Changes in brain architecture are consistent with altered fear processing in domestic rabbits

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2018

Authors

Brusini, I (Author) Other; Carneiro, M (Author) Other; Wang, CL (Author) Other; Rubin, CJ (Author) Other; Ring, H (Author) Other; Afonso, S (Author) Other; Blanco Aguiar, JA (Author) Other; ferrand, n (Author) FCUP; Rafati, N (Author) Other; Villafuerte, R (Author) Other; Smedby, O (Author) Other; Damberg, P (Author) Other; Hallbook, F (Author) Other; Fredrikson, M (Author) Other; Andersson, L (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Vol. 115

Pages: 7380-7385

ISSN: 0027-8424

Publisher: National Academy of Sciences

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 34 Citations

Scopus - 39 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00P-1CW

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1801024115

Abstract (EN): The most characteristic feature of domestic animals is their change in behavior associated with selection for tameness. Here we show, using high-resolution brain magnetic resonance imaging in wild and domestic rabbits, that domestication reduced amygdala volume and enlarged medial prefrontal cortex volume, supporting that areas driving fear have lost volume while areas modulating negative affect have gained volume during domestication. In contrast to the localized gray matter alterations, white matter anisotropy was reduced in the corona radiata, corpus callosum, and the subcortical white matter. This suggests a compromised white matter structural integrity in projection and association fibers affecting both afferent and efferent neural flow, consistent with reduced neural processing. We propose that compared with their wild ancestors, domestic rabbits are less fearful and have an attenuated flight response because of these changes in brain architecture.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6