Taylor Lineberry

bed nucleus of the stria terminalis familiarity social behavior social cognition social novelty Significance Statement Recognizing whether a social partner is familiar or unfamiliar is fundamental for survival, yet most research has overlooked how familiarity shapes social behavior. Here we identify the anterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNSTa) as a critical regulator of interactions with unfamiliar conspecifics.

familiarity learned aggression medial amygdala social cognition socially transmitted aggression Significance Statement Observational learning of aggression contributes significantly to antisocial behavior, yet the neural circuits and social factors underlying this phenomenon remain poorly understood.

Abstract Aggressive behavior can be acquired through observation, providing adaptive advantages but also posing significant social risks. In humans, individuals repeatedly exposed to aggression are more likely to engage in violent behavior later in life. Yet, the environmental factors and neural mechanisms underlying observationally acquired aggression remain unclear.