Alcohol intake in prairie voles is influenced by the drinking level of a peer

摘要

BackgroundPeer interactions can have important effects on alcohol drinking levels, in some cases increasing use, and in other cases preventing it. In a previous study we have established the prairie vole as a model animal for the effects of social relationships on alcohol intake, and have observed a correlation of alcohol intake between individual voles housed together as pairs. Here we investigated this correlated drinking behavior, hypothesizing that one animal alters its alcohol intake to match the drinking of its partner.