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Lee NS, Beery AK. Selectivity and Sociality: Aggression and Affiliation Shape Vole Social Relationships. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:826831. [PMID: 35330842 PMCID: PMC8940285 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.826831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of selective social relationships is not a requirement of group living; sociality can be supported by motivation for social interaction in the absence of preferences for specific individuals, and by tolerance in place of social motivation. For species that form selective social relationships, these can be maintained by preference for familiar partners, as well as by avoidance of or aggression toward individuals outside of the social bond. In this review, we explore the roles that aggression, motivation, and tolerance play in the maintenance of selective affiliation. We focus on prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) and meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) as rodent species that both exhibit the unusual tendency to form selective social relationships, but differ with regard to mating system. These species provide an opportunity to investigate the mechanisms that underlie social relationships, and to compare mechanisms supporting pair bonds with mates and same-sex peer relationships. We then relate this to the role of aggression in group composition in a comparative context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole S. Lee
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, United States
| | - Annaliese K. Beery
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Annaliese K. Beery,
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2
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Carter CS. Oxytocin and love: Myths, metaphors and mysteries. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 9:100107. [PMID: 35755926 PMCID: PMC9216351 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxytocin is a peptide molecule with a multitude of physiological and behavioral functions. Based on its association with reproduction - including social bonding, sexual behavior, birth and maternal behavior - oxytocin also has been called “the love hormone.” This essay specifically examines association and parallels between oxytocin and love. However, many myths and gaps in knowledge remain concerning both. A few of these are described here and we hypothesize that the potential benefits of both love and oxytocin may be better understood in light of interactions with more ancient systems, including specifically vasopressin and the immune system. Oxytocin is anti-inflammatory and is associated with recently evolved, social solutions to a variety of challenges necessary for mammalian survival and reproduction. The shared functions of oxytocin and love have profound implications for health and longevity, including the prevention and treatment of excess inflammation and related disorders, especially those occurring in early life and during periods of chronic threat or disease. Oxytocin is a peptide molecule with functions that support a sense of safety, sociality, as well as survival and reproduction. Oxytocin is associated with social and neuroimmune solutions to chronic stress. The related, but more primitive, peptide vasopressin supports more individualistic survival strategies. Controversies and myths surround the properties of oxytocin and love.
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3
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Tereshchenko S, Azanova A, Shubina M, Gorbacheva N. Oxytocin genetic pathway (CD38) and SDQ psychosocial characteristics in adolescent schoolchildren. Zh Nevrol Psikhiatr Im S S Korsakova 2022; 122:117-123. [DOI: 10.17116/jnevro2022122111117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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4
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Beery AK, Lopez SA, Blandino KL, Lee NS, Bourdon NS. Social selectivity and social motivation in voles. eLife 2021; 10:e72684. [PMID: 34726153 PMCID: PMC8594915 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Selective relationships are fundamental to humans and many other animals, but relationships between mates, family members, or peers may be mediated differently. We examined connections between social reward and social selectivity, aggression, and oxytocin receptor signaling pathways in rodents that naturally form enduring, selective relationships with mates and peers (monogamous prairie voles) or peers (group-living meadow voles). Female prairie and meadow voles worked harder to access familiar versus unfamiliar individuals, regardless of