AI Insight
This study identifies a specific population of oxytocin receptor-expressing neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus of the mouse brain that respond both to direct threats and to observing other mice in distress. When these neurons are inhibited, mice show altered social proximity behaviors and reduced responses to pain observed in others, while direct activation of these neurons increases anxiety-like behavior and tactile sensitivity. The findings suggest these neurons integrate information about environmental threats, whether experienced firsthand or witnessed socially, to coordinate appropriate defensive responses.
Why it matters
This research advances understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying empathy-like behaviors and social pain responses, which are disrupted in conditions like autism spectrum disorder and social anxiety. Identifying this specific neural population could inform development of targeted therapies for neuropsychiatric conditions characterized by abnormal threat processing or social behavior.
Understand the Science
⚠️ Preprint – Noch nicht peer-reviewed
Dieser Artikel wurde noch nicht von unabhängigen Experten begutachtet. Die Ergebnisse sind vorläufig und sollten mit Vorsicht interpretiert werden.
The ability to detect and respond to threat signals in the environment, including those conveyed by the distress of a familiar social partner, is fundamental to survival and disrupted in a range of neuropsychiatric conditions. This study identifies oxytocin receptor (Oxtr)-expressing neurons within the lateral parabrachial nucleus (lPBN) of mice as a key node in the neural circuitry underlying threat-related and social behaviors. These Oxtr neurons are activated by aversive stimuli and by observing demonstrator mice in stressful situations, including foot shock or inflammatory pain. Chemogenetic inhibition of these neurons alters social proximity and pain contagion in observers without affecting general anxiety-like behavior. Inhibition also transiently suppresses non-social central sensitization. Direct activation of lPBNOxtr neurons with a selective Oxtr agonist is anxiogenic and results in increased tactile sensitivity. Together, these findings suggest that lPBNOxtr neurons are poised to integrate information about environmental threat, whether experienced directly or witnessed in a conspecific to coordinate appropriate defensive behavioral responses.