Browsing by Subject "Empathy -- Sex differences"

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    Affiliative Behavior and Empathetic Response: Sex Differences and Neuroendocrine Factors
    (2008) Mutso, Amelia; Sternberg, Wendy
    This study investigated the ability of mice to distinguish the emotional state of other mice as an indication of empathetic behavior. The ability to distinguish emotional states was examined by using an overt pain stimulus on a mouse and measuring subsequent approach behavior by another mouse to the mouse in pain. This was used as a model for the affiliation and empathy of one mouse for another, presenting a novel paradigm for measuring affiliation and empathetic approach behavior towards another animal. The ability to identify the pain state of another mouse was examined in both female and male mice. It was found that female mice were better able than males to identify the pain state of another mouse, and, therefore spent significantly more time in proximity to the cagemate in pain than with an unaffected cagemate. Approach behavior in males was not affected by the pain state of another mouse. Since the hormone oxytocin has been shown to play a role in affiliation, its role in the ability to identify emotional states was investigated through a pharmacological manipulation in female mice where female mice were injected with oxytocin. The data from the oxytocin manipulation were inconclusive but suggested further work is necessary to investigate the role of this hormone in empathetic behavior in mice. Future research can use this novel paradigm to further investigate sex differences in empathetic behavior and the role of affiliative hormones in empathetic responses.
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    Pain as a Mediator of Empathetic Response in Mus musculus: Identifying Neuroendocrine Substrates and Sex Differences of Social Approach Behavior
    (2008) Tuttle, Alexander H.; Sternberg, Wendy
    Recent behavioral research suggests that empathic behaviors may not be limited to humans and higher-order primates. In mice, pain directed behavior appears to be modulated based on the presence and pain status of a conspecific. However, additional indicators of social attachment have yet to be demonstrated in the mouse model. The present study attempts to determine if mice exhibit additional empathy-like behaviors found in other social models. Involvement of the social neuropeptide oxytocin is also evaluated. Results indicate that pain experienced by a familiar cagemate serves as an effective social cue for eliciting approach behavior in female mice, but does not affect male behavior. Furthermore, elevated levels of oxytocin appear to attenuate female approach behavior. Study limitations and future directions are discussed.
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    Sex Dependent Affiliation Behavior and Empathic Approach in Mus musculus
    (2008) Brown, Kara; Sternberg, Wendy
    The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of sex and oxytocin on approach behavior in mice elicited by empathy for the pain of another mouse. The approach behavior of a free mouse towards an enclosed mouse was measured during a 30 minute period. Sex differences in approach behavior were observed during the first experiment. Results showed that females approached mice in pain more often than mice not in pain, whereas this distinction between pain and no pain conditions was not present in males. We hypothesized that this effect may be mediated by a “tend and befriend” response to stress produced by oxytocin. Using the same experimental setup to measure approach behavior, oxytocin was administered by subcutaneous injection to female mice. We expected that female mice with increased oxytocin levels would approach a mouse in pain more often than a mouse not in pain. We also predicted that they would approach a mouse in pain more frequently than mice not injected with oxytocin. Results did not demonstrate effects of pain manipulation in the predicted direction. These results most likely stem from a number of unexpected side effects of high doses of oxytocin including its sedative effects. Studies such as these contribute to the larger goal of researchers to establish animal models of social relationships and emotion as a means of better understanding and treating social disorders in humans.