Oxytocin's impact on the social brain: Individual differences and context shape a core amygdala-mediated mechanism.

Beyond the metabolic effects induced by long- and short-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists, they modulate reward-related behaviors by acting on brain regions including lateral septum (LS) and neural pathways involving the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). While the short-acting GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 (Ex-4) reduces sexual behaviors in sexually naïve male mice, the effects of long- versus short-acting GLP-1R agonists on natural rewards, such as sexual and social behaviors, in females remain unexplored. In the current study, we investigate the effects of both long-acting (dulaglutide, liraglutide) and short-acting (Ex-4) GLP-1R agonists on sexual and social behaviors in sexually experienced female rats and mice. While the GLP-1R agonists decreased sexual behaviors in females, they appear to be drug- and species-specific. In female rats, Ex-4 reduced the time with the males, the number of mounts, intromissions, ejaculations, darts and hops, as well as the lordosis intensity. Female mice treated with liraglutide and dulaglutide display a reduction in time with male stimulatory mouse, and as a possible consequence, a lowered mounting and intromission duration, potentially involving increased noradrenaline levels in the NTS and altered glutamate, glutamine, and taurine levels in the LS. In the three-chamber test, dulaglutide decreased the social novelty, another behavior associated with reward/motivation. Moreover, the long-acting GLP-1R agonists increased sociability and the time to seek a novel object. These results highlight species-dependent and agonist-specific effects of GLP-1R activation on sexual and social function in females and expands our understanding of the broader role of GLP-1.

Modeling the empathy-self-discovery paradox in Gen Z social behavior with NPD using artificial neural networks.

Schizophrenia encompasses positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms, and accumulating evidence suggests that the orexin system may modulate circuits relevant to these domains. Here, we investigated whether orexin-related interventions influence schizophrenia-like behaviors induced by the NMDA receptor antagonist dizocilpine in female and male mice. Two distinct approaches were used: nasal orexin A administration and chemogenetic activation of orexin neurons via DREADDs. Behavioral assessments included prepulse inhibition (PPI), locomotion and exploratory activity in the open field, social behavior, and working memory in the Y-maze. Overall, dizocilpine robustly induced schizophrenia-like phenotypes across these paradigms. Nasal orexin A exacerbated the dizocilpine-induced PPI deficit but attenuated the associated increase in startle reactivity, did not modify dizocilpine-induced hyperactivity, and partially rescued working memory impairments. Chemogenetic activation reproduced the PPI pattern observed with nasal orexin A, increased locomotion in both control- and dizocilpine-treated mice, induced anxiolytic-like effects in the open field, restored exploratory rearing, facilitated social recognition, and fully rescued working memory deficits. In some cases, the effects of these orexin-related interventions were differently pronounced in the two sexes. These findings indicate that activating the orexin system may worsen behavioral endophenotypes related to positive symptoms while alleviating those associated with negative and cognitive symptoms. However, substantial variability across assays, potentially related to the dosing of dizocilpine, orexin A, and CNO, as well as protocol-dependent constraints in some behavioral paradigms, limits definitive interpretation. Nevertheless, the present data reveal novel and domain-specific effects of orexin signaling in schizophrenia-relevant behavioral circuits and highlight the importance of exploring interventions with intermediate efficacy, including newly emerging orexin receptor agonists, to more precisely delineate orexin-dependent mechanisms and their therapeutic potential for negative and cognitive symptom domains.

Neural mechanisms underlying orofacial prosocial behavior in rodents.

Glyphosate repercussions on Danio rerio: Integrating behavioral crisis, biochemical imbalance and lipidomic changes.

A topic modeling analysis of stigma dimensions, social, and related behavioral circumstances in clinical notes among patients with HIV.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by social impairments and stereotyped behavior, with some individuals exhibiting heightened aggression in response to stress. This stress induced aggression (SIA) can severely impact quality of life, yet its underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated the behavioral phenotypes and neural activity that result as a consequence of stress in Cntnap2-/-:TRAP2+/-:Ai14+/- mice. Deletion of the CNTNAP2 gene leads to a highly penetrant syndromic form of ASD, and the targeted recombination in active populations (TRAP) system allows for permanent access to neuronal populations activated during a specific experience, such as stress and aggression. We implemented a behavioral paradigm consisting of a baseline resident intruder assay, with either a single day or four consecutive days of restraint stress, followed by a posttest resident intruder assay in Cntnap2-/-:TRAP2+/-:Ai14+/- and control mice. While a single day of restraint stress failed to induce changes in aggressive behavior in either genotype, 4 days of restraint stress significantly escalated aggression and reduced latency to attack selectively in Cntnap2-/- mice. Using TRAP-based labeling, we observed increased neuronal activity in the lateral septum, lateral habenula, lateral hypothalamus, nucleus accumbens, and prelimbic cortex of Cntnap2-/- mice. Interestingly, time aggressive and aggressive events were positively correlated with activity in the lateral septum, lateral habenula, and infralimbic cortex. These findings suggest that repeated stress engages specific fronto-striatal and limbic regions in Cntnap2-/- mice and provide insight into the neural substrates of maladaptive SIA, offering a foundation for targeted therapeutic strategies.