sex, and huddled extensively with familiar subjects. Male prairie voles displayed strongly selective huddling preferences for familiar animals, but only worked harder to repeatedly access females versus males, with no difference in effort by familiarity. This reveals a striking sex difference in pathways underlying social monogamy and demonstrates a fundamental disconnect between motivation and social selectivity in males-a distinction not detected by the partner preference test. Meadow voles exhibited social preferences but low social motivation, consistent with tolerance rather than reward supporting social groups in this species. Natural variation in oxytocin receptor binding predicted individual variation in prosocial and aggressive behaviors. These results provide a basis for understanding species, sex, and individual differences in the mechanisms underlying the role of social reward in social preference.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annaliese K Beery
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
- Program in Neuroscience, Departments of Psychology and Biology, Smith CollegeNorthamptonUnited States
- Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of MassachusettsAmherst, MAUnited States
| | - Sarah A Lopez
- Program in Neuroscience, Departments of Psychology and Biology, Smith CollegeNorthamptonUnited States
| | - Katrina L Blandino
- Program in Neuroscience, Departments of Psychology and Biology, Smith CollegeNorthamptonUnited States
| | - Nicole S Lee
- Neuroscience and Behavior Graduate Program, University of MassachusettsAmherst, MAUnited States
| | - Natalie S Bourdon
- Program in Neuroscience, Departments of Psychology and Biology, Smith CollegeNorthamptonUnited States
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5
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Sparapani S, Millet-Boureima C, Oliver J, Mu K, Hadavi P, Kalostian T, Ali N, Avelar CM, Bardies M, Barrow B, Benedikt M, Biancardi G, Bindra R, Bui L, Chihab Z, Cossitt A, Costa J, Daigneault T, Dault J, Davidson I, Dias J, Dufour E, El-Khoury S, Farhangdoost N, Forget A, Fox A, Gebrael M, Gentile MC, Geraci O, Gnanapragasam A, Gomah E, Haber E, Hamel C, Iyanker T, Kalantzis C, Kamali S, Kassardjian E, Kontos HK, Le TBU, LoScerbo D, Low YF, Mac Rae D, Maurer F, Mazhar S, Nguyen A, Nguyen-Duong K, Osborne-Laroche C, Park HW, Parolin E, Paul-Cole K, Peer LS, Philippon M, Plaisir CA, Porras Marroquin J, Prasad S, Ramsarun R, Razzaq S, Rhainds S, Robin D, Scartozzi R, Singh D, Fard SS, Soroko M, Soroori Motlagh N, Stern K, Toro L, Toure MW, Tran-Huynh S, Trépanier-Chicoine S, Waddingham C, Weekes AJ, Wisniewski A, Gamberi C. The Biology of Vasopressin. Biomedicines 2021; 9:89. [PMID: 33477721 PMCID: PMC7832310 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9010089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Vasopressins are evolutionarily conserved peptide hormones. Mammalian vasopressin functions systemically as an antidiuretic and regulator of blood and cardiac flow essential for adapting to terrestrial environments. Moreover, vasopressin acts centrally as a neurohormone involved in social and parental behavior and stress response. Vasopressin synthesis in several cell types, storage in intracellular vesicles, and release in response to physiological stimuli are highly regulated and mediated by three distinct G protein coupled receptors. Other receptors may bind or cross-bind vasopressin. Vasopressin is regulated spatially and temporally through transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms, sex, tissue, and cell-specific receptor expression. Anomalies of vasopressin signaling have been observed in polycystic kidney disease, chronic heart failure, and neuropsychiatric conditions. Growing knowledge of the central biological roles of vasopressin has enabled pharmacological advances to treat these conditions by targeting defective systemic or central pathways utilizing specific agonists and antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chiara Gamberi
- Biology Department, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada; (S.S.); (C.M.-B.); (J.O.); (K.M.); (P.H.); (T.K.); (N.A.); (C.M.A.); (M.B.); (B.B.); (M.B.); (G.B.); (R.B.); (L.B.); (Z.C.); (A.C.); (J.C.); (T.D.); (J.D.); (I.D.); (J.D.); (E.D.); (S.E.-K.); (N.F.); (A.F.); (A.F.); (M.G.); (M.C.G.); (O.G.); (A.G.); (E.G.); (E.H.); (C.H.); (T.I.); (C.K.); (S.K.); (E.K.); (H.K.K.); (T.B.U.L.); (D.L.); (Y.F.L.); (D.M.R.); (F.M.); (S.M.); (A.N.); (K.N.-D.); (C.O.-L.); (H.W.P.); (E.P.); (K.P.-C.); (L.S.P.); (M.P.); (C.-A.P.); (J.P.M.); (S.P.); (R.R.); (S.R.); (S.R.); (D.R.); (R.S.); (D.S.); (S.S.F.); (M.S.); (N.S.M.); (K.S.); (L.T.); (M.W.T.); (S.T.-H.); (S.T.-C.); (C.W.); (A.J.W.); (A.W.)
