Examining Social Hierarchies Using a Novel Dominance Apparatus

Discovering more about social hierarchies within groups of mice and the underlying brain mechanisms supporting differences in dominance is essential to understanding social roles and individuality. In this study, we aimed to discover if a novel dominance assay is able to determine social hierarchies in groups of three, as well as how this novel assay compares to a classic dominance tube test. SLEAP software, a machine learning tool, was used to analyze the behaviors of the mice in the novel dominance apparatus. In addition, cytokine levels were collected from the mice to assess possible correlations between hierarchical standing and presence of inflammatory agents.