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

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...
Neurons as Communicators of the Brain01:22

Neurons as Communicators of the Brain

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, function as the primary transmitters of information throughout the body. Their ability to communicate through electrical and chemical signals is vital for every bodily function, from regulating the heartbeat to processing complex thoughts. Each neuron has three main components: the cell body (soma), dendrites, and an axon, each specialized to facilitate swift and efficient neural communication.
Cell Body
The cell body, also known...
Empathy02:34

Empathy

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.
Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue01:15

Neurogenesis and Regeneration of Nervous Tissue

In the CNS, neurogenesis, the birth of new neurons from stem cells, is limited to the hippocampus in adults. In other regions of the brain and spinal cord, neurogenesis is almost non-existent due to inhibitory influences from neuroglia, especially oligodendrocytes, and the absence of growth-stimulating cues. The myelin produced by oligodendrocytes in the CNS inhibits neuronal regeneration. Furthermore, astrocytes proliferate rapidly after neuronal damage, forming scar tissue that physically...
Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System01:15

Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System

The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
Neuronal Communication01:28

Neuronal Communication

Neurons, the fundamental units of the brain and nervous system, communicate through complex electrochemical signals that underpin all cognitive and bodily functions. This communication is primarily facilitated by a process involving the generation and propagation of an action potential along the axon of the neuron. When the internal electrical charge of a neuron surpasses a certain threshold, an action potential is triggered. This rapid change in voltage travels swiftly along the axon to the...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Dissociating neural circuits of social and prosocial reward in rat helping behavior.

iScience·2026
Same author

Plasticity of the parental brain.

Current opinion in neurobiology·2025
Same author

Integration of hunger and hormonal state gates infant-directed aggression.

Nature·2025
Same author

Dominance rank inference in mice via chemosensation.

Current biology : CB·2025
Same author

Hormone-mediated neural remodeling orchestrates parenting onset during pregnancy.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2023
Same author

A low-cost device for cryoanesthesia of neonatal rodents.

HardwareX·2023
Same journal

Pitch selectivity in ferret auditory cortex.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

A cell size-dependent competition between geometry and polarity governs nuclear and spindle positioning in early embryos.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Trophic cascades drive sustainability in the agricultural heritage rice-fish coculture system.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Tracking Satb2-positive retinal ganglion cells in zebrafish unveils developmental functional reorganization.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

RhoGAP54D promotes cell size asymmetry and inhibits pulsatile myosin activity in Drosophila neural stem cells.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same journal

Increased rates of hybridization in swordtails are associated with water pollution.

Current biology : CB·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 20, 2026

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

Neuroscience: Shared circuits for care.

Wing Gee Shum1, Johannes Kohl1

  • 1The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.

Current Biology : CB
|May 18, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Neural circuits for parental care in mice also support helping behavior towards other adults. This study provides evidence linking prosocial actions to evolved caregiving systems.

More Related Videos

Perspectives on Neuroscience
26:41

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Bringing the Clinic Home: An At-Home Multi-Modal Data Collection Ecosystem to Support Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation
06:32

Bringing the Clinic Home: An At-Home Multi-Modal Data Collection Ecosystem to Support Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation

Published on: July 14, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 20, 2026

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

Perspectives on Neuroscience
26:41

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Bringing the Clinic Home: An At-Home Multi-Modal Data Collection Ecosystem to Support Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation
06:32

Bringing the Clinic Home: An At-Home Multi-Modal Data Collection Ecosystem to Support Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation

Published on: July 14, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Behavioral Biology
  • Evolutionary Psychology

Background:

  • Prosocial behaviors, which benefit others, are crucial for social cohesion.
  • It is hypothesized that prosociality may stem from neural systems originally developed for parental care.
  • Direct evidence linking these systems has been limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the neural basis of prosocial behavior in mice.
  • To determine if neural circuits involved in parental care also mediate helping behaviors towards adult conspecifics.

Main Methods:

  • The study utilized behavioral assays in mice to observe helping behaviors.
  • Neural activity and circuit activation were monitored during these interactions.
  • Genetic and chemogenetic tools were employed to manipulate specific neural pathways.

Main Results:

  • A partially overlapping neural circuit was identified that underlies both pup care and helping distressed adult mice.
  • Specific neuronal populations were found to be active during both caregiving and prosocial helping behaviors.
  • Manipulation of these circuits altered the expression of helping behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • The findings suggest that prosocial behaviors in adult mice can leverage neural architecture evolved for parental care.
  • This provides direct evidence for the evolutionary link between caregiving and broader prosociality.
  • The identified neural circuits offer potential targets for understanding social behavior deficits.