A thalamo-preoptic pathway promotes social grooming in rodents
Open accessPublished version of a preprint
Abstract
Social touch is an essential component of communication. Little is known about the underlying pathways and mechanisms. Here, we discovered a novel neuronal pathway from the posterior intralaminar thalamic nucleus (PIL) to the medial preoptic area (MPOA) involved in the control of social grooming. We found that the neurons in the PIL and MPOA were naturally activated by physical contact between female rats and also by the chemogenetic stimulation of PIL neurons. The activity-dependent tagging of PIL neurons was performed in rats experiencing physical social contact. The chemogenetic activation of these neurons increased social grooming between familiar rats, as did the selective activation of the PIL-MPOA pathway. Neurons projecting from the PIL to the MPOA express the neuropeptide parathyroid hormone 2 (PTH2), and the central infusion of its receptor antagonist diminished social grooming. Finally, we showed a similarity in the anatomical organization of the PIL and the distribution of the PTH2 receptor in the MPOA between the rat and human brain. We propose that the discovered neuronal pathway facilitates physical contact with conspecifics.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The PIL has been implicated in maternal and social behaviours.
“and has also been implicated in maternal and social behaviours22–24.”
From Neural circuitry for maternal oxytocin release induced by infant cries (2023) · cites this paper as [23]
Tracing studies in rodents have shown that the PIL receives inputs from sensory regions such as the inferior and superior colliculus, auditory cortex, and spinal cord and projects to socially relevant brain regions including the PVH, lateral septum, MPOA, and medial amygdala.
“Tracing studies conducted in rodents have provided anatomical support for this theory, demonstrating that the PIL receives inputs from sensory regions such as the inferior and superior colliculus, auditory cortex, and spinal cord (3, 7-10) and projects to socially relevant brain regions including the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVH), the lateral septum, medial preoptic area (MPOA)”
From Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus (2024) · cites this paper as [11]
The PIL has been shown to be involved in grooming behavior in males and females.
“and more recently, shown to be involved in grooming behavior in males and females (11).”
From Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus (2024) · cites this paper as [11]
Previous research in male and female rats using non-specific chemogenetic inhibition of PIL neurons found no effect on social novelty preference of a same-sex adult rat.
“Previous research in male and female rats using non-specific chemogenetic inhibition of PIL neurons found no effect on social novelty preference of a same-sex adult rat (11).”
From Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus (2024) · cites this paper as [11]
The PIL→MPOA pathway is involved in grooming between conspecific female rats during social interaction, playing a role in affiliative social interaction.
“It has also been demonstrated that the PIL ➔ MPOA pathway is involved in grooming between conspecific female rats during social interaction, therefore playing a role in affiliative social interaction (11).”
From Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus (2024) · cites this paper as [11]
No statistical power estimation analyses were used to predetermine sample sizes; sample sizes were chosen to match previous publications.
“No statistical power estimation analyses were used to predetermine sample sizes, which instead were chosen to match previous publications (2, 11, 26-28).”
