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Can Male Mice Develop Preference Towards Gentle Stroking by an Experimenter?
C Cho1, C Chan2, L J Martin3
1Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON L5L1C6, Canada.
Abstract:
Gentle stroking, a type of affective touch that holds hedonic and rewarding value, is critical to our daily inter-individual communication. This positive socio-emotional aspect of touch is conveyed through a subclass of C afferents known as C-Tactile fibers in humans with an analogous system in rodents proposed. Here, we describe a novel tactile conditioned place preference paradigm using mice and demonstrate that gentle stroking by an experimenter is rewarding. In order to investigate the relationship between tactile preference and innate sociability, mice were subjected to the classic three-chambered test of social approach, where mice displayed significant preference towards the experimenter's hand. These findings suggest that gentle stroking evoked by an experimenter can play an important role in reward and preference and establish an affiliative relationship between mice and humans. Future research can potentially use this model to examine fiber type involvement and elucidate the significance of these findings for activation of the reward system.
Insights
Gentle stroking is rewarding for mice, as shown by a new tactile conditioned place preference paradigm. This study reveals that tactile touch can establish an affiliative bond between mice and humans, impacting reward pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Behavioral Science
- Socio-emotional processing
Background:
- Affective touch, like gentle stroking, is crucial for inter-individual communication and has hedonic value.
- C-tactile (CT) fibers are thought to transmit these positive touch sensations in humans, with analogous systems proposed in rodents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel tactile conditioned place preference paradigm in mice to assess the rewarding properties of gentle stroking.
- To investigate the link between tactile preference and innate sociability in mice.
- To explore the potential for gentle stroking to foster affiliative relationships between mice and humans.
Main Methods:
- A novel tactile conditioned place preference paradigm was employed using mice.
- Mice were subjected to the classic three-chambered social approach test.
- Experimenter's gentle stroking was used as the tactile stimulus.
Main Results:
- Mice demonstrated that gentle stroking by an experimenter is a rewarding experience.
- Mice showed a significant preference for the experimenter's hand during the social approach test.
- These findings indicate that tactile stimuli can influence reward and preference behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Gentle stroking by an experimenter plays a significant role in reward and preference in mice.
- This tactile interaction can establish an affiliative relationship between mice and humans.
- The developed model offers a platform for future research into specific fiber involvement and reward system activation.