Previous research has shown that shyness is a risk factor for poor socio-emotional outcomes, although not all shy adults develop these problematic behaviors. Emotional intelligence (EI) may be one explanatory factor that helps facilitate adaptive social behaviors and buffers against developing internalizing behaviors in some shy individuals. Accordingly, this study investigated whether EI moderated the relation between shyness and social approach (i.e., sociability) and avoidance (i.e., internalizing behaviors) behaviors in emerging adulthood. Participants were 523 young adults (M = 18.65 years, SD = 0.90, 19.3% male) who completed online questionnaires related to shyness, EI, sociability, and internalizing behaviors. We found that the EI subfactor Others' Emotion Appraisal (OEA) moderated a negative relation between shyness and sociability. Specifically, shy women with higher OEA reported higher levels of sociability than those with lower levels of OEA. Notably, this effect was not observed in men. As well, contrary to our expectation, EI had no moderating effect on the relation between shyness and internalizing behaviors. Findings indicate that the ability to perceive others' emotions may help shy women navigate social situations more effectively. Moreover, they challenge the idea that EI uniformly moderates the effects of shyness, instead highlighting the different pathways through which specific emotional competencies interact with personality and sex.

Chronic exposure to polyethylene and tire wear particles changes the associative behaviour in cyprinid fishes.

Adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury exhibit increased pain empathic neural reactivity and personal distress to physical but not affective pain.

Resilient hubs, shifting links: The brain's network architecture during deceptive behavior.

δ-catenin haploinsufficiency is sufficient to alter behaviors and glutamatergic synapses in mice.

This article provides examples of how to use the Hand of Fair Play (HOFP) in different contexts as an effective, instant choice for preservice teachers and coaches to connect larger concepts to their students’ personal and social behaviors in shared movement experiences.

BACKGROUND Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a debilitating and commonly prevalent mental health condition that impacts around 5% of the global population. It is recognised as one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Understanding the factors that influence the severity and progression of MDD, such as perceived social support, subjective well-being, coping mechanisms, personality traits, and social media addiction, can help enhance the development of effective treatment and prevention strategies. AIM To analyse the relationship between perceived social supports, subjective well-being, coping styles, personality traits, and social media addiction among adult patients with MDD, and compare these factors with those of adult patients with MDD who are in remission. METHODS All participants aged 18 to 60 years who were attending the adult psychiatry outpatient department were initially screened for eligibility. The investigator has obtained informed consent. The participants were divided into two groups: The study group [Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) score > 7] and the comparator group (HAM-D score ≤ 7). Standardised assessment tools, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, World Health Organization-5 Wellbeing Index, Brief COPE Inventory, HAM-D, Social Networking Addiction Scale (SNAS), and Personality Inventory for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - Brief Form, were applied to all the participants in both groups. RESULTS A total of 140 patients were recruited in the study (70 symptomatic and 70 in remission). Patients who were in remission showed significantly higher mean Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support scores (48.70 ± 11.01) as compared to symptomatic patients (33.00 ± 15.37). The World Health Organization wellbeing was significantly lower in symptomatic patients (7.93 ± 1.75) as compared with those who were in remission (13.90 ± 1.61). The mean SNAS scores were higher in symptomatic patients (72.37 ± 19.83) compared to patients in remission (67.03 ± 28.09). Problem-focused coping showed a significant negative correlation with SNAS scores (r = -0.334, P = 0.005) and HAM-D scores (r = -0.273, P = 0.022). Among personality trait domains, disinhibition had a strong positive and significant correlation (r = 0.515, P < 0.001) with SNAS scores. Detachment and psychoticism were significantly higher in symptomatic patients. In social media addiction, tolerance, withdrawal, and relapse were significantly higher in symptomatic patients in comparison to those in remission. CONCLUSION This research emphasises the rising importance of digital behaviour patterns among psychiatric groups. More screen time and problematic social media use were linked to depression symptoms and reduced psychosocial functioning. Adding behavioural interventions that focus on digital hygiene, improving coping skills, and re-engaging social abilities could serve as useful complements to conventional drug and therapy approaches.

