The value of unusual animal models for alcohol research: a commentary on: Anacker, Loftis, and Ryabinin, "alcohol intake in prairie voles is influenced by the drinking level of a peer"

The recent study by Anacker, Loftis, and Ryabinin used a novel animal model, the prairie vole, to investigate social effects on drinking. Their finding that same-sex peers modulate their drinking to match each other has intriguing implications for the fields of alcohol research as well as research on social relationships.