In prairie voles, primary sensory areas are dominated by neurons that respond to one sensory modality, but some neurons also respond to stimulation of other modalities. To reveal the anatomical substrate for these multimodal responses, we examined the connections of the primary auditory area + the anterior auditory field (A1 + AAF), the temporal anterior area (TA), and the primary visual area (V1). A1 + AAF had intrinsic connections and connections with TA, multimodal cortex (MM), V1, and primary somatosensory area (S1). TA had intrinsic connections and connections with A1 + AAF, MM, and V2. Callosal connections were observed in homotopic locations in auditory cortex for both fields. A1 + AAF and TA receive thalamic input primarily from divisions of the medial geniculate nucleus but also from the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGd), the lateral posterior nucleus, and the ventral posterior nucleus (VP). V1 had dense intrinsic connections and connections with V2, MM, auditory cortex, pyriform cortex (Pyr), and, in some cases, somatosensory cortex. V1 had interhemispheric connections with V1, V2, MM, S1, and Pyr and received thalamic input from LGd and VP. Our results indicate that multisensory integration occurs in primary sensory areas of the prairie vole cortex, and this may be related to behavioral specializations associated with its niche.

Early life sensory experiences have a profound effect on brain organization, connectivity and subsequent behavior. In most mammals, the earliest sensory inputs are delivered to the developing brain through tactile contact with the parents, especially the mother. Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) are monogamous and, like humans, are biparental. Within the normal prairie vole population, both the type and amount of interactions, particularly tactile contact, that parents have with their offspring varies. The question is whether these early and pervasive differences in tactile stimulation and social experience between parent and offspring are manifest in differences in cortical organization and connectivity. To address this question we examined the cortical and callosal connections of the primary somatosensory area (S1) in high contact (HC) and low contact (LC) offspring using neuroanatomical tracing techniques. Injection sites within S1 were matched so that direct comparisons between these two groups could be made. We observed several important differences between these groups. The first was that HC offspring had a greater density of intrinsic connections within S1 compared to LC offspring. The HC offspring had a more restricted pattern of ipsilateral connections while LC offspring had dense connections with areas of parietal and frontal cortex that were more widespread. Finally, LC offspring had a broader distribution of callosal connections than HC offspring and a significantly higher percentage of callosal labeled neurons. To date, this is the first study that examines individual differences in cortical connections and suggests that they may be related to natural differences in parental rearing styles associated with tactile contact.

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Usual consumption of foods by 83 young college women and 21 young college men based on food Intake two months prior to the study 6.Craving scores of Individual foods within each group for 83 young college women and 21 young college men . 7.Computer program for LS MEANS procedure .... 8.Computer program for PROC CORR procedure ... 9.Computer program for STEPWISE procedure .... 10.Computer program for REGRESSION procedure ... 11.Determinants of craving for CHOCOLATE foods In young college students using the regression procedure 12.Determinants of craving for NON-CHOCOLATE CONTROL foods 1n young college students using the regression procedure 88 13.Determinants of CHOCOLATE DIFFERENCE 1n young college students using the regression procedure 14.Determinants of craving for HIGH SUGAR foods 1n young college students using the regression procedure 90 15.Determinants of craving for HIGH STARCH foods 1n young college students using the regression procedure 91 v Pag e 16. Determinants of craving for LOWER CARBOHYDRATE foods 1n young college students using the regression procedure 92 17. Determinants of craving for ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 1n young college students using the regression procedure 93 vi 1n their premenstrual and Intermenstrual phases. The women rated themselves as having significantly (P< .001) more symptoms 1n the scales of water retention, negative affect, pain, behavioral change, and autonomic reactions for the premenstrual condition.Also for the premenstrual phase they reported less concentration and arousal symptoms. But 1n general, the findings of this study