# Experience-dependent modulation of prosocial touch in mice

## TL;DR

Mice that receive comforting touch from others are more likely to comfort stressed partners later, with sensory input and brain activity playing key roles.

## Contribution

The study reveals how sensory experience and neural mechanisms modulate prosocial touch behavior in mice.

## Key findings

- Mice that received prosocial contact showed increased allogrooming toward stressed partners.
- Reduced tactile sensation during prosocial contact diminished future allogrooming behavior.
- Prosocial contact increased neuronal activation in the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus.

## Abstract

Prosocial behaviors that benefit others are vital for social cohesion and collective well-being. How prior experiences shape future prosocial actions remains a critical open question. Mice can respond to distressed social partners with prosocial touch (allogrooming), alleviating stress in recipients. We show that mice that previously received prosocial contact following stress subsequently exhibited enhanced allogrooming toward stressed partners, and the amount of allogrooming previously received predicted the amount later displayed toward others. Notably, attenuation of peripheral tactile sensation during the receipt of prosocial contact diminished its impact on future allogrooming behavior, suggesting a critical role of somatosensation in mediating this phenomenon. Furthermore, receipt of prosocial contact was associated with increased neuronal activation in the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus, a region implicated in processing social touch information and regulating allogrooming behavior. Collectively, our findings offer insights into experience-dependent modulation of prosocial touch and its underlying sensory and neural mechanisms.

•Receipt of prosocial contact enhances allogrooming toward stressed partners in mice•Previously received allogrooming predicts allogrooming toward stressed partners•Experience-dependent modulation of allogrooming may require somatosensation•Receipt of prosocial contact leads to increased neural activity in the PIL

Receipt of prosocial contact enhances allogrooming toward stressed partners in mice

Previously received allogrooming predicts allogrooming toward stressed partners

Experience-dependent modulation of allogrooming may require somatosensation

Receipt of prosocial contact leads to increased neural activity in the PIL

Neuroscience; Behavioral neuroscience; Cognitive neuroscience; Psychology