Mitochondrial function in the brain links anxiety with social subordination

TLDR

Low social status in dominance hierarchies reduces well‑being, yet how personality traits influence rank remains unclear. The study shows that trait anxiety predisposes individuals to subordinate status. Mitochondrial function in the nucleus accumbens mediates the link between high anxiety and subordinate status. The results underscore the role of cerebral energy metabolism in social behavior and suggest nucleus accumbens mitochondrial function as a marker and therapeutic target for mood disorders.

Abstract

Significance Within a dominance hierarchy, low social status strongly reduces individual well-being. In socially living species, rank in a hierarchy is determined through competitive encounters. Despite the numerous health consequences, the ability of personality traits to predispose individuals to a particular social rank remains largely unclear. Our work identifies trait anxiety as a predisposing factor to a subordinate rank. We demonstrate that mitochondrial function in the nucleus accumbens, a brain region relevant for motivation and depression, is a critical mediating factor in the subordinate status displayed by high-anxious rats. These findings highlight a role for cerebral energy metabolism in social behavior and point to mitochondrial function in the nucleus accumbens as a potential marker and avenue of treatment for mood disorders.