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“Stress-Proof Pairs: How Opposite-Sex Mice Stay in Sync Under Pressure”

When faced with a potential threat, mice often freeze in place. Moreover, when two animals are together, they typically freeze at the same time, matching each other’s periods of immobility. In a new study, researchers found that coordination during fear looks different in males and females.
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The new study on mouse behavior has shed light on how sex can influence social behavior under stress. Researchers found that male-female pairs tend to stay in sync, even when strangers, while same-sex pairs are more likely to fall out of step.

When mice face a potential threat, they often freeze in place. When two animals are together, they typically freeze at the same time, matching each other’s periods of immobility. However, this coordination looks different in males and females – and changes when stress is involved.

Male-female mouse pairs consistently stayed in sync during stressful situations, whereas same-sex pairs were more likely to fall out of step. The findings suggest that opposite-sex pairs may rely on a more flexible or complex coordination strategy – one that doesn’t break down under emotional pressure.

The study’s lead author, Alexei Morozov, said: “Opposite-sex pairs showed a surprising resilience.” They synchronized their fear responses regardless of emotional context, and unlike same-sex pairs, they didn’t seem to rely on one clear strategy to do it.

Although the research was conducted in mice, the study may offer clues about how sex and emotional context shape social behavior in other species – including people. Experts say the findings could shed light on the brain mechanisms involved in conditions like anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The researchers observed how pairs of mice froze and moved together when faced with a stressful stimulus, such as a sound associated with a mild but unpleasant experience. Same-sex pairs showed distinct coordination styles – males tended to copy each other’s actions, while females became more responsive to their partners and often self-corrected if they initiated an action without their partner responding in the same way.

Mixed-sex pairs remained unaffected by stress and continued to synchronize at a high level, regardless of familiarity. The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute’s Seale Innovation Fund.

As Vadim Bolshakov, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital, noted: “This clever and well-designed study offers a new way to measure how animals synchronize their fear responses – and shows that males and females do it differently.” The findings highlight the complex interaction between social and emotional signals in stressful moments and could potentially inform strategies to support people who struggle with fear and stress regulation.

Source:Virginia Tech
Original Link:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250408121654.htm
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Anxiety

Unveiling the Hidden Role of Dopamine: A Breakthrough in Understanding Anxiety and Depression

Researchers have discovered distinct roles for two dopamine receptors located on nerve cells within the portion of the brain that controls approach vs. avoidance behavior.
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May 8, 2025

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The recent study conducted at Mount Sinai has shed new light on the complex circuitry involved in anxiety and depression. Researchers have discovered distinct roles for two dopamine receptors located on nerve cells within the ventral hippocampus, a region crucial for regulating emotions and stress responses. This groundbreaking finding expands our understanding of dopamine signaling beyond its well-known actions in other brain regions that influence reward and motivation.

The study’s senior author, Eric J. Nestler, MD, PhD, emphasizes the importance of the hippocampus in decision-making, particularly in anxiety-inducing situations. He notes that the newly discovered D1 and D2 expressing cells in the ventral hippocampus convey information related to decision-making under stressful conditions.

Researchers investigated the influence of dopamine signaling within the ventral hippocampus on approach/avoidance behavior in male mice. They found that D1 and D2 dopamine receptors expressed in different neuronal populations are called into play to help execute approach/avoidance decisions. These receptors and the cells that express them mediate opposite approach/avoidance responses, and are differentially impacted by dopamine transmission in that region of the brain.

The team’s unexpected behavioral observation was that mice whose D2 cells were artificially activated became much less fearful. This discovery underscores the importance of dopamine in the hippocampal circuitry and highlights the need to reconsider dopamine signaling in many brain regions associated with learning, memory, and emotional behavior.

Dr. Nestler credits his research team for their creative advances in this investigation and notes that future studies will focus on showing precisely how the dopamine-hippocampus circuit modulates approach/avoidance is dysregulated in several stress-related conditions, such as anxiety disorders and major depressive disorders (which involve increased avoidance) and in drug addiction.

By helping to delineate the neuromodulatory circuits that govern these disorders, Dr. Nestler believes that his team is taking an essential step toward addressing a leading cause of disability in humans worldwide.

This breakthrough research has significant implications for our understanding of anxiety and depression and may lead to the development of more effective treatments for these conditions.

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Overcoming Fears: The Crucial Role of Doctor-Patient Communication in Cataract Surgery Decisions

A new study finds vision loss fears may deter some patients from cataract surgery, despite it being the only effective treatment. The research underscores the role of doctor-patient relationships in medical decisions.
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April 24, 2025

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The article highlights a crucial aspect of healthcare: the importance of doctor-patient communication in making informed medical decisions. A recent study published in The Journal of Clinical Ophthalmology found that patients’ fears about cataract surgery, particularly the risk of vision loss, can deter them from undergoing necessary treatment.

The research team, led by Lisa Kelly, MD, and Samantha Hu, a fourth-year medical student, surveyed 42 patients at Hoxworth Eye Clinic. The study explored the potential link between health literacy and fear surrounding cataract surgery. However, the findings revealed no correlation between lower health literacy and increased fear of surgery.

Despite clear explanations, some patients continued to harbor fears about cataract surgery. The study emphasized the significance of open communication in building trust and helping patients overcome their concerns. Dr. Kelly noted that patient education is essential but may not always suffice: “What’s equally important is building relationships and trust to help patients overcome fear.”

The research underscores the critical role physicians play in guiding patients towards informed medical decisions based on individual needs. The study also highlights the importance of doctor-patient communication in addressing fears and anxieties associated with healthcare.

Moving forward, researchers will likely delve deeper into patients’ fears around cataract surgery and explore ways to strengthen doctor-patient relationships further. This study serves as a reminder that patients are people with real fears, and their physicians must partner with them in their healthcare journey.

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