is argued to have evolved after the appearance of diurnal activity. Studying the behaviour of nocturnal primates is fundamental to understanding the evolutionary origins of primate behaviour and ecology, yet much less is known about the nature of sociality in nocturnal primate species than their diurnal counterparts. We investigated group size, communication, and social interactions in free-ranging, Northern lesser galagos (Galago senegalensis) and present an activity budget and assessment of temporal variation in their behaviour. We collected continuous behavioural data using focal follows at three different stages of the night from individuals at Kwakuchinja, Northern Tanzania. We also collected group size data from Northern lesser galagos at Fongoli, Southeastern Senegal, and Lolldaiga Hills Ranch, Central Kenya. We categorised behaviours and, where sample sizes permitted, used Kruskal–Wallis tests to compare the durations of observed behaviours between the morning (pre-dawn), evening (from dusk), and later in the night. We analysed 140 focal follows (31.4 h of continuous behavioural data) and found that the proportion of time spent foraging, inactive, in locomotion, in self-maintenance, and vigilant, varied across the three stages of the night; galagos spent a great deal of their time inactive in the morning and foraging was more prevalent in the evening. Group size at Kwakuchinja was significantly larger than at Fongoli or LHR. Galagos were in groups of two or more in the majority of encounters at Kwakuchinja (55%; N = 76), rather than alone, but spent most of their nighttime activity alone at Fongoli (79%; N = 185) and LHR (80%; N = 142). Overall vocalisation rates were higher in the morning than other times throughout the night, although contact calls were relatively more frequent in the evening than other times. We recorded both affiliative and agonistic social interactions, but these contributed almost nothing to the overall activity budget. Our preliminary investigation into the social structure of Northern lesser galagos suggests that there are population differences in sociality and that overall, they connect more through vocalisations than through direct social interactions, thereby avoiding some of the potential costs associated with group-living. This variation in social organization suggests that we have more to learn about the drivers of sociality in nocturnal primates and the nature of their social structure.

Analisis Dampak Game Online Mobile Legend Terhadap Sikap, Pengetahuan, dan Keterampilan Peserta didik Kelas V

Online games are a sign of fast-growing technological advances. This research aims to 1. Analyze the knowledge gained by students from playing online mobile legend games, 2. Analyze attitudes acquired by students from playing mobile legend online games, 3. Analyze skills acquired obtained by students from playing mobile legend online games. This type of research uses qualitative methods, data collection techniques in this study are observation, interviews, and documentation. The data analysis technique used is Miles & Huberman's data validation with steps data collection, data reduction, data display, conclusion drawing/ verification. The validity of the data in this study used two types of triangulations, namely source triangulation and technical triangulation. The results of this study are 1. Knowledge gained by students from playing mobile legend online games that students when playing mobile legend games get new vocabulary, namely vocabulary in the form of push, kill, ulti, good game, buff, lord, minion, turtle , victory, defeat etc., 2. Attitudes obtained by students from playing mobile legend online games in terms of the emotional attitude of students have not been able to control their behavior as evidenced by delaying worship, eating, parental orders, besides that it is not uncommon for them to say dirty words when you get team members who are not good at playing. However, emotional attitudes such as speaking harshly are not addressed when they interact with older people. Besides that, playing games for 3-5 hours also inhibits other activities, 3. The skills acquired by students from playing mobile legend online games students are able to interact with older people because in the mobile legend game there is a voice feature where they can talk to team members, this is not realized that it is also included in social interaction, besides that they also carry out direct social interactions such as reciting the Koran, and playing.

The risks associated with the use of social media by Generation Z

The development of social media has had a significant impact on society and Generation Z has been directly affected by the new modern means of communication. In addition to the positive implications, there are a wide range of risks to which users are exposed on the Internet. Direct social interactions, physical activities, time spent with friends in nature are alternatives to limit the time spent online. Through informative campaigns, appropriate laws and collaboration between educational agents young people can develop the skills they need to cope with risky situations. Thus, the positive effects of the online environment should be maximized to contribute to personal development. The methodology of the research was characterized by the method of focus groups, and the group that was studied was made up of 13 young people. The main results highlight the existing risks for the active users of social networks, such as: addiction, narcissism, destruction of interpersonal relationships, exposure to immorality, etc.

