A Surgical schematic and experimental timeline for LHb5HT2c and BNST5HT2c GRAB-5HT fiber photometry experiments in DiD-exposed mice. B Average alcohol consumption in DiD, p2h = 0.0532 (Females n = 8 mice, Males n = 12 mice). C Cumulative alcohol intake in DiD, p = 0.2897 (Females n = 8 mice, Males n = 12 mice). D Average alcohol preference in DiD p4h = 0.0039 (Females n = 8 mice, Males n = 12 mice). E Peri-event plot of LHb5HT2c GRAB-5HT activity during the first interaction with a novel social target, females, (water n = 6 mice/1 trial, DiD n = 8 mice/1 trial). F Average z-score of LHb5HT2c GRAB-5HT signal for 0–5 s post interaction, females, p = 0.0699 (water n = 6 mice/1 trial, DiD n = 8 mice/1 trial). G Peri-event plot of LHb5HT2c GRAB-5HT activity during the first interaction with a novel social target, males (water n = 9 mice/1 trial, DiD n = 10 mice/1 trial). H Average z-score of LHb5HT2c GRAB-5HT signal for 0–5 s post interaction, males (water n = 9 mice/1 trial, DiD n = 10 mice/1 trial). I Peri-event plot of BNST5HT2c GRAB-5HT activity during the first interaction with a novel social target, females (water n = 8 mice/1 trial, DiD n = 7 mice/1 trial). J Average z-score of BNST5HT2c GRAB-5HT signal for 0–5 s post interaction, females, p = 0.0008 (water n = 8 mice/1 trial, DiD n = 7 mice/1 trial). K Peri-event plot of BNST5HT2c GRAB-5HT activity during the first interaction with a novel social target, males (water n = 11 mice/1 trial, DiD n = 12 mice/1 trial). L Average z-score of BNST5HT2c GRAB-5HT signal for 0–5 s post interaction, males (water n = 11 mice/1 trial, DiD n = 12 mice/1 trial). M Peri-event plot of LHb5HT2c GRAB-5HT activity during the acoustic startle test, females (water n = 6 mice/10 trials, DiD n = 8 mice/10 trials). N Peak z-score of LHb5HT2c GRAB-5HT signal for 0–1 s post acoustic startle stimulus, females (water n = 6 mice/10 trials, DiD n = 8 mice/10 trials). O Peri-event plot of LHb5HT2c GRAB-5HT activity during the acoustic startle test, males (water n = 9 mice/10 trials, DiD n = 10 mice/10 trials). P Average z-score of LHb5HT2c GRAB-5HT signal for 0–5 s post acoustic startle stimulus, males (water n = 9 mice/10 trials, DiD n = 10 mice/10 trials). Q Peri-event plot of BNST5HT2c GRAB-5HT activity during the acoustic startle test, females (water n = 8 mice/10 trials, DiD n = 8 mice/10 trials). R Average z-score of BNST5HT2c GRAB-5HT signal for 0–5 s post acoustic startle stimulus, females (water n = 8 mice/10 trials, DiD n = 8 mice/10 trials). S Peri-event plot of BNST5HT2c GRAB-5HT activity during the acoustic startle test, males (water n = 11 mice/10 trials, DiD n = 12 mice/10 trials). T Average z-score of BNST5HT2c GRAB-5HT signal for 0–5 s post acoustic startle stimulus (water n = 11 mice/10 trials, DiD n = 12 mice/10 trials). Unless otherwise stated, statistical comparisons were performed using two-way Student’s unpaired t tests. All data represented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.0001. Source data are provided as a Source Data file. Created with Biorender.com.