Pharmacological Inactivation of the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis Increases Affiliative Social Behavior in Rhesus Macaques

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) has been implicated in a variety of social behaviors, including aggression, maternal care, mating behavior, and social interaction. Limited evidence from rodent studies suggests that activation of the BNST results in a decrease in social interaction between unfamiliar animals. The role of the BNST in social interaction in primates remains wholly unexamined. Nonhuman primates provide a valuable model for studying social behavior because of both their rich social repertoire and neural substrates of behavior with high translational relevance to humans. To test the hypothesis that the primate BNST is a critical modulator of social behavior, we performed intracerebral microinfusions of the GABAA agonist muscimol to transiently inactivate the BNST in male macaque monkeys. We measured changes in social interaction with a familiar same-sex conspecific. Inactivation of the BNST resulted in significant increase in total social contact. This effect was associated with an increase in passive contact and a significant decrease in locomotion. Other nonsocial behaviors (sitting passively alone, self-directed behaviors, and manipulation) were not impacted by BNST inactivation. As part of the extended amygdala, the BNST is highly interconnected with the basolateral (BLA) and central (CeA) nuclei of the amygdala, both of which also play critical roles in regulating social interaction. The precise pattern of behavioral changes we observed following inactivation of the BNST partially overlaps with our prior reports in the BLA and CeA. Together, these data demonstrate that the BNST is part of a network regulating social behavior in primates.

Automated summary

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) is involved in various social behaviors, including aggression, maternal care, mating behavior, and social interaction. Activation of the BNST has been shown to reduce social interaction between unfamiliar animals in rodent studies. However, the role of the BNST in social interaction in primates has not been investigated. By temporarily inactivating the BNST in male macaque monkeys, we found that BNST inactivation led to a significant increase in social interaction, accompanied by an increase in passive contact and a significant decrease in locomotion.