Penguatan Profil Pelajar Pancasila Melalui Tradisi Gropyokan Iwak Sebagai Sumber Belajar IPS

The aims to find out the procession of the Gropyokan Iwak tradition and the dimensions of Pancasila student profiles in the Gropyokan Iwak tradition as social studies learning resources. The problem is focused on the Gropyokan Iwak Guna tradition as a social studies learning resource in schools to strengthen the Profil Pelajar Pancasila. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and documentation and were analyzed qualitatively. This study concludes that the Gropyokan Iwak procession is carried out during the dry season which begins with a joint prayer while asking permission led by a religious leader. The peak of the procession is carried out with the community entering the reservoir together and catching fish. This tradition is interpreted by the people around the Sonorejo reservoir as local wisdom that can encourage the process of social integration in society through a process of direct social interaction. The sub-element dimensions of the Pancasila student profile appear, namely 1) understanding of beliefs; 2) understand the connectedness of the earth's ecosystems; 3) protect the natural environment; 4) explore and compare cultural knowledge, beliefs, and practices; 5) participate in the joint decision-making process; 6) cooperation; 7) communication to achieve common goals; 8) positive interdependence; 9) social coordination; 10) Confident, resilient, and adaptive; 11) Identify, clarify, and process information and ideas; and 12) produce original ideas, works and actions. The character dimensions of Pancasila student profiles in the Gropyokan Iwak tradition can be integrated into social studies learning materials integrated thematically of the social life of the community.

Identifying social partners through indirect prosociality: A computational account

The ability to identify people who are prosocial, supportive, and mindful of others is critical for choosing social partners. While past work has emphasized the information value of direct social interactions (such as watching someone help or hinder others), social tendencies can also be inferred from indirect evidence, such as how an agent considers others when making personal choices. Here we present a computational model of this capacity, grounded in a Bayesian framework for action understanding. Across four experiments we show that this model captures how people infer social preferences based on how agents act when their choices indirectly impact others (Experiments 1a, 1b, & 1c), and how people infer what an agent knows about others from knowledge of that agent’s social preferences (Experiment 2). Critically, people’s patterns of inferences could not be explained by simpler alternatives. These findings illuminate how people can discern potential social partners from indirect evidence of their prosociality, thus deepening our understanding of partner detection, and social cognition more broadly.

The impact of social restrictions on the incidence and microbiology of peritonsillar abscess: a retrospective cohort study

ObjectivesWe aimed to explore the impact of social distancing on the incidence and microbiology of peritonsillar abscess (PTA). MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional analysis of all patients with PTA and their microbiological findings in the 2 years preceding versus the 2 years following the COVID-19 lockdown in Denmark (11 March 2020), who were admitted to the Ear-Nose-Throat Department, Aarhus University Hospital. Age-stratified population data for the catchment area were obtained from Statistics Denmark. ResultsThe annual incidence rate was significantly higher in the 2-year period before (21.8 cases/100 000 inhabitants) compared with after (14.9 cases/100 000) the lockdown (p < 0.001). The number of cases with growth of Streptococcus pyogenes was significantly higher in the period before (n = 67) compared with after (n = 28) the lockdown (p < 0.001), whereas the number of cases positive for Fusobacterium necrophorum (n = 60 vs. n = 64) and streptococcus anginosus group (SAG) (n = 37 vs. n = 43) were stabile (p 0.79 and p 0.58, respectively). The relative prevalence of S. pyogenes was significantly higher in the period before (67/246 cultures, 27%) compared with after (28/179, 16%) the lockdown (p 0.007). On the contrary, the relative prevalence of F. necrophorum and SAG is significantly lower before (60/246, 24% and 37/246, 15%) compared with after (64/179, 36% and 43/179, 24%) the lockdown (p 0.013 and p 0.023). DiscussionSocial distancing had a significant impact on the incidence and microbiology of PTA. Our findings suggest that S. pyogenes-positive PTA is highly related to direct social interaction, and represents a contagious pathogen. By contrast, PTA development caused by F. necrophorum and SAG is unrelated to direct social interaction and may be derived from flora imbalance.

Cultural Shifts And Social Impacts Of Coffee Shops On Millennials

The cultural and lifestyle shifts occurring in modern society, particularly among the millennial generation, have had a significant impact on the emergence and popularity of coffee shops. This research aims to analyze the transformation in coffee culture and the social impact of coffee shops on millennials. The method used in this study is library research.The results indicate that coffee shops have become iconic symbols of the millennial lifestyle, offering a comfortable and visually appealing environment for this generation. Millennials often choose coffee shops as gathering places, workspaces, or spaces to relax. Coffee shops have also become hubs for social activities and connections among individuals, enabling more direct social interactions compared to online platforms. This phenomenon has created a unique social and cultural atmosphere surrounding coffee shops, which in turn impacts the local economy. Furthermore, changes in millennials' lifestyles have influenced their self-perception and consumption patterns. Coffee shops serve as venues where they can express themselves, seek new experiences, and cultivate their identities. Millennials utilize coffee shops as platforms to showcase their lifestyles and aspirations, as well as to gain social recognition and prestige.

