Social Determinants of Inter-Individual Variability and Vulnerability: The Role of Dopamine

Individuals differ in their traits and preferences, which shape their interactions, their prospects for survival and their susceptibility to diseases. These correlations are well documented, yet the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying the emergence of distinct personalities and their relation to vulnerability to diseases are poorly understood. Social ties, in particular, are thought to be major modulators of personality traits and psychiatric vulnerability, yet the majority of neuroscience studies are performed on rodents in socially impoverished conditions. Rodent micro-society paradigms are therefore key experimental paradigms to understand how social life generates diversity by shaping individual traits. Dopamine circuitry is implicated at the interface between social life experiences, the expression of essential traits, and the emergence of pathologies, thus proving a possible mechanism to link these three concepts at a neuromodulatory level. Evaluating inter-individual variability in automated social testing environments shows great promise for improving our understanding of the link between social life, personality, and precision psychiatry - as well as elucidating the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms.

Automated summary

Individuals vary in their traits and preferences, which impact their interactions, survival prospects, and susceptibility to diseases. Although there is evidence for these correlations, the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms and their relation to vulnerability to diseases are not well understood. Social ties are believed to play a significant role in modulating personality traits and psychiatric vulnerability, but most neuroscience studies are conducted on socially deprived rodents. Rodent micro-society paradigms are therefore crucial for understanding how social life contributes to diversity through shaping individual traits.