SOCIAL-LEARNING OF A FOOD PREFERENCE IN MALE AND FEMALE MONGOLIAN GERBILS IS FACILITATED BY THE ANXIOLYTIC, CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE

Social transmission of a food preference in Mongolian gerbils (Merione s unguiculatus) depends on the presence of a social bond between the i nteracting animals. An ''observer'' gerbil can acquire a preference fo r a novel food item from a familiar and, or related ''demonstrator'' a nimal. However, exposure to an unfamiliar and unrelated demonstrator g erbil does not lead to acquisition of a food preference, even though t he extent of social interaction and likelihood of transmission of food information is unaffected. Likewise, individual preexposure to a nove l food does not affect diet preference in individual animals. Here we show that oral, nongavage, administration of the benzodiazepine anxiol ytic, chlordiazepoxide (CDP, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg) has significant dos e-associated differential facilitatory effects on social learning in m ale and female gerbils, while having no significant effects on either individual learning or total food consumption. These results suggest t hat the CDP mediated reduction of the anxiety associated with the inte ractions between unfamiliar/unrelated gerbils facilitates social learn ing. These findings also rise the possibility of sex differences in so cially related anxiety and the effects of CDP on social learning in ge rbils. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.