Data from: Parental rearing shapes brain functional networks and socio-sexual behaviors in the prairie vole
Data files
Mar 23, 2026 version files 937.27 KB
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AdultVoleBehavior_Data.xlsx
36.96 KB
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Parenting_Data.xlsx
11.43 KB
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README.md
11.45 KB
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rsfMRI-ID_Data.xlsx
877.44 KB
Abstract
This dataset captures functional brain connectivity and socio-sexual behavioral data from prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) reared under biparental or monoparental family structures. Pairwise functional connectivity matrices were derived from resting-state fMRI scans collected at two time points—prior to and following opposite-sex cohabitation—across twenty predefined brain regions implicated in social behavior. Behavioral data include quantified parental care at postnatal day 6 (PND6), socio-sexual behavior metrics during initial cohabitation, and partner preference indices measured 48 hours later. Data are organized in Excel format, containing individual subject identifiers, experimental grouping (family structure, sex, treatment), connectivity strength between brain region pairs, and associated behavioral measures.
This resource supports reuse in studies examining developmental influences on brain network formation, the neural basis of social bonding, or comparative analyses across species or experimental paradigms. All experimental procedures complied with ethical guidelines approved by the Instituto de Neurobiología Bioethics Committee (protocol 072, UNAM) and adhered to national and international standards for animal research.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.31zcrjf04
Description of the data and file structure
This dataset was generated as part of a study investigating how early-life parental care influences brain functional connectivity and socio-sexual behavior in prairie voles. Animals were reared under two family structures, biparental (both parents present) and monoparental (father removed), and were longitudinally tracked from birth through adulthood.
The experimental design included:
- Assessment of Parental Behavior: At postnatal day 6 (PND6), licking/grooming, crouching, and unattended nest behaviors were evaluated via 90-minute video recordings.
- Behavioral Testing: As adults (PND65–PND120), offspring were assigned to Control or Experimental groups. Experimental animals were paired with sterilized, opposite-sex stimulus voles to evaluate socio-sexual behaviors during initial cohabitation and partner preference at 48 hours. Female stimulus voles underwent hormonal replacement through estradiol benzoate (EB) capsule implantation.
- MRI Data Acquisition: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI) scans were performed at two time points: baseline (pre-cohabitation) and 24 hours after the onset of opposite-sex cohabitation.
Functional connectivity was analyzed across twenty brain regions implicated in socio-sexual behavior using pairwise correlations, and behavioral outcomes were systematically recorded.
Contents
The dataset, provided in Excel format, includes:
- Functional Connectivity Matrices: Pairwise Fisher-z transformed connectivity values between 20 brain regions.
- Behavioral Data: Measures of parental care behavior, socio-sexual behavior onset latencies, and partner preference indices.
- Subject Metadata: Information on family structure (monoparental or biparental), sex, group assignment (Experimental or Control), and stimulus vole pairing.
Reuse Potential
This dataset can support secondary research into the neural basis of social bonding, the developmental impact of early social experiences on brain networks, and cross-species comparisons in social neuroscience. It is suitable for applications in functional-connectivity-based analysis and behavioral phenotyping.
Ethical Considerations
All experimental procedures were approved by the Bioethics Committee of the Instituto de Neurobiología (protocol 072, UNAM) and adhered to the guidelines of the Mexican Health Ministry and the National Institutes of Health’s ‘Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals’.
Files and variables
File: AdultVoleBehavior_Data.xlsx
Description: This dataset integrates early parental care exposure, socio-sexual behavior measures during initial adult interactions, and pair-bonding behaviors following cohabitation, allowing comprehensive exploration of developmental and behavioral outcomes in prairie voles.
Variables
- Subject: Unique identifier for each vole.
- Sex: Sex of the subject (M = Male, F = Female).
- Birth_Date: Date of birth of the subject.
- Weaning_Date: Date when the subject was weaned (postnatal day 21).
- Weaning_Weight_g: Weigh in grams (g) when subject was weaned (postnatal day 21).
- NOTE: NA values indicate that the data were expected but could not be collected or measured due to logistical, technical, or sampling limitations (Not available).
- Treatment: Family structure (MP = Monoparental, BP = Biparental).
- SexTreatment: Combined sex and treatment category (e.g., MP Female, BP Male).
- Group: Experimental grouping (Exp = Experimental group undergoing cohabitation with opposite-sex mate and underwent behavioral evaluations; Ctrl = Control group in cohabitation with same-sex mate and no behavioral evaluations).
- Total_Licking: Total amount of parental licking/grooming behavior received by the subject at postnatal day 6 (PND6).
- NOTE: NA values indicate that the data were expected but could not be collected or measured due to logistical, technical, or sampling limitations (Not available).
- Age_MR2: Age in days at the second MRI scanning session (adult baseline MRI session).
- Housing_Weaned: Number of subjects in cohabitation in a home cage after weaning and before the beginning of behavioral evaluations of the Experimental group.
- Housing_Exp: Number of subjects in cohabitation in a home cage after the behavioral evaluations of the Experimental group.
- Mount_LatMin: Latency in minutes to the first mount behavior by male subjects.
- NOTE: NA values indicate that the measurement does not apply to individuals of the other sex (Not applicable).
- Lord_LatMin: Latency in minutes to the first lordosis posture by female subjects.
- NOTE: NA values indicate that the measurement does not apply to individuals of the other sex (Not applicable).
- Introm_LatMin: Latency in minutes to the first intromission event (male subjects).
