Figure 4

Impaired prosocial behavior and lesson-learning ability in TARP γ-8 knockout mice. (a, b) Three-chamber tests. (a) Contact times with the empty cage or stranger cage during the 10 min period and (b) stranger/total contacts of the WT (n = 11), TARP γ-8^+/− (n = 12) and TARP γ-8^−/− (n = 11) mice. Data represent the mean ± s.e.m. Independent-sample t-test used in (a), one-way ANOVA used in (b), *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001. (c) Representative photos of mouse cages taken after four mice of same genotype housed in one cage for 7 days without a change of bedding. The paper was the nest where the animals slept. The arrows indicate yellow stains on the paper from the urine of TARP γ-8^+/− and TARP γ-8^−/− mice while no yellow stains on the nest were observed in the cages of the WT mice. (d–f) Empathetic behavior tests. (d) Schematic of the drowning rescue test. The mice in platform were the cage mate of mice in the water container. (e) Time spent with the drowning cage mate during the 5 min period and (f) movement traces of the WT, TARP γ-8^+/− and TARP γ-8^−/− mice (n = 12 for each) in the drowning rescue test. Red dots: experiment start position, Blue dots: experiment end position, Yellow line: movement traces, the black circle: 4 cm from the edge of the container. (g–i) Risk-taking behavior test. (g) Schematic of the shuttle box test. After receiving a plantar shock (defined as acquisition), mice were fed freely for 6 h and then fasted for 18 h. The mice were tested for 180 s. Lightning bolts: Bottom shock. (h) initial latency to enter and (i) total number of entries (n = 12 for each). Data represent the mean ± s.e.m. one-way ANOVA, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001.