Uncontrollable stress precipitates negative mental and physical health outcomes. Furthermore, the vicarious experience of stress (e.g. observing another individual experience a direct stressor) can mimic the effects of directly experiencing the stressor. The current experiment examined the behavioral and physiological effects of the vicarious experience of stress using the socially monogamous prairie vole. Male prairie voles were exposed to either an empty open field chamber, or a chamber in which the animal observed a sibling undergoing a concurrent direct physical stressor (tail suspension test) for five minutes. Exploratory and anxiety-like behaviors were recorded in all observers during the test session. Cardiac indices of heart rate and heart rate variability were recorded in a subset of observers prior to, during, and following the test session. Corticosterone levels were measured in all observers and siblings following the test session. When compared to animals exposed to an empty open field chamber, animals that observed a sibling undergo a direct physical stressor exhibited increased heart rate and circulating corticosterone, and decreased heart rate variability. These physiological stress indicators were supported by behavioral changes, including increased freezing followed immediately by orienting of the head toward the center of the apparatus, and decreased locomotion, grooming, and rearing. These preliminary results suggest that prairie voles experience stress vicariously, and provide a foundation for additional studies focused on the underlying mechanisms of vicarious stress. The use of this model may inform our understanding of the social transmission of stress among social species, including humans.

• LAY SUMMARY

• The experience of stress, including observing stress in a loved one, has negative consequences on mental and physical health. This study used a social rodent (prairie voles) to demonstrate that stress transfers among social individuals, consequently producing an increased physiological and behavioral stress response in prairie voles observing their siblings experience stress. This research informs our understanding of the interactions of social experiences and stress in humans.

无法控制的压力会导致负面的心理和身体健康结果。此外，压力的替代体验（例如观察另一个人体验直接压力源）可以模拟直接体验压力源的效果。当前的实验使用社会一夫一妻制的草原田鼠检查了压力的替代体验的行为和生理影响。雄性草原田鼠暴露于空旷的野外房间，或动物观察兄弟姐妹同时承受直接物理压力（悬尾试验）5 分钟的房间。在测试期间，所有观察者都记录了探索性和类似焦虑的行为。在观察者的一个子集中记录了心率和心率变异性的心脏指数，并在测试会话之后。在测试会话之后测量所有观察者和兄弟姐妹的皮质酮水平。与暴露于空旷野外室的动物相比，观察到兄弟姐妹承受直接身体压力的动物表现出心率和循环皮质酮增加，心率变异性降低。这些生理压力指标得到行为变化的支持，包括冷冻增加，随后立即将头部朝向器械中心，减少运动、梳理和抬起。这些初步结果表明，草原田鼠会替代性地承受压力，并为关注替代性压力潜在机制的其他研究奠定基础。

• 概述

• 压力体验，包括观察亲人的压力，会对身心健康产生负面影响。该研究使用社交啮齿动物（草原田鼠）来证明社会个体之间的压力转移，从而在观察其兄弟姐妹经历压力的草原田鼠中产生增加的生理和行为压力反应。这项研究为我们了解人类社会经历和压力的相互作用提供了信息。