What zebra finches can tell us about social bonds - McGill University - Maxine Wu

Our video showcases the research our lab carries out to understand social bonds in zebra finches. The United Nations Sustainability Goal 3 aims in part to promote mental health and well-being. Social bonds contribute to our mental health and play a crucial role in our daily lives.
Our lab examines the neural pathways and mechanisms that enable us to form social bonds by studying pair bonding in zebra finches. Our current research focuses on the role that dopamine neurons play in the formation of a female’s preference for their mate’s song and the consequences if these signals are lost. By recognizing the underlying neural mechanisms that define social bonds, we can gain insight into the neurobiology of social bonds in humans in order to better mental health all over the world.