Social media for Indonesian and Philippines students

Background: The digital era has changed the behavior of students who are very responsive to technology, especially social media. However, social media has a different role and impact on their life. Purpose: This study aims to find out the interest of Indonesian and Philippines students in using social media, to find out their activities and their opinions about their social media usage. Method: This study used qualitative descriptive with purposive sampling resulting in eight people as informants spread across Indonesia and the Philippines. Results: This study found that almost all students use and have social media accounts. They use it to access education, and entertainment and to increase their local, national, and international knowledge, especially among those who participate in the Merdeka Learning program, while Philippines students participate in the international lecture program. With the existence of social media, they rarely watch television, radio, and newspaper, although there are some Indonesian informants who still like to read newspapers, there are differences in the interest in using social media by Indonesian and Philippines students. Indonesian students use social media such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram, Meanwhile, Philippines students use Facebook more when interacting with their campus friends. The students see social media changed the pattern of their daily life, for example, the lack of direct social interaction and the increase of cybercrime, while the positive impact of social media is the ability to do storytelling on social media, making it easier to communicate. Conclusion: Philippines students use Facebook more than popular social media such as Instagram and Tiktok, in contrast to Indonesian students who primarily use Instagram and Tiktok. Implication: That both Filipino and Indonesian students utilize social media, but there are differences in their preferences and usage pattern.

Analisis Penerapan Nilai-Nilai Moderasi Beragama Pada Siswa Kelas VI SDN Cangkring Bluluk Lamongan

This study aims to analyze the tolerance levels of students at SDN Cangkring Bluluk Lamongan. It is a quantitative research study that utilizes a questionnaire consisting of 30 questions. The data collection technique employed a quantitative approach, involving the distribution of questionnaires to the research subjects, specifically the sixth-grade students at SDN Cangkring in Bluluk District, Lamongan Regency, totaling 11 students. Based on the research findings, the average percentage of the total scores for all respondents across all questionnaire items is 78.36%. This indicates a high level of tolerance among the sixth-grade students at SDN Cangkring Bluluk Lamongan. However, it is worth noting that one student demonstrated a less tolerant attitude towards religious differences. Consequently, early education on tolerance values is necessary at the primary education level, considering the developmental characteristics of children at that age. An effective approach to tolerance education could involve a model that encourages direct social interaction among groups of students, fostering the development of open-mindedness towards differences in others.

Genetic impairment of folate metabolism regulates cortical interneurons and social behavior.

The implications of folate deficiency in neuropsychiatric disorders were demonstrated in numerous studies. Genetic deficiency in a key folate metabolism enzyme, MTHFR, is an example of the interaction between genetic and environmental risk factors: the maternal MTHFR deficiency governs in-utero nutrient availability, and the embryo's Mthfr genotype influences its ability to metabolize folates. Here, we explore how the maternal and offspring Mthfr genotypes affect cortical interneuron densities and distributions, mouse social outcome, and the relation of the different interneuron patterns to cortical excitability. Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of maternal and offspring Mthfr-KO heterozygosity. Mice were tested for direct social interactions (DSIs), repetitive behavior and cortical laminar distribution of interneuron populations expressing glutamate-decarboxylase-65, parvalbumin and somatostatin. Susceptibility to seizure was tested by exposure to pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). Maternal Mthfr+/- genotype was associated with suppressed social activities and reduced interneuron densities in all layers of the retrosplenial cortex (RSC). Somatostatin density and the somatostatin/parvalbumin ratio in the RSC and frontal cortex positively correlated with social behavior in the mice. An interaction between maternal and offspring Mthfr genotypes resulted in higher susceptibility of wild-type offspring to PTZ induced seizure. Maternal folate metabolism was shown to be critical to interneuron ontogenesis. Our results demonstrate that interneurons have a specific susceptibility to folate deficiency that may mediate folate's involvement in neuropsychiatric disease. The relations between cortical somatostatin interneuron patterns and social behavior highlight this subpopulation of interneurons as a target for further research.

Effects of chronic sleep restriction on the neuro-phenotypes of Ctnnd2 knockout mice.

Sleep abnormalities are highly correlated with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as intellectual disability, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The severity of behavioral abnormalities is correlated with the presence of sleep abnormalities. Based on previous research, we investigated that Ctnnd2 gene deletion in mice lead to ASD-like behaviors and cognitive defects. Given the importance of sleep in individuals with ASD, this study aimed to determine the effects of chronic sleep restriction (SR) on wild-type (WT) mice and on Ctnnd2 deletion-induced, neurologically related phenotypes in mice. WT and Ctnnd2 knockout (KO) mice were both subjected to manual SR (5h per day) for 21 consecutively days separately, then we compared neurologically related phenotypes of WT mice, WT mice subjected to SR, KO mice, and KO mice subjected to SR using a three-chamber assay, direct social interaction test, open-field test, Morris water maze, Golgi staining, and Western blotting. The effects of SR on WT and KO mice were different. After SR, social ability and cognition were impaired in both WT and KO mice. Repetitive behaviors were increased, and exploration abilities were decreased in KO mice but not in WT mice. Moreover, SR reduced the density and area of mushroom-type dendritic spines in WT rather than KO mice. Finally, the PI3K/Akt-mTOR pathway was found to be involved in the effects induced by SR-impaired phenotypes in WT and KO mice. Overall, results of the present study may have implications for the role of disrupted sleep in patients with CTNND2 gene-related autism and the evolution of neurodevelopmental disorders.