From Social Interaction Elicits Activity in Glutamatergic Neurons in the Posterior Intralaminar Complex of the Thalamus (2024) · cites this paper as [11]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
The Rat Brain in Stereotaxic Coordinates
Paxinos, G., & Watson, C. (1983) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/c2009-0-63235-9 · Cited by 28,585 · see citing works
Abràmoff, M. D., Magalhães, P. J., & Ram, S. J. (2004) · Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) · Cited by 11,816 · see citing works
QuPath: Open source software for digital pathology image analysis
Bankhead, P., Loughrey, M. B., Fernández, J. A., Dombrowski, Y., McArt, D. G., Dunne, P. D., McQuaid, S., Gray, R. T., Murray, L. J., Coleman, H. G., et al. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-017-17204-5 · Cited by 8,908 · see citing works
Rapid, reversible activation of AgRP neurons drives feeding behavior in mice
Krashes, M. J., Koda, S., Ye, C., Rogan, S. C., Adams, A. C., Cusher, D. S., Maratos-Flier, E., Roth, B. L., & Lowell, B. B. (2011) · Journal of Clinical Investigation · doi:10.1172/jci46229 · Cited by 1,578 · see citing works
Activity-dependent neuronal signalling and autism spectrum disorder
Ebert, D. H., & Greenberg, M. E. (2013) · Nature · doi:10.1038/nature11860 · Cited by 666 · see citing works
Targeting cells with single vectors using multiple-feature Boolean logic
Fenno, L. E., Mattis, J., Ramakrishnan, C., Hyun, M., Lee, S. Y., He, M., Tucciarone, J., Selimbeyoglu, A., Berndt, A., Grosenick, L., et al. (2014) · Nature Methods · doi:10.1038/nmeth.2996 · Cited by 557 · see citing works
LeDoux, J. E., Ruggiero, D. A., & Reis, D. J. (1985) · The Journal of Comparative Neurology · doi:10.1002/cne.902420204 · Cited by 530 · see citing works
Matsumoto, N., Minamimoto, T., Graybiel, A. M., & Kimura, M. (2001) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.2001.85.2.960 · Cited by 451 · see citing works
Ledoux, J. E., Ruggiero, D. A., Forest, R., Stornetta, R., & Reis, D. J. (1987) · Journal of Comparative Neurology · doi:10.1002/cne.902640110 · Cited by 373 · see citing works
Saalmann, Y. B. (2014) · Frontiers in Systems Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnsys.2014.00083 · Cited by 323 · see citing works
The Neuropeptide Tac2 Controls a Distributed Brain State Induced by Chronic Social Isolation Stress
Zelikowsky, M., Hui, M., Karigo, T., Choe, A., Yang, B., Blanco, M. R., Beadle, K., Gradinaru, V., Deverman, B. E., & Anderson, D. J. (2018) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.037 · Cited by 282 · see citing works
Social touch promotes interfemale communication via activation of parvocellular oxytocin neurons
Tang, Y., Benusiglio, D., Lefevre, A., Hilfiger, L., Althammer, F., Bludau, A., Hagiwara, D., Baudon, A., Darbon, P., Schimmer, J., et al. (2020) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-020-0674-y · Cited by 249 · see citing works
Self-citationMetzger, C. D., van der Werf, Y. D., & Walter, M. (2013) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2013.00024 · Cited by 242 · see citing works
TIP39: a new neuropeptide and PTH2-receptor agonist from hypothalamus
Usdin, T. B., Hoare, S. R. J., Wang, T., Mezey, É., & Kowalak, J. A. (1999) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/14724 · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Self-citationEllingsen, D., Leknes, S., Løseth, G. E., Wessberg, J., & Olausson, H. (2016) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01986 · Cited by 201 · see citing works
Participation of the Thalamic CM-Pf Complex in Attentional Orienting
Minamimoto, T., & Kimura, M. (2002) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.2002.87.6.3090 · Cited by 200 · see citing works
The social life of Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus)
Schweinfurth, M. K. (2020) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.54020 · Cited by 176 · see citing works
Tribollet, E., Armstrong, W. E., Dubois‐Dauphin, M., & Dreifuss, J. J. (1985) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/0306-4522(85)90128-9 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
A Fear Memory Engram and Its Plasticity in the Hypothalamic Oxytocin System
Hasan, M. T., Althammer, F., Gouveia, M. D. S., Goyon, S., Eliava, M., Lefèvre, A., Kerspern, D., Schimmer, J., Raftogianni, A., Wahis, J., et al. (2019) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2019.04.029 · Cited by 141 · see citing works