This study examines how religion influences individual cognitive perspectives, social behaviour, and emotional coping strategies within a multicultural academic environment. The research was conducted at the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Kolkata, using a sample of 18 international participants representing 12 countries and four religious traditions: Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, and African Traditional Religions. Data were collected over a ten‑month period using a mixed‑methods approach involving structured questionnaires, semi‑structured interviews, and observational techniques. Quantitative analyses included correlation, regression, and paired sample tests, while qualitative data were analysed using thematic coding and thematic analysis. The results indicate that religious identity plays a significant role in shaping cognitive interpretation of experiences, social integration, and emotional resilience. The study highlights the importance of religious diversity in multicultural academic settings and contributes to interdisciplinary research in sociology of religion, psychology, and cultural adaptation.

ABSTRACT This study examines the predictors and behavioral outcomes of hostile media perception of campus protest. Data from a national online survey of 1010 respondents during the 2024 American campus protests show that hostile media perception fueled strategic social media activity – strengthening in-group bonds and disengaging from opponents. Additionally, conspiracy beliefs moderated these effects, intensifying or reducing the impact of hostile media perception on polarized social media behavior, depending on belief strength.

Human social behaviors involve complex interactions between individuals, and understanding how interbrain neural activity reflects and predicts these interactions is critical for advancing social cognitive neuroscience. While electroencephalography (EEG) hyperscanning has been widely used to explore interpersonal neural dynamics, most studies focus on pairwise regional coupling, overlooking the brain's intrinsic network-level organization. Here, we propose a spatiotemporal network analysis framework that combines Bayesian non-negative matrix factorization with EEG source imaging to identify interpretable subnetworks with spatiotemporal information. Applying this framework to dyadic EEG datasets from interactive decision-making tasks identifies eight task-relevant subnetworks, including the default mode network (DMN), somatosensory-motor network (SMN), and visual network (VN). Effective interpersonal coordination was associated with enhanced network-level time-domain interbrain synchrony and spatial-domain inter-subject similarity, and the fusion of these metrics reliably predicted interactive behaviors. Notably, synchrony and similarity involving DMN, VN, and SMN emerge as robust predictors of interactive behaviors, with spatiotemporal coupling most prominent within these subnetworks. These findings reveal spatiotemporal network signatures underlying interpersonal neural synchronization and demonstrate the importance of distributed subnetworks and their temporal and spatial alignment in achieving effective social interactions. This framework provides a useful computational tool for probing the neurobiological basis of social behaviors.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may experience social challenges and behaviors that can have a significant impact on their quality of life and how they function within their environment. Equine-assisted therapy has been shown to have positive effects on children with ASD and can foster a sense of connection and encourage self-expression through interaction with their equine partner. This study assessed caregivers’ perceived effectiveness of Therapeutic Riding (TR), a type of equine-assisted therapy, for children with ASD. Caregivers were asked to reflect on behavioral, social, sensory, confidence, and activities of daily living changes that have occurred since their children first began TR, using a quasi-experimental survey design, from January to February 2025. We hypothesized that caregivers would perceive positive outcomes in all domains. Seventeen caregivers responded to the survey, with the most notable improvements reported in the areas of behavior (88%), self-control (82%), sensory processing (76.5%), social communication (82.4%), independence in daily activities (64.7%), confidence at home (76.4%), and when trying new things (82.4%). However, this study was significantly limited by the nature of quasi-experimental designs (i.e., no control group for comparison) and the lack of a standardized measurement tool. These findings suggest that TR may be used as a promising intervention to improve outcomes in children with ASD, but future research is needed.

Pregabalin misuse is increasing, but its psychostimulant and rewarding properties remain unclear, especially regarding sex differences and interactions with opioids. The objectives of this study are to investigate pregabalin's behavioral and neurochemical effects in male and female mice, including its impact on cognition, social interaction, reinforcement, and cross-sensitization with morphine. CD-1 mice received pregabalin (30-90 mg/kg, i.p.) acutely or for 5 days. Locomotor activity, Y-maze performance, social behavior, and conditioned place preference (CPP) were assessed. Brain monoamine levels were quantified by HPLC. A D1 dopamine receptor antagonist (SCH23390) was used to explore dopaminergic involvement. Morphine CPP was tested after pregabalin pretreatment. Results showed that in male mice, acute pregabalin induced transient hyperlocomotion and rewarding effects in CPP test, both associated with increased dopamine in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. No psychostimulant or reinforcing effects were observed in female mice. Pregabalin had no impact on memory or general social behavior, though a subset of males displayed aggression, coinciding with elevated serotonin and norepinephrine. Repeated pregabalin dosing produced tolerance without sensitization. Blocking D1 receptors abolished pregabalin-induced CPP. Importantly, pregabalin pretreatment enhanced morphine-induced CPP, suggesting cross-sensitization. Conclusions indicate that pregabalin exerts sex-specific stimulant and rewarding effects in mice, driven by dopaminergic signaling. Its ability to potentiate morphine's rewarding properties raises concern about abuse potential, particularly in opioid-exposed individuals. These findings highlight the need to consider sex as a biological variable when assessing the addictive risk of pregabalin.