Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Neural Circuits01:25

Neural Circuits

1.5K
Neural circuits and neuronal pools are two of the main structures found in the nervous system. Neural circuits are networks of neurons that work together to carry out a specific task or process. They consist of interconnected neurons and glial cells, which provide structural and metabolic support.
Neuronal pools are collections of nerve cells with similar functions and interact through chemical and electrical signals. These pools include both interneurons (the central neural circuit nodes that...
1.5K
Neurotransmitters01:31

Neurotransmitters

1.4K
Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
1.4K
Neural Regulation01:37

Neural Regulation

39.8K
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.
39.8K
Empathy02:34

Empathy

9.7K
Some researchers suggest that altruism operates on empathy. Empathy is the capacity to understand another person’s perspective, to feel what he or she feels. An empathetic person makes an emotional connection with others and feels compelled to help (Batson, 1991). Empathy can be expressed in several ways, including cognitive, affective, and motor. 
9.7K
Altruism01:03

Altruism

41.6K
Altruistic behaviors are “unselfish” behaviors—those that help another individual at the expense of the individual carrying out the behavior. Despite the negative consequences for the altruistic animal, these behaviors are thought to have evolved for several reasons.
41.6K
Egoism and Altruism01:55

Egoism and Altruism

92.2K
Voluntary behavior with the intent to help other people is called prosocial behavior. Why do people help other people? Is personal benefit such as feeling good about oneself the only reason people help one another?
92.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

No evidence for direct physical interaction of 5-HT <sub>2A</sub> -mGluR2 receptors <i>in vitro</i> or <i>in vivo</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Local control of dopamine release in nucleus accumbens gates opioid withdrawal aversion.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Dopamine and serotonin inversely modulate D2 medium spiny neurons to regulate cocaine reward.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Repeated Stress Escalates Aggression and Activity in Fronto-Limbic Regions in Cntnap2<sup>-</sup>/<sup>-</sup> Mice.

Genes, brain, and behavior·2026
Same author

Serotonin modulates nucleus accumbens circuits to suppress aggression in mice.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

Cholinergic modulation of dopamine release drives effortful behaviour.

Nature·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 8, 2025

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
06:42

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

11.7K

Neural circuits regulating prosocial behaviors.

Jessica J Walsh1,2,3, Daniel J Christoffel4,5, Robert C Malenka6

  • 1Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, USA. Jessica_walsh@med.unc.edu.

Neuropsychopharmacology : Official Publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
|June 14, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Understanding prosocial behavior is key to well-being. This review explores neural circuits, neurotransmitters like oxytocin, and therapeutic strategies for social deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders.

More Related Videos

Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms
08:00

Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms

Published on: November 17, 2018

14.3K
Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice
04:14

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Published on: November 22, 2024

665

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Sep 8, 2025

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses
06:42

Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation of the Posterior Medial Frontal Cortex to Experimentally Reduce Ideological Threat Responses

Published on: September 28, 2018

11.7K
Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms
08:00

Analyzing Spatial Learning and Prosocial Behavior in Mice Using the Barnes Maze and Damsel-in-Distress Paradigms

Published on: November 17, 2018

14.3K
Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice
04:14

Observational Fear as a Model of Affective Empathy in Mice

Published on: November 22, 2024

665

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Science
  • Psychiatry

Background:

  • Prosocial interactions are vital for survival and well-being.
  • Complex neural circuits mediate these behaviors.
  • Disruptions in these circuits underlie social deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent findings on neural circuits involved in prosocial behaviors.
  • To highlight the role of neurotransmitters in regulating social interactions.
  • To elucidate mechanisms of social deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders and discuss therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing modern rodent models to map, monitor, and manipulate neural circuits.
  • Investigating the modulatory effects of oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine.
  • Examining excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission in specific brain regions.

Main Results:

  • Oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine modulate synaptic transmission critical for prosocial interactions.
  • Recent findings elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms of social deficits.
  • Rodent models provide insights into the neural basis of prosocial behavior.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted modulation of specific neural circuits and neurotransmitters is crucial for prosocial behavior.
  • Understanding these mechanisms can lead to improved therapies for social deficits.
  • Developing effective interventions for aberrant prosocial behaviors is a key goal.