Self-citationWiner, J. A., Chernock, M. L., Larue, D. T., & Cheung, S. W. (2002) · Hearing Research · doi:10.1016/s0378-5955(02)00489-6 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Weickert, C. S., Webster, M. J., Colvin, S. M., Herman, M. M., Hyde, T. M., Weinberger, D. R., & Kleinman, J. E. (2000) · The Journal of Comparative Neurology · doi:10.1002/1096-9861(20000731)423:3 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Farkas, I., Kalló, I., Deli, L., Vida, B., Hrabovszky, E., Fekete, C., Moenter, S. M., Watanabe, M., & Liposits, Z. (2010) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/en.2010-0638 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Self-citationAhmadlou, M., Houba, J. H. W., van Vierbergen, J. F. M., Giannouli, M., Gimenez, G.-A., van Weeghel, C., Darbanfouladi, M., Shirazi, M. Y., Dziubek, J., Kacem, M., et al. (2021) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.abe9681 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Linke, R. (2000) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/10.8.753 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Central amylin expression and its induction in rat dams
Dobolyi, Á. (2009) · Journal of Neurochemistry · doi:10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06422.x · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Visual recognition of social signals by a tectothalamic neural circuit
Kappel, J. M., Förster, D., Slangewal, K., Shainer, I., Svara, F., Donovan, J. C., Sherman, S., Januszewski, M., Baier, H., & Larsch, J. (2022) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04925-5 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Cservenák, M., Bodnár, I., Usdin, T. B., Palkovits, M., Nagy, G. M., & Dobolyi, A. (2010) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/en.2010-0767 · Cited by 82 · see citing works
Self-citationDobolyi, Á., Ueda, H., Uchida, H., Palkovits, M., & Usdin, T. B. (2002) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.042416199 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Self-citationThalamic neuropeptide mediating the effects of nursing on lactation and maternal motivation
Cservenák, M., Szabó, É. R., Bodnár, I., Lékó, A., Palkovits, M., Nagy, G. M., Usdin, T. B., & Dobolyi, A. (2013) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.09.004 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Self-citationAssociative and plastic thalamic signaling to the lateral amygdala controls fear behavior
Barsy, B., Kocsis, K., Magyar, A., Babiczky, Á., Szabó, M., Veres, J. M., Hillier, D., Ulbert, I., Yizhar, O., & Mátyás, F. (2020) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/s41593-020-0620-z · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Coolen, L. M., Veening, J. G., Petersen, D. W., & Shipley, M. T. (2003) · The Journal of Comparative Neurology · doi:10.1002/cne.10740 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Dobolyi, Á., Palkovits, M., & Usdin, T. B. (2009) · Progress in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.10.017 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Self-citationFactor, E. M., Mayer, A. D., & Rosenblatt, J. S. (1993) · Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.1037/0735-7044.107.1.166 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Fernandes, A. M., Beddows, E., Filippi, A., & Driever, W. (2013) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0075002 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Molecular anatomy of the thalamic complex and the underlying transcription factors
Nagalski, A., Puelles, L., Dąbrowski, M., Węgierski, T., Kuźnicki, J., & Wisniewska, M. B. (2015) · Brain Structure and Function · doi:10.1007/s00429-015-1052-5 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
A thalamo-hypothalamic pathway that activates oxytocin neurons in social contexts in female rats
Cservenák, M., Keller, D., Kis, V., Fazekas, E. A., Öllös, H., Lékó, A. H., Szabó, É. R., Renner, É., Usdin, T. B., Palkovits, M., et al. (2017) · Endocrinology · doi:10.1210/en.2016-1645 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Thalamic integration of social stimuli regulating parental behavior and the oxytocin system
Dobolyi, A., Cservenák, M., & Young, L. J. (2018) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.05.002 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Self-citationThe neuropeptide Pth2 dynamically senses others via mechanosensation
Anneser, L., Alcantara, I. C., Gemmer, A., Mirkes, K., Ryu, S., & Schuman, E. M. (2020) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2988-z · Cited by 60 · see citing works
