Adult Neurogenesis and Social Behavior: A Reciprocal Relationship

Neural plasticity refers to the brain’s life-long capacity to change itself functionally and structurally. Specifically, adult neurogenesis—a unique type of plasticity—has been a focus within the last decades due to its potential role in mediating behavior. Mammalian adult neurogenesis results in adult-generated neurons that become functionally integrated into the existing neural network. In particular, adult-generated neurons have been identified in the olfactory system and the hippocampus, as well as in other brain regions such as the amygdala, hypothalamus, and medial preoptic area. Studies have indicated that such adult neurogenesis is under the regulation of various social behaviors (including sociosexual experience, social defeat, and adult-offspring interactions). Reciprocally, these adult-generated neurons may impact social behavior. This chapter will discuss the recent understanding of the interrelationship between adult neurogenesis and social behavior.