Sociobiology: Changing the Dominance Hierarchy
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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Assessing Social Dominance in Mouse Models Using the Tube Test
Published on: June 6, 2025
1Center for Studies of Psychological Application, School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Neuroeconomics, Reward and Decision-making Team, Institut des Sciences Cognitives Marc Jeannerod, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UMR 5229, 69675 Bron, France.
Abstract:
One fundamental question is to understand what neural circuits are involved when social hierarchies are established, maintained and modified. Now, a new study shows that a previously subordinate animal can become dominant after optogenetic stimulation of the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex, demonstrating that this brain region is necessary and sufficient to quickly induce winning during social competitions.
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