Assessment of fight outcome is needed to activate socially driven transcriptional changes in the zebrafish brain

Group living animals must be able to express different behavior profiles depending on their social status. Therefore, the same genotype may translate into different behavioral phenotypes through socially driven differential gene expression. However, how social information is translated into a neurogenomic response and what are the specific cues in a social interaction that signal a change in social status are questions that have remained unanswered. Here, we show for the first time, to our knowledge, that the switch between status-specific neurogenomic states relies on the assessment of fight outcome rather than just on self- or opponent-only assessment of fighting ability. For this purpose, we manipulated the perception of fight outcome in male zebrafish and measured its impact on the brain transcriptome using a zebrafish whole genome gene chip. Males fought either a real opponent, and a winner and a loser were identified, or their own image on a mirror, in which case, despite expressing aggressive behavior, males did not experience either a victory or a defeat. Massive changes in the brain transcriptome were observed in real opponent fighters, with losers displaying both a higher number of differentially expressed genes and of coexpressed gene modules than winners. In contrast, mirror fighters expressed a neurogenomic state similar to that of noninteracting fish. The genes that responded to fight outcome included immediate early genes and genes involved in neuroplasticity and epigenetic modifications. These results indicate that, even in cognitively simple organisms such as zebrafish, neurogenomic responses underlying changes in social status rely on mutual assessment of fighting ability.

Adolescent Illicit Drug Use and Subsequent Academic and Psychosocial Adjustment : an Examination of Socially-Mediated Pathways

Background: Questions remain regarding the consequences of illicit drug use on adolescent adjustment and the nature of mechanisms that may explain these consequences. In this study, we examined whether early-onset illicit drug use predicts subsequent academic and psychosocial adjustment and whether associations are socially-mediated by decreased school engagement and increased peer deviancy. Method: 4885 adolescents were followed throughout secondary school. We used regressions to determine whether illicit drug use in grade 7 predicted academic achievement, school dropout, depressive symptoms, and conduct problems in grades 10–11, adjusting for potential confounders. We used path analysis to test whether significant associations were mediated by school engagement and peer deviancy in grade 8. Results: Illicit drug use predicted conduct problems and school dropout, but not academic achievement and depressive symptoms. The association between illicit drug use and conduct problems was fully mediated by increased peer deviancy. The association between illicit drug use and school dropout was partially mediated by increased peer deviancy, but remained mostly direct. No indirect association via decreased school engagement was found. Examination of reverse pathways revealed that conduct problems and academic achievement in grade 7 predicted drug use in grades 10–11. These associations were mediated by peer deviancy and school engagement (conduct problems only). Conclusion: Adolescent illicit drug use influences the risk of school dropout and conduct problems in part by contributing to deviant peer affiliation. Reciprocal social mediation characterizes the association between drug use and conduct problems. A reverse mechanism best explains the association with academic achievement.

Inducing the development and adoption of socially efficient automotive technology. Final report.

Transportation Systems Center, Cambridge, Mass.

Development and field test of a responsible alcohol service program. Volume I: research findings. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Development and field test of a responsible alcohol service program. Volume II: server education program materials. Final report.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington, D.C.

Responsible government for Canada; an enquiry as to the cause and consequence of the late ministerial regignations.

Mode of access: Internet.

Exploration in responsible business behavior: an exercise in behavioral economics.

Cover title.

Responsible government in Prince Edward Island, a triumph of self-government under the crown,

Bibliography: p. 130-131.

Dependent and neglected children : report of the Committee on Socially Handicapped--Dependency and Neglect /

"Section IV--The handicapped: prevention, maintenance, protection. C. C. Carsten, Chairman."--p. [iii]

Community organization and agency responsibility; a study of the process of community organization for social welfare, and of the role of the direct-service organizations as responsible participants

Includes bibliography.

Responsible community care of former mental hospital patients /

Mode of access: Internet.

Toward responsible government; an economic appraisal of Federal investment in water resource programs.

Mode of access: Internet.

Choice protocol : a document to help plan and carry out meetings between persons with disabilities and those who are responsible for assisting them in making choices about their future services.

"Funded through a grant from the Illinois Planning Council on Development Disabilities.