The Neuroendocrine Functions of the Parathyroid Hormone 2 Receptor
Dobolyi, Á., Dimitrov, E. L., Palkovits, M., & Usdin, T. B. (2012) · Frontiers in Endocrinology · doi:10.3389/fendo.2012.00121 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Self-citationWang, T., Palkovits, M., Rusnak, M., Mezey, É., & Usdin, T. B. (2000) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/s0306-4522(00)00282-7 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Self-citationCellular Composition of the Preoptic Area Regulating Sleep, Parental, and Sexual Behavior
Tsuneoka, Y., & Funato, H. (2021) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2021.649159 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Body language signals for rodent social communication
Ebbesen, C. L., & Froemke, R. C. (2021) · Current Opinion in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.conb.2021.01.008 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Maternally involved galanin neurons in the preoptic area of the rat
Cservenák, M., Kis, V., Keller, D. W., Dimén, D., Menyhárt, L., Oláh, S., Szabó, É. R., Barna, J., Renner, É., Usdin, T. B., et al. (2016) · Brain Structure and Function · doi:10.1007/s00429-016-1246-5 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Self-citationDobolyi, Á., Palkovits, M., Bodnár, I., & Usdin, T. B. (2003) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2003.08.034 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Self-citationZilkha, N., Sofer, Y., Kashash, Y., & Kimchi, T. (2021) · Current Opinion in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.conb.2021.03.005 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Getting in touch: A neural model of comforting touch
Shamay‐Tsoory, S., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2021) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.08.030 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Deschrijver, E., Wiersema, J. R., & Braß, M. (2016) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsw126 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Wang, J., Palkovits, M., Usdin, T. B., & Dobolyi, Á. (2006) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2005.12.022 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationDevelopment of a rat parathyroid hormone 2 receptor antagonist
Kuo, J., & Usdin, T. B. (2007) · Peptides · doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2006.12.002 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Self-citationPostnatal development and gender‐dependent expression of TIP39 in the rat brain
Dobolyi, Á., Wang, J., Irwin, S., & Usdin, T. B. (2006) · The Journal of Comparative Neurology · doi:10.1002/cne.21063 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citationSex-specific parenting and depression evoked by preoptic inhibitory neurons
Dimén, D., Puska, G., Szendi, V., Sipos, E., Zelena, D., & Dobolyi, Á. (2021) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2021.103090 · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Self-citationLópez, H. S., & Carrer, H. F. (1985) · Experimental Neurology · doi:10.1016/0014-4886(85)90188-8 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
FURTHER STUDIES ON THE AFFERENT PATH OF THE MILK-EJECTION REFLEX IN THE BRAIN STEM OF THE RABBIT
TINDAL, J. S., & Knaggs, G. S. (1975) · Journal of Endocrinology · doi:10.1677/joe.0.0660107 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Acoustic stress activates tuberoinfundibular peptide of 39 residues neurons in the rat brain
Palkovits, M., Helfferich, F., Dobolyi, Á., & Usdin, T. B. (2009) · Brain Structure and Function · doi:10.1007/s00429-009-0233-5 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Self-citationPalkovits, M., Usdin, T. B., Makara, G. B., & Dobolyi, Á. (2010) · Neurochemical Research · doi:10.1007/s11064-010-0292-2 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationLópez, H. S., & Carrer, H. F. (1985) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/0031-9384(85)90337-3 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Hu, Y.-L., Li, S., Miao, H., Tsou, T., del Pozo, M. Á., Chien, S., Zhu, S., Han, G., White, R. E., Molinari, C., et al. (2002) · Journal of Vascular Research · doi:10.1159/000068602 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
TWO NEUROLOGICAL STAINING TECHNIQUES UTILIZING THE DYE LUXOL FAST BLUE.
Mcilmoyl, M. (1965) · PubMed · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Mai, J.K. (2008). Atlas of the Human Brain (Academic Press).
