Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Method for the Study of Social Behavior in a Rodent Model

The advancement of technology has allowed the implementation of novel techniques that have become very helpful in targeting questions that otherwise would be difficult to answer due to methodological limitations. In this chapter, we describe how magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used in small animals, specifically the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), to understand the relationship between functional networks in the brain and the social behaviors observed in this rodent model. The type of MRI data we focus on is resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI), which detects signals derived from blood oxygen-level changes during a resting task. Processed rsfMRI data allow the analysis of functional brain networks that can be subsequently correlated with particular behaviors assessed on the subject model. Moreover, by implementing this method with a longitudinal design, it enables describing and understanding the contextual and temporal dynamics of neural circuits in a non-invasive fashion. A methodological overview and requirements of subjects, equipment, anesthesia protocols, and data analysis are given so the reader can clearly outline how to design an experimental protocol around this particular technique.