Cited by 64Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorPrimate Behavior and EcologyMemory and Neural Mechanisms

Neural systems that facilitate the representation of social rank

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Dwortz, Madeleine F., Curley, James P., Tye, Kay M., Padilla-Coreano, Nancy·2022·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B

Abstract

Across species, animals organize into social dominance hierarchies that serve to decrease aggression and facilitate survival of the group. Neuroscientists have adopted several model organisms to study dominance hierarchies in the laboratory setting, including fish, reptiles, rodents and primates. We review recent literature across species that sheds light onto how the brain represents social rank to guide socially appropriate behaviour within a dominance hierarchy. First, we discuss how the brain responds to social status signals. Then, we discuss social approach and avoidance learning mechanisms that we propose could drive rank-appropriate behaviour. Lastly, we discuss how the brain represents memories of individuals (social memory) and how this may support the maintenance of unique individual relationships within a social group. This article is part of the theme issue ‘The centennial of the pecking order: current state and future prospects for the study of dominance hierarchies’.

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [15]Senar JC. 2006 Bird colors as intrasexual signals of aggression and dominance. In Bird coloration: function and evolution (eds GE Hill, KJ McGraw), pp. 87- 136. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  2. [16]Maynard-Smith J, Harper D. 2003 Animal signals. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

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Authors
Dwortz, M. F., Curley, J. P., Tye, K. M., & Padilla-Coreano, N.
Affiliations
  • Institute for Neuroscience (CH)
  • The University of Texas at Austin (US)
  • Salk Institute for Biological Studies (US)
Corresponding author
Padilla-Coreano, Nancy
Venue
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B
Published
2022-01-10
Volume
377
Issue
1845
Pages
20200444-20200444
ISSN
  • 0962-8436 (ISSN-L)
  • 1471-2970
OpenAlex
W4206698489
Cited by
64
References
216
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 10
FWCI
2.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (DP1-502 AT009925)
  • Burroughs Wellcome Fund
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K99 MH124435, R01-MH115920)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
Keywords
social dominance hierarchy, social rank, social memory, individual recognition, pecking order, aggression, comparative neurobiology
MeSH terms
Aggression, Animals, Hierarchy, Social, Social Dominance

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