What is a pair bond?

Bales, Karen L.; Ardekani, Cory S.; Baxter, Alexander; Karaskiewicz, Chloe L.; Kuske, Jace X.; Lau, Allison R.; Savidge, Logan E.; Sayler, Kristina; Witczak, Lynea R.

doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2021.105062

Cited by 67 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 223 publications

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“…Persistent relationships within specific pairs or groups of conspecifics are present throughout the animal kingdom, including species of invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals ( Bales et al, 2021 ). While the nature and extent of these relationships vary considerably, they share in common the specificity of social preferences that leads to repeated association.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social selectivity and social motivation in voles

Beery

Lopez

Blandino

et al. 2021

eLife

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Selective relationships are fundamental to humans and many other animals, but relationships between mates, family members, or peers may be mediated differently. We examined connections between social reward and social selectivity, aggression, and oxytocin receptor signaling pathways in rodents that naturally form enduring, selective relationships with mates and peers (monogamous prairie voles) or peers (group-living meadow voles). Female prairie and meadow voles worked harder to access familiar versus unfamiliar individuals, regardless of sex, and huddled extensively with familiar subjects. Male prairie voles displayed strongly selective huddling preferences for familiar animals, but only worked harder to repeatedly access females versus males, with no difference in effort by familiarity. This reveals a striking sex difference in pathways underlying social monogamy and demonstrates a fundamental disconnect between motivation and social selectivity in males—a distinction not detected by the partner preference test. Meadow voles exhibited social preferences but low social motivation, consistent with tolerance rather than reward supporting social groups in this species. Natural variation in oxytocin receptor binding predicted individual variation in prosocial and aggressive behaviors. These results provide a basis for understanding species, sex, and individual differences in the mechanisms underlying the role of social reward in social preference.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social selectivity and social motivation in voles

Beery

Lopez

Blandino

et al. 2021

eLife

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“…Pair bonds in monogamous species are formed and maintained by an array of different biopsychological processes, including attraction, reward, aversion towards outsiders, and distress upon separation (Bales et al, 2021 ; Beery et al, 2021 ). Separation distress is a defining characteristic of an attachment bond (Bowlby, 1973 ; Hazan and Shaver, 1987 ) and helps to maintain the bond.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adults can establish long-lasting pair bonds characterized by a strong preference for their familiar partner (Carp et al, 2016 ; Rothwell et al, 2020 ), mate-guarding behavior (Fisher-Phelps et al, 2016 ; Witczak et al, 2018 ), territorial defense against intrusion (Mason, 1966 ), distress upon separation (Mendoza and Mason, 1986 ) and the ability of the partner to buffer against stress (Mendoza et al, 2000 ). The pair bond is considered to have some degree of strength or quality when it is specific to a particular individual, both individuals are sexually mature, and the pair-bonding behaviors mentioned above are displayed in association with the chosen partner, rather than indiscriminately among conspecifics (Bales et al, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Chronic and Acute Intranasal Oxytocin Treatments on Temporary Social Separation in Adult Titi Monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus)

Razo

Vázquez

Turcanu

et al. 2022

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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In socially monogamous titi monkeys, involuntary separation from a pair mate can produce behavioral distress and increased cortisol production. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is thought to play an important role in the separation response of pair-bonded species. Previous studies from our lab have shown that chronic intranasal oxytocin (IN OXT) during development can have long-term effects on adult social behavior. In the current study, we examined the chronic and acute effects of IN OXT or Saline (SAL) on the subjects’ response to a brief separation from their pair mates. Subjects with a history of chronic IN OXT or SAL treatment during development received a single dose of OXT or SAL as adults 30 min before being separated from their pair mate. Chronic treatment consisted of a daily dose of IN OXT (0.8 IU/kg) or SAL (control) from 12 to 18 months of age. Subjects (N = 29) were introduced to a pair mate at 30 months of age. After the pairs had cohabitated for 5 months, pairs underwent two “Brief Separation” (OXT and SAL) and two “Non-Separation” (OXT and SAL) test sessions. Vocalizations and locomotion were measured as behavioral indices of agitation or distress during the Brief Separation and Non-Separation periods (30 min each). We collected blood samples after the Brief Separation and Non-Separation periods to measure cortisol levels. Our results showed subjects treated with chronic OXT had a reduction in long call and peep vocalizations compared to subjects treated with chronic SAL. Subjects treated with chronic SAL and acute OXT produced more peeps and long calls compared to animals treated with acute SAL; however, patterns in this response depended on sex. Cortisol and locomotion were significantly higher during the Brief Separation period compared to the Non-Separation period; however, we did not find any treatment or sex effects. We conclude that chronic IN OXT given during development blunts the separation response, while acute OXT in chronic SAL subjects had sexually dimorphic effects, which could reflect increased partner seeking behaviors in males and increased anxiety in females.

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“…group living) takes many forms across social species, such that groups differ in size, composition, and the role of specific, selective relationships. Many attempts have been made to characterize types of social groups—for example, distinguishing between those that are large, transient, and gregarious vs. those that are smaller, more stable, and comprised of defined roles or relationships ( Hinde, 1976 ; Lidicker and Patton, 1987 ; Lee, 1994 ; Lacey and Sherman, 2007 ; Clutton-Brock and Lukas, 2012 ; Hofmann et al, 2014 ; Lukas and Clutton-Brock, 2018 ; Kappeler, 2019 ; Bales et al, 2021 ). As would be expected from the diversity of group types, there are multiple neurobiological routes to supporting life in social groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selectivity and Sociality: Aggression and Affiliation Shape Vole Social Relationships

Lee

Beery

2022

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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The formation of selective social relationships is not a requirement of group living; sociality can be supported by motivation for social interaction in the absence of preferences for specific individuals, and by tolerance in place of social motivation. For species that form selective social relationships, these can be maintained by preference for familiar partners, as well as by avoidance of or aggression toward individuals outside of the social bond. In this review, we explore the roles that aggression, motivation, and tolerance play in the maintenance of selective affiliation. We focus on prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) as rodent species that both exhibit the unusual tendency to form selective social relationships, but differ with regard to mating system. These species provide an opportunity to investigate the mechanisms that underlie social relationships, and to compare mechanisms supporting pair bonds with mates and same-sex peer relationships. We then relate this to the role of aggression in group composition in a comparative context.

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What is a pair bond?

Cited by 67 publications

References 223 publications

Social selectivity and social motivation in voles

Social selectivity and social motivation in voles

Effects of Chronic and Acute Intranasal Oxytocin Treatments on Temporary Social Separation in Adult Titi Monkeys (Plecturocebus cupreus)

Selectivity and Sociality: Aggression and Affiliation Shape Vole Social Relationships

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