The Medaka Approach to Evolutionary Social Neuroscience

Previously, the integration of comparative biological and neuroscientific approaches has led to significant advancements in social neuroscience. This review elucidates the potential and future directions of evolutionary social neuroscience research utilizing medaka fishes (the family Adrianichthyidae) including Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). We focus on medaka's social cognitive capabilities and mate choice behavior, particularly emphasizing mate preference using visual cues. Medaka fishes are also advantageous due to their abundant genetic resources, extensive genomic information, and the relative ease of laboratory breeding and genetic manipulation. Here we present some research examples of both the conventional neuroscience approach and evolutionary approach involving medaka fishes and other species. We also discuss the prospects of uncovering the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the diversity of visual mate preference among species. Especially, we introduce that the single-cell transcriptome technology, particularly in conjunction with 'Adaptive Circuitry Census', is an innovative tool that bridges comparative biological methods and neuroscientific approaches. Evolutionary social neuroscience research using medaka has the potential to unveil fundamental principles in neuroscience and elucidate the mechanisms responsible for generating diversity in mating strategies.