# Structural connectivity of the fore- and mid-brain in prairie voles

## TL;DR

This study maps brain connections in prairie voles to better understand how complex social behaviors are processed.

## Contribution

The study provides a detailed structural connectivity map of the social decision-making network in prairie voles.

## Key findings

- Many social decision-making network brain regions share bi-directional innervation.
- The anterior hypothalamus is identified as a hub in the network.
- The Ent and LH show high network connectivity despite being outside the SDMN.

## Abstract

Mammals live in complex social systems that require higher order cognition to process and display complex social behaviors. It is suggested that brain networks, such as the social decision-making network (SDMN), have evolved to process such information. Recent functional connectivity studies of the SDMN have revealed distinct network dynamics during different social events across several species. However, the structural mapping of this network is incomplete which limits structural-functional modeling. Here, we assess the structural connectivity of an extended SDMN as well as the fore- and mid-brain afferent projections with the use of cholera toxin subunit-B retrograde tracers and the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), a socially monogamous rodent that displays complex social behaviors. This work greatly expands upon the limited structural connectivity of the vole social brain and highlights important regions within the SDMN and other highly innervated regions that may serve as information hubs.

•Many social decision-making network brain regions share bi-directional innervation•The hub analysis of this network suggests that the anterior hypothalamus is the hub•Cartographic modeling classifies the mPOA and PAG as non-connector hubs•The Ent and LH are regions outside of the network with high network connectivity

Many social decision-making network brain regions share bi-directional innervation

The hub analysis of this network suggests that the anterior hypothalamus is the hub

Cartographic modeling classifies the mPOA and PAG as non-connector hubs

The Ent and LH are regions outside of the network with high network connectivity

Rodent behavior; Neuroscience; Behavioral neuroscience