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Neural circuitry for maternal oxytocin release induced by infant cries
Valtcheva, S., Issa, H. A., Bair-Marshall, C. J., Martin, K. A., Jung, K., Zhang, Y., Kwon, H.-B., & Froemke, R. C. (2023) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06540-4 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
A hypothalamic circuit underlying the dynamic control of social homeostasis
Liu, D., Rahman, M., Johnson, A., Amo, R., Tsutsui‐Kimura, I., Sullivan, Z. A., Pena, N., Talay, M., Logeman, B. L., Finkbeiner, S., et al. (2025) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-025-08617-8 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Brain circuits that regulate social behavior
Li, H., Zhao, Z., Jiang, S., & Wu, H. (2025) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-025-03037-6 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Prosocial Helping Behavior: Conceptual Issues and Neural Mechanisms
Rigney, N., & Hong, W. (2025) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2025.03.003 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Neural mechanisms of comforting: Prosocial touch and stress buffering
Lim, K. Y., & Hong, W. (2023) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105391 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
The neuropeptide Pth2 modulates social behavior and anxiety in zebrafish
Anneser, L., Gemmer, A., Eilers, T., Alcantara, I. C., Loos, A.-Y., Ryu, S., & Schuman, E. M. (2022) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.103868 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Leithead, A. B., Godino, A., Barbier, M., & Harony-Nicolas, H. (2024) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.05.016 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Medial preoptic circuits governing instinctive social behaviors
Láng, T., Dimén, D., Oláh, S., Puska, G., & Dobolyi, Á. (2024) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.110296 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Self-citationAdvances toward precision therapeutics for developmental and epileptic encephalopathies
Bertocchi, I., Cambiaghi, M., & Hasan, M. T. (2023) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2023.1140679 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Self-citationBehavioural actions of tuberoinfundibular peptide 39 (parathyroid hormone 2)
Keller, D. W., Tsuda, M. C., Usdin, T. B., & Dobolyi, Á. (2022) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/jne.13130 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationVasopressin as Possible Treatment Option in Autism Spectrum Disorder
László, K., Vörös, D., Correia, P., Fazekas, C. L., Török, B., Plangár, I., & Zelena, D. (2023) · Biomedicines · doi:10.3390/biomedicines11102603 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Self-citationThe power of caring touch: from survival to prosocial cooperation
Griesser, M., Bennett, N. C., Burkart, J. M., Hart, D. W., Uomini, N., & Warrington, M. H. (2025) · Trends in Ecology & Evolution · doi:10.1016/j.tree.2024.11.017 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Cai, H.-R., Chen, S., Xiang, X.-J., Zhang, X., Ma, R.-Z., Zhu, G., & Ding, S. (2024) · Frontiers in Neural Circuits · doi:10.3389/fncir.2024.1384621 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
The lateral thalamus: a bridge between multisensory processing and naturalistic behaviors
Yang, M., Keller, D. W., Dobolyi, Á., & Valtcheva, S. (2024) · Trends in Neurosciences · doi:10.1016/j.tins.2024.11.005 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Self-citationA circuit that integrates drive state and social contact to gate mating
Salay, L. D., Tsao, D. Y., & Anderson, D. J. (2025) · Nature · doi:10.1038/s41586-025-09327-x · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Conserved multisensory integration of social cues in the thalamus
Anneser, L., & Kappel, J. M. (2024) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2024.111678 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Lateral septum as a possible regulatory center of maternal behaviors
Puska, G., Szendi, V., & Dobolyi, Á. (2024) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105683 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Self-citationVenuto, A., Smith, C. P., Cameron-Pack, M., & Erickson, T. (2022) · Biology Open · doi:10.1242/bio.059432 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
Zha, X., Liu, X.-Y., Wang, L. A., Li, S., Sun, Y.-Z., Lin, J.-K., Yan, J., Gao, M.-T., Zhang, Y., Yang, R., et al. (2025) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.076 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Dobolyi, Á. (2025) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2025.111346 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
The midline thalamic nucleus reuniens promotes compulsive-like grooming in rodents
Goh, R. C. W., Mu, M., Yung, W., & Ke, Y. (2025) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41398-025-03283-w · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Arakawa, H., Tokashiki, M., Higuchi, Y., & Konno, T. (2024) · Peptides · doi:10.1016/j.peptides.2024.171178 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Zhai, J., Zhang, X., Wang, X., Xu, Z., Yao, X., Zhang, Y., Fan, L., Wu, L., & Wang, J. (2025) · Communications Biology · doi:10.1038/s42003-025-08417-w · Cited by 4 · see citing works
A Better PIL to Swallow: A Thalamic Node in the Social Brain Network
Wagner, S., & Maroun, M. (2023) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2023.10.020 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Neural mechanisms underlying strain preference behaviour and plasticity in mice
Peng, K., Tan, L.-L., You, S., Li, J., Xu, Y., Chen, J.-Y., Wu, M. H., Qin, L., & Zhang, X. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-90885-5 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Methylone produces antidepressant-relevant actions and prosocial effects
Li, Z., Peng, H., Lee, C., Lin, T., Hsieh, M., Lai, C., Wu, H.-F., Chen, L., Chen, M.-C., & Chou, D. (2023) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2023.109787 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Arakawa, H., & Tokashiki, M. (2024) · European Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1111/ejn.16520 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
How is helping behavior regulated in the brain?
