Social maintenance masks induced aggression in zebrafish

Animal behavior is dynamically shaped by internal states and external social contexts. This study examines how internal states and social buffering influence aggression and social behavior. Food deprivation and mirror stimuli amplified aggression and reduced exploratory activity, highlighting a state-dependent shift in behavioral priorities. However, the presence of conspecific cues significantly mitigated aggression, irrespective of hunger, underscoring the regulatory role of social interaction. These results demonstrate the critical interplay between metabolic and social factors in modulating stress-related behaviors and position zebrafish as a powerful model for unraveling the neurobiological mechanisms underlying social modulation and adaptive behavioral strategies.