Han Kyoung Choe, Ph.D.
June 18(Thu) - June 18(Thu), 2020
12PM
ZOOM (ID: 728-142-6028 )
Neuro@noon Seminar
Date: 12:00 PM, Thursday, June 18th
ZOOM 회의 참가 ID: 728-142-6028
Speaker: Han Kyoung Choe, Ph.D.
Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Korea
Title: Neural mechanisms underlying circadian priority in social approach conflict
Abstract: Prioritizing an appropriate social behavior at a given time of a day is vital to survival and reproduction. However, the neural substrate responsible for combining time and social information is poorly understood. Here, we developed a behavioral paradigm to measure circadian priority in dual approach conflict of exploring either social novelty or potential mate partner. We found that social priority of male mice exhibits a daily pattern, with more social novelty seeking at the early active phase and more sexual exploration at the middle of active phase. Bmal1, a core molecular clock component, knockout mice showed a disrupted pattern in social priority, implying that molecular clockwork is necessary to generate time-relevant social behavior. Neural tracing revealed that vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) neurons in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the master clock of circadian rhythm, project to several brain regions implicated in the social behavior. Chemogenetic inhibition of SCN VIP neurons affected the priority of social priority. Moreover, we detected a robust oscillation of molecular clock in the critical nodes of the accessory olfactory pathway, implying the participation of local clock in the circadian social prioritization. Taken together, our data suggest the integration of time and social information onto nodes in the accessory olfactory pathway to facilitate a timely selection of a social behavior among behavioral repertoire.