Zhang, M., Chen, G., & Hu, R. K. (2024) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2024.02.009 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Leithead, A. B., Godino, A., Barbier, M., & Harony‐Nicolas, H. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.04.24.538114 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Synaptoporin and parathyroid hormone 2 as markers of multimodal inputs to the auditory brainstem
Reuss, S., Linsmayer, D., Balmaceda-Braun, J., von Rittberg, J., Mitz, S. A., Disque‐Kaiser, U., Usdin, T. B., & Leube, R. E. (2023) · Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy · doi:10.1016/j.jchemneu.2023.102259 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationHerget, U., Tran, S., Singh, C., Oikonomou, G., Ryu, S., Rotllant, J., & Prober, D. A. (2025) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.11.052 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Mapping brain circuits for murine maternal behavior triggered by pup calls
Lu, X., & Hu, R. K. (2023) · Trends in Neurosciences · doi:10.1016/j.tins.2023.10.004 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
From social effort to social behavior: An integrated neural model for social motivation
Kanterman, A., & Shamay‐Tsoory, S. (2025) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106170 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Puska, G., Szendi, V., Egyed, M., Dimén, D., Cservenák, M., & Dobolyi, Á. (2025) · Brain Structure and Function · doi:10.1007/s00429-024-02870-9 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationNeural Circuits of Social and Physiological Needs
Liu, D., & Dulac, C. G. (2025) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-112723-025633 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Wang, S., Liu, H., Tang, Q., Liao, N., Liu, T., Yang, Z., Wei, Y., & Fu, R. (2026) · Frontiers in Endocrinology · doi:10.3389/fendo.2025.1674213 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Hypothalamic-amygdala gating of caregiving-like prosocial behavior in mice
Geng, K.-W., Wang, R.-R., Yang, Y., Wang, Y., He, T., Li, C.-L., Xu, C.-S., & Chen, J. (2026) · Journal of Clinical Investigation · doi:10.1172/jci204317 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Social behavior: Closing the gap for close encounters
Lima, S. Q. (2022) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.10.022 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
The neural circuit that makes maternal mice respond to pups’ cries
Ricciardi, F., & Márquez, C. (2023) · Nature · doi:10.1038/d41586-023-02545-1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Lateral Septal Circuits Govern Schizophrenia-Like Effects of Ketamine on Social BehaviorPreprint
Wang, R., Peterson, Z. J., Balasubramanian, N., Khan, K. M., Chimenti, M. S., Thedens, D. R., Nickl‐Jockschat, T., & Marcinkiewcz, C. A. (2023) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2023.08.08.552372 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Social Touch Suppresses Aggression via Thalamic MechanismsPreprint
Láng, T., Drahos, B. B., Dóra, F., Keller, D. W., Csordas, I., Szendi, V., Puska, G., Grinevich, V., & Dobolyi, Á. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.08.23.670446 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationArakawa, H., & Tokashiki, M. (2024) · doi:10.22541/au.171597350.07642631/v1
Nagalski, A., Koziński, K., Baggio, S., Szewczyk, Ł. M., Lipiec, M. A., Mussulini, B. H. M., Gabriel, M. O., Bem, J., Meyza, K. Z., Goncerzewicz, A., et al. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.11.14.684361
Kupriyanov, V. P., Dolotovskaya, S., Levenets, J. V., & Суров, А. В. (2025) · Ethology · doi:10.1111/eth.70036
Li, S., Wang, X., Zheng, J., & Xu, H. (2026) · Neuroscience Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s12264-025-01579-x
Functional characterization of the lateral septal calbindin neurons in maternal carePreprint