- NOTE: NA values indicate that the measurement does not apply to individuals of the other sex (Not applicable).
- Eyac_LatMin: Latency in minutes to the first ejaculation event (male subjects).
- NOTE: NA values indicate that the measurement does not apply to individuals of the other sex (Not applicable).
- Huddling_LatMin: Latency in minutes to the first sustained huddling behavior (continuous body contact for ≥10 seconds).
- Mating_Cohab: Mating occurrence during the first 6 hours of cohabitation with an opposite-sex partner (Yes; No).
- Mating_Status: Mating occurrence at least once during the entire duration of the experiment (Yes; No).
- NOTE: NA values indicate that the data were expected but could not be collected or measured due to logistical, technical, or sampling limitations (Not available).
- PPT_TotalTime: Total test time (in minutes) during the partner preference test (fixed at 180 minutes).
- PPT_PercentHuddlingTime: Percentage of total test time spent huddling (partner + stranger combined).
- PPT_HuddlingTime: Total huddling time (minutes) during PPT (partner + stranger combined).
- PPT_Partner_Min: Total minutes spent huddling with the familiar partner vole.
- PPT_Stranger_Min: Total minutes spent huddling with the unfamiliar stranger vole.
- PPT_Pref_Indx: Partner Preference Index (time huddling with partner / total huddling time).
NOTE: NA values indicate that the measurement does not apply to individuals of the Control group (Not applicable).
File: Parenting_Data.xlsx
Description: This dataset documents quantitative parental behavior in prairie voles reared under different family structures and provides key behavioral measures relevant to early-life social experiences for subsequent analyses on offspring outcomes.
Variables
- ID: Unique identifier for the parent (Mother or Father).
- Pair: Identifier for the breeding pair (family group).
- Sex: Sex of the parent (M = Male, F = Female).
- Treatment: Family structure type (MP = Monoparental, BP = Biparental).
- Num_pups: Number of pups in the litter.
- Parent: Role and family structure of the parent (e.g., Monoparental Mother, Biparental Father, Biparental Mother).
- Crouching: Number of crouching behaviors observed during a defined scoring window.
- Total_Crouching: Total crouching behaviors accumulated.
- Licking: Number of pup-directed licking/grooming behaviors observed during a defined scoring window.
- Total_Licking: Total licking/grooming behaviors accumulated.
- Unat_Nest: Number of times the parent was away from the nest during observation.
- Total_Unat_Nest: Total observations of absence from the nest.
File: rsfMRI-ID_Data.xlsx
Description: This dataset structure allows for the integrated analysis of early-life parental care effects, behavioral outcomes, and brain functional network organization based on resting-state fMRI data.
Variables
- ID: Unique animal identifier.
- Sex: Sex of the subject (M = Male, F = Female).
- Session: MRI scanning session (e.g., 2nd session).
- Treatment: Family structure group (MP = Monoparental, BP = Biparental).
- SexTreatment: Combined sex and treatment category (e.g., MP Female).
- Group: Experimental group assignment (Exp = Experimental, meaning cohabitation with an opposite-sex mate; Ctrl = Control, meaning cohabitation with a same-sex mate).
- Age.MR: Age in days at MRI scanning.
- Housing.Weaned: Number of subjects in cohabitation in a home cage after weaning and before the beginning of behavioral evaluations of the Experimental group.
- Total.Licking: Total counts of parental licking/grooming events recorded at postnatal day 6 (PND6).
- Total.Licking.Demeaned: Total licking counts normalized to the group mean.
- NOTE: NA values indicate that the data were expected but could not be collected or measured due to logistical, technical, or sampling limitations (Not available).
- PPT1.TotalHuddling: Total huddling time during the first Partner Preference Test (PPT).
- PPT1.Time.Partner: Total time spent huddling with the familiar (partner) vole during PPT.
- PPT1.Time.Partner.Demeaned: Partner huddling time normalized to the group mean.
- PPT1.Pref.Index: Partner preference index (time with partner divided by total huddling time).
- NOTE: NA values indicate that the measurement does not apply to individuals of the Control group (Not applicable).
Each of the following variables represents pairwise functional connectivity (partial correlation Fisher-z transformed correlation values) between two brain regions of interest (ROIs).
There are 192 pairwise connectivity variables. Some examples include:
- ACC_AOB, ACC_AON, ACC_BLA, …, ACC_VTA
- AOB_BLA, AOB_BNST, …, AOB_VTA
- BLA_BNST, BLA_DG, …, BLA_VTA
- Continuing through BNST, DG, dHC, LS, MeA, MOB, mPFC, mPOA, NACo, NASh, PAG, PVN, RSC, vHC, VP, and VTA combinations.
The ROIs include:
- Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC)
- Accessory olfactory bulb (AOB)
- Anterior olfactory nucleus (AON)
- Basolateral amygdala (BLA)
- Bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST)
- Dentate gyrus (DG)
- Dorsal hippocampus (dHC)
- Lateral septum (LS)
- Medial amygdala (MeA)
- Main olfactory bulb (MOB)
- Medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)
- Medial preoptic area (mPOA)
- Nucleus accumbens core (NACo)
- Nucleus accumbens shell (NASh)
- Periaqueductal gray (PAG)
- Paraventricular nucleus (PVN)
- Retrosplenial cortex (RSC)
- Ventral hippocampus (vHC)
- Ventral pallidum (VP)
- Ventral tegmental area (VTA)
Code/software
The dataset is provided in MS Excel format (.xlsx)