How groups of mice behave under stress
Neural basis of collective behavior during environmental stress
This study looks at how groups of mice work together and behave when it's really cold, using special cameras to see how they move and interact, and it aims to help us understand social behavior in people, especially those with autism and schizophrenia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10880579 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how groups of mice interact and organize themselves when faced with environmental stress, specifically cold temperatures. By using advanced computer vision technology, the study tracks the movements and positions of individual mice to understand their collective behavior. The goal is to uncover the neural mechanisms that underlie social interactions in larger groups, which could provide insights into social functioning in humans, particularly in conditions like autism and schizophrenia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or related neurodevelopmental conditions who experience challenges in social interactions.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have neurodevelopmental disorders or those whose social functioning is not impaired may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a better understanding of social behavior in humans, potentially informing treatments for social dysfunction in neurodevelopmental disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While there has been significant research on dyadic social interactions, this approach to studying group behavior under stress is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raam, Tara — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Raam, Tara
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.