Samantha Low Rose Hills
Neuropeptide regulation of prairie vole socio-behavioral plasticity
Though critical to the human experience, social attachment and its neurobiological mechanisms remain elusive. As one of few socially monogamous mammals, prairie voles are a unique study model: their pair-bond formation is accompanied by behavioral changes such as marked partner preference and hostility towards novel voles. Previous rodent research has implicated the social brain network (SBN) to drive social behavior. Within voles, past studies have identified differences in gene expression of specific neuropeptides upon pair bonding.
My project will investigate the regulation of these affected neuropeptides in naive versus bonded states of prairie voles. I will validate transcriptional changes to confirm that pair bonding is accompanied by altered gene expression in the SBN. Additionally, I will articulate the timeline of neuromolecular changes to study immediate versus long-term differences in gene expression after pair bonding. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that contribute to social behavior plasticity may provide critical insight into dysregulated human social behavior associated with autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, or a history of trauma.
Message To Sponsor
I would like to sincerely thank you for your support of my project. As a student passionate about pursuing academic medicine, the opportunity to engage in neuroscience research with human translational insight is deeply meaningful. Through my project, I aspire to contribute to a greater understanding of the biological mechanisms that underlie the human social experience, building a future where we can better support individuals facing social attachment challenges.