Neural representations of kinship

While the fundamental relevance of kinship behavior for evolutionary and behavioral biology has long been recognized, examination from a neuroscience perspective is still in its infancy. Kinship highly conserved single-celled organisms to humans, where kin preferences are prevalent vocal communication. Kin recognition mechanisms varied, with evidence both genetic prenatal as well postnatal learning-based recognition. Learned predominant vertebrates allow flexibility regarding concept kin. We review new lateral septum role behavior. further discuss discovery nepotopy, topographical representation kin- nonkin-responsive neurons septum. Neural representations self/other, familiar/unfamiliar, nepotopy (kin/nonkin) may support circuit-level framework social template through which mammalian brain learns, categorizes, selects based on perceived identity. • multifaceted. Behavior, lesions rat kinship. Learning underlie flexible neural signature non-kin vertebrates.