Szendi, V., Puska, G., Egyed, M., Takacs, M. M., Bartok, S., Puskas, J., Varró, P., Szűcs, A. L., & Dobolyi, Á. (2026) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.64898/2026.02.11.705266
Self-citationExperience-dependent modulation of prosocial touch in mice
Sun, Y., Hong, W., & Wu, Y. E. (2026) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2026.115102
A Genetically Defined Thalamic Circuit Encodes Social Touch
Geng, S., Sun, C., Liu, X., Zhang, Z., Hu, S., Jiang, H., Xue, X., Xu, T., Xie, W., & Mu, M. (2026) · Neuroscience Bulletin · doi:10.1007/s12264-026-01620-7
How Salient Sensory Stimuli Induce Brain-Wide State Alterations
Li, M., Tan, K., Liu, T., & (苑克鑫), K. Y. (2026) · Annual Review of Neuroscience · doi:10.1146/annurev-neuro-112723-034728
Mechanosensation and the brain–body axis: From survival needs to social behaviours
Rappeneau, V., Flierl, M. B., & Jammal, L. (2026) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106783
Neurocircuitry of social reward and interactions
Dören, J., & Kalenscher, T. (2026) · Current Opinion in Physiology · doi:10.1016/j.cophys.2026.100975
Large-Scale Neuroimaging and Genetic Analyses of the Human Thalamus in Loneliness
Mäki-Marttunen, V., Sailer, U., Kopál, J., Hagen, E., Shadrin, A., Andreassen, O. A., Rødevand, L. N., & Elvsåshagen, T. (2026) · Biological Psychiatry Global Open Science · doi:10.1016/j.bpsgos.2026.100798
- Authors
- Keller, D., Láng, T., Cservenák, M., Puska, G., Barna, J., Csillag, V., Farkas, I., Zelena, D., Dóra, F., Küppers, S., Barteczko, L., Usdin, T. B., Palkovits, M., Hasan, M. T., Grinevich, V., & Dobolyi, A.
- Affiliations
- Semmelweis University (HU)
- Eötvös Loránd University (HU)
- Pázmány Péter Catholic University (HU)
- HUN-REN Institute of Experimental Medicine (HU)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- Ikerbasque (ES)
- Corresponding author
- Grinevich, Valery
- ORCID
- Venue
- Current Biology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-11
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 21
- Pages
- 4593-4606.e8
- ISSN
- 0960-9822 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4295921418
- Cited by
- 54
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 5
- FWCI
- 10.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
- www.elsevier.com/open-access/userlicense/1.0/ (vor, 371 d)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-017 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-037 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-012 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-029 (stm-asf)
- doi.org/10.15223/policy-004 (stm-asf)
- Locations
- Current Biology (publishedVersion)
- bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Repository of the Academy's Library (Library of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (GR 3619/16‐1, 3619/13-1, 3619/16-1, 3619/8-1, GR 3619/8-1, GR 3619/13‐1, GR 3619/15-1, 1158-2, 3619/13)
- Semmelweis Egyetem (EFOP-3.6.3, VEKOP- 16-2017-00009, EFOP-3.6.3- VEKOP-16-2017-00009, 2017-1.2.1-NKP-2017-00002, TKP2020-IKA-05, TKP2020)
- Gedeon Richter (EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00009)
- Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (K134221, TKP2020, 2017-1.2.1-NKP-2017-00002, TKP2020-IKA-05, EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00009)
- Magyar Tudományos Akadémia (2017-1.2.1-NKP-2017-00002, 1.2.1-NKP-2017-00002, EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00009, TKP2020-IKA-05)
- Eötvös Loránd Tudományegyetem (TKP2020-IKA-05)
- Nemzeti Kutatási Fejlesztési és Innovációs Hivatal (TKP 2020-IKA05, OTKA K-134221, EFOP-3.6.3-VEKOP-16-2017-00009, 2017- 1.2.1 NKP-2017-00002, NKFIH-4300-1/2017-NKP_17, 1.2.1-NKP-2017-00002, TKP2020, K134221, 16-2017-00009)
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- social grooming, medial preoptic area, social touch, chemogenetic activation, physical contact, social behavior, rats
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Female, Grooming, Humans, Neurons, Neuropeptides, Preoptic Area, Rodentia, Rats
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
