Distinct patterns of neural activity during initial defeat encounter are predictive of future susceptibility or resilience to chronic defeat

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Distinct patterns of brain-wide neural activity during an initial social defeat encounter predict future susceptibility or resilience to chronic stress. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.NOVEL_FINDING. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Dalia Murra; Pamela Mara; Huzefa Khalil; Kathryn Hilde; Stanley J Watson Jr; Huda Akil

doi:10.1038/s41398-026-04403-w

August 25, 2026Translational PsychiatryOpen Access

Distinct patterns of neural activity during initial defeat encounter are predictive of future susceptibility or resilience to chronic defeat

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Key Points

To determine whether brain-wide neural activation patterns during an initial social defeat encounter can predict subsequent susceptibility or resilience to chronic social defeat stress.
Used Fos-TRAP2 genetic technology to permanently tag active neurons on day 1 of a 10-day chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) protocol in mice.
Assessed behavioral outcomes following CSDS using social interaction testing to categorize mice as resilient or susceptible.
Quantified FosTRAP-labeled cells across 66 brain regions using an automated, high-throughput imaging pipeline.
Social defeat on day 1 induced a brain-wide synchronization of neural activity across 66 evaluated regions.
Neural activation patterns during the initial defeat encounter differentiated mice that maintained social exploration from those that developed social avoidance.

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Implication

Preclinical study reveals distinct early neural activity patterns predict susceptibility or resilience to chronic defeat in mice, indicating early brain responses shape long-term stress outcomes.

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Cite This Study

Murra et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8fe94110c91c1e92620cf5 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-026-04403-w

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Distinct patterns of neural activity during initial defeat encounter are predictive of future susceptibility or resilience to chronic defeat

Key Points

No abstract yet

Implication

Discussion

Cite This Study

Distinct patterns of neural activity during initial defeat encounter are predictive of future susceptibility or resilience to chronic defeat

Key Points

No abstract yet

Implication

Discussion

Cite This Study

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