Oxytocin induces the formation of distinctive cortical representations and cognitions biased toward familiar mice

David Wolf, Renée Hartig, Yi Zhuo, Max F. Scheller, Mirko Articus, Marcel Moor, Valery Grinevich, Christiane Linster, Eleonora Russo, Wolfgang Weber-Fahr, Jonathan R. Reinwald and Wolfgang Kelsch ()
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David Wolf: Johannes Gutenberg University
Renée Hartig: Johannes Gutenberg University
Yi Zhuo: Johannes Gutenberg University
Max F. Scheller: Johannes Gutenberg University
Mirko Articus: Johannes Gutenberg University
Marcel Moor: Johannes Gutenberg University
Valery Grinevich: Heidelberg University
Christiane Linster: Ithaca
Eleonora Russo: Johannes Gutenberg University
Wolfgang Weber-Fahr: Heidelberg University
Jonathan R. Reinwald: Johannes Gutenberg University
Wolfgang Kelsch: Johannes Gutenberg University

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Abstract Social recognition is essential for the formation of social structures. Many times, recognition comes with lesser exploration of familiar animals. This lesser exploration has led to the assumption that recognition may be a habituation memory. The underlying memory mechanisms and the thereby acquired cortical representations of familiar mice have remained largely unknown, however. Here, we introduce an approach directly examining the recognition process from volatile body odors among male mice. We show that volatile body odors emitted by mice are sufficient to identify individuals and that more salience is assigned to familiar mice. Familiarity is encoded by reinforced population responses in two olfactory cortex hubs and communicated to other brain regions. The underlying oxytocin-induced plasticity promotes the separation of the cortical representations of familiar from other mice. In summary, neuronal encoding of familiar animals is distinct and utilizes the cortical representational space more broadly, promoting storage of complex social relationships.

Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50113-6

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