Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026
Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice
Published on: August 13, 2020
Amygdala activity associated with social choice in mice
Takuma Mihara1, Kobina Mensah-Brown2, Rosanna Sobota2
1Department of Psychiatry, Translational Neuroscience Program, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Neuroscience, Pharmacology Research Laboratories, Drug Discovery Research, Astellas Pharma Inc., Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Ketamine impairs social behavior and alters amygdala activity in mice, mimicking schizophrenia symptoms. This suggests NMDA receptor dysfunction contributes to social deficits and amygdala dysfunction in schizophrenia.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychiatry
- Computational Neuroscience
Background:
- The amygdala plays a crucial role in regulating anxiety, fear, and social functions.
- Dysfunction of the amygdala is implicated in the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
- NMDA receptor hypofunction is a proposed mechanism in schizophrenia pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of NMDA receptor antagonist ketamine on amygdala activity during social interaction in mice.
- To explore the relationship between NMDA receptor function, amygdala activity, and social behavior deficits.
Main Methods:
- Electroencephalographic (EEG) amygdala activity was recorded in mice during a three-chamber social test.
- Mice were treated with either ketamine (an NMDA receptor antagonist) or a vehicle control.
- EEG data was analyzed for induced power in different frequency bands during chamber entries.
Main Results:
- Ketamine treatment eliminated the natural social preference observed in vehicle-treated mice.
- Ketamine-treated mice spent less time in the social chamber and more time in the non-social chamber.
- Ketamine altered amygdala theta and gamma power during chamber entries, affecting social interaction patterns.
Conclusions:
- Impaired NMDA receptor-mediated glutamate transmission can induce social impairments and amygdala dysfunction.
- These findings provide a potential animal model for studying social dysfunction in schizophrenia.
- The study highlights a method for evaluating mechanisms of social deficits and potential treatments.
