A Simple Genetic Basis for a Complex Psychological Trait in Laboratory Mice

TLDR

Psychological traits are inferred from covariation in behavioral measures that otherwise appear unrelated, and this mouse emotionality trait—derived from strain, sex, and individual differences—may relate to human anxiety or neuroticism susceptibility. The study defines mouse emotionality as covariation between activity, defecation in a novel environment, and open‑arm emergence in an elevated plus maze. The authors performed behavioral and quantitative trait analyses on four measures from 879 F2 intercross mice. Three loci on chromosomes 1, 12, and 15 were mapped that influence emotionality.

Abstract

Psychological traits are commonly inferred from covariation in sets of behavioral measures that otherwise appear to have little in common. Emotionality in mice is such a trait, defined here by covariation in activity and defecation in a novel environment and emergence into the open arms of an elevated plus maze. Behavioral and quantitative trait analyses were conducted on four measures obtained from 879 mice from an F2 intercross. Three loci, on murine chromosomes 1, 12, and 15, were mapped that influence emotionality. This trait, inferred from studies of strain, sex, and individual differences in rodents, may be related to human susceptibility to anxiety or neuroticism.