Title: The role of brain mitochondrial function in social behavior

Dr.  Fiona Hollis

Assistant professor

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience,

School of Medicine

University of South Carolina

Summary: Social behavior is an essential aspect of most species that is fundamental to health, reproduction, and survival. Conversely, disrupted social behavior is a key feature of numerous psychiatric diseases, including autism spectrum disorders, depression, and anxiety. Despite its pivotal role in health and survival, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying social behaviors is limited. Here I show that individual differences in trait anxiety can directly influence the outcome of a social interaction during a first encounter and are linked to mitochondrial function in specific regions of the brain. Using localized pharmacological manipulations of either mitochondrial function or anxiety, I highlight the involvement of the mesolimbic dopaminergic circuitry and demonstrate causality. Finally, I extend these rodent findings to the human population using behavioral economic games. Taken together, these results point to a key role for brain energy metabolism in social behavior and suggest mitochondrial function as a possible avenue of treatment for social disorders.

Contact: Drs. Jason Pienaar and Janna Fierst