How does the brain facilitate social behavior?

Research by ION graduate student Sarah Stednitz (Washbourne Lab) has identified a population of neurons in the zebrafish forebrain required for social orienting behavior. The population of neurons identified in zebrafish is homologous to mammalian forebrain regions implicated in social behavior, suggesting an evolutionarily conserved population of neurons drives social behavior in fish and mammals. The inputs to these cells remain undescribed, highlighting the promise for future studies into the circuitry required to drive social behavior. Read more about the work here.