Group foraging dynamics in mice: unraveling the link between neural activity and the emergence of workers and freeriders

Abstract

From the perspective of collective action theory, achieving the common good requires individual contributions to group welfare. However, the challenge of free-riders, who benefit without contributing, complicates the balance between effort and resource sharing. While previous studies have examined group characteristics and voluntary participation affecting free-riding, less is known about the intrinsic decision-making processes behind the emergence of participants and free-riders. To explore these dynamics, we conducted a 'risk-taking food retrieval' experiment with mice. Mice cohabitated with a spider robot in an arena and had to retrieve shared food placed on the robot. Using CBRAIN, we tracked neural activity in the mPFC, NAc, and BLA―regions associated with decision-making, reward, and fear.