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Review
. 2022 Nov 4:10:1011657.
doi: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1011657. eCollection 2022.

In the pursuit of new social neurons. Neurogenesis and social behavior in mice: A systematic review

Lydia García-Gómez  1 , Iker Castillo-Fernández  1 , Ana Perez-Villalba  1
Affiliations
Review

In the pursuit of new social neurons. Neurogenesis and social behavior in mice: A systematic review

Lydia García-Gómez et al. Front Cell Dev Biol. .

Abstract

Social behaviors have become more relevant to our understanding of the human nervous system because relationships with our peers may require and modulate adult neurogenesis. Here, we review the pieces of evidence we have to date for the divergence of social behaviors in mice by modulation of adult neurogenesis or if social behaviors and the social environment can drive a change in neurogenic processes. Social recognition and memory are deeply affected by antimitotic drugs and irradiation, while NSC transgenic mice may run with lower levels of social discrimination. Interestingly, social living conditions can create a big impact on neurogenesis. Social isolation and social defeat reduce the number of new neurons, while social dominance and enrichment of the social environment increase their number. These new "social neurons" trigger functional modifications with amazing transgenerational effects. All of these suggest that we are facing two bidirectional intertwined variables, and the great challenge now is to understand the cellular and genetic mechanisms that allow this relationship to be used therapeutically.

Keywords: adult neurogenesis; hippocampus; housing conditions; neural stem cells; parental behavior; social behavior; social memory; social stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA flow diagram (2020 version).
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Social behaviors and correlated neurogenic changes.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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