Social interactions shape the way we perceive, feel and learn about the world, and despite its importance for social species, we still know very little about how the brain computes social information. Our lab is interested in understanding the mechanisms of how social behaviour shapes our brain, and for this, we focus on cooperative social interactions in rodents. We have recently demonstrated that Norway rats display prosocial behaviours in food foraging context, providing food to conspecifics, and identified the proximal mechanisms at the level of behaviour (Marquez et al, Current Biology, 2015). Current and future projects aim to identify the neural circuits responsible for this fascinating social decision-making, using a combination of behavioural, anatomical, pharmacological, imaging and optogenetic tools in rodents.

Representative Publications

Andreia Cruz , Mirjam Heinemans, Cristina Márquez and Marta A. Moita. " Freezing Displayed by Others Is a Learned Cue of Danger Resulting from Co-experiencing Own Freezing and Shock. " Current Biology . 30 , 1 - 8 ( 2020 )

Cristina Marquez* , Rennie S, Costa D, Moita M.* " Prosocial choice in rats depends on food-seeking behaviour displayed by recipients. " Current Biology . 25(13) , 1736 - 1745 ( 2015 ) * Co-Corresponding author

Cristina Marquez , Poirier GL, cordero MI, Larsen MH, Groner AC, Marquis J, Magistretti PJ, Trono D, Sandi C. " Abnormal aggression induced by early life trauma is associated with increased prefrontal MAOA gene expression and epigenetic regulation. " Translational Psychiatry . 3 , e - 216 ( 2013 )

MI Cordero , Poirier GL, Cristina Marquez, Veenit V, Fontana X, Salehi B, Ansermet F, Sandi C. " Evidence for biological roots in the transgenerational transmission of intimate parter violence. " Translational Psychiatry . 2 , e - 106 ( 2012 )

L Calandreau , Cristina Márquez, R Bisaz, M Fantin and C Sandi. " Differential impact of Polysialyltransferase ST8SiaII and ST8iaIV knockout on social interaction and aggression. " Brain, Genes and Behaviour . 9(8) , 958 - 67 ( 2010 )