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6
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Anpilov S, Shemesh Y, Eren N, Harony-Nicolas H, Benjamin A, Dine J, Oliveira VEM, Forkosh O, Karamihalev S, Hüttl RE, Feldman N, Berger R, Dagan A, Chen G, Neumann ID, Wagner S, Yizhar O, Chen A. Wireless Optogenetic Stimulation of Oxytocin Neurons in a Semi-natural Setup Dynamically Elevates Both Pro-social and Agonistic Behaviors. Neuron 2020; 107:644-655.e7. [PMID: 32544386 PMCID: PMC7447984 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Complex behavioral phenotyping techniques are becoming more prevalent in the field of behavioral neuroscience, and thus methods for manipulating neuronal activity must be adapted to fit into such paradigms. Here, we present a head-mounted, magnetically activated device for wireless optogenetic manipulation that is compact, simple to construct, and suitable for use in group-living mice in an enriched semi-natural arena over several days. Using this device, we demonstrate that repeated activation of oxytocin neurons in male mice can have different effects on pro-social and agonistic behaviors, depending on the social context. Our findings support the social salience hypothesis of oxytocin and emphasize the importance of the environment in the study of social neuromodulators. Our wireless optogenetic device can be easily adapted for use in a variety of behavioral paradigms, which are normally hindered by tethered light delivery or a limited environment. A small, wireless device is used for optogenetic activation in a complex environment PVN oxytocin neurons were activated repeatedly over 2 days in a group setting Repeated activation in a group setting elicited both pro-social and agonistic behavior Findings support the social salience hypothesis of oxytocin neuro-modulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Anpilov
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Yair Shemesh
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Noa Eren
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Hala Harony-Nicolas
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Asaf Benjamin
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Julien Dine
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Vinícius E M Oliveira
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Oren Forkosh
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Stoyo Karamihalev
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Rosa-Eva Hüttl
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany
| | - Noa Feldman
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ryan Berger
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Avi Dagan
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Gal Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Inga D Neumann
- Department of Behavioural and Molecular Neurobiology, Regensburg Center of Neuroscience, University of Regensburg, Regensburg 93053, Germany
| | - Shlomo Wagner
- Sagol Department of Neurobiology, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Ofer Yizhar
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Alon Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel; Department of Stress Neurobiology and Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich 80804, Germany.
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7
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Birze A, LeBlanc V, Regehr C, Paradis E, Einstein G. The "Managed" or Damaged Heart? Emotional Labor, Gender, and Posttraumatic Stressors Predict Workplace Event-Related Acute Changes in Cortisol, Oxytocin, and Heart Rate Variability. Front Psychol 2020; 11:604. [PMID: 32373009 PMCID: PMC7179683 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Vital to the everyday operation of police services, police communicators (911 call-takers and dispatchers) are persistently subject to imminent challenges in the workplace; they must always be prepared to engage and deal with a wide variety of circumstances that provoke various intense emotions and physiological stress responses. Acute changes in cortisol, oxytocin, and heart rate variability are central to adaptive responses in stressful complex social interactions, but they might also be indicative of physiological dysregulation due to long-term psychosocial stress exposures. Thus, we examine acute stress-induced release of peripheral oxytocin and cortisol along with changes in heart rate variability, and how each relates to persistent workplace stressors and symptoms of posttraumatic stress. Findings indicate chronic forms of gendered workplace stress such as emotional labor, gender role stress and, posttraumatic stress each have differential associations with, and predict physiological responses to, acutely stressful events in the workplace. These associations suggest potential mechanisms through which communicators become more vulnerable to developing stress-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress injuries, especially after cumulative traumatic exposures in this context. The results also suggest potential pathways for the biological embedding of stressful gendered workplace experiences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arija Birze
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Vicki LeBlanc
- Department of Innovation in Medical Education, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Cheryl Regehr
- Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elise Paradis
- Department of Sociology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Gillian Einstein
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Tema Genus, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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8
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Steinman MQ, Duque-Wilckens N, Trainor BC. Complementary Neural Circuits for Divergent Effects of Oxytocin: Social Approach Versus Social Anxiety. Biol Psychiatry 2019; 85:792-801. [PMID: 30503164 PMCID: PMC6709863 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) is widely known for promoting social interactions, but there is growing appreciation that it can sometimes induce avoidance of social contexts. The social salience hypothesis posed an innovative solution to these apparently opposing actions by proposing that OT enhances the salience of both positive and negative social interactions. The mesolimbic dopamine system was put forth as a likely system to evaluate social salience owing to its well-described role in motivation. Evidence from several sources supports the premise that OT acting within the nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area facilitates social reward and approach behavior. However, in aversive social contexts, additional pathways play critical roles in mediating the effects of OT. Recent data indicate that OT acts in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis to induce avoidance of potentially dangerous social contexts. Here, we review evidence for neural circuits mediating the effects of OT in appetitive and aversive social contexts. Specifically, we propose that distinct but potentially overlapping circuits mediate OT-dependent social approach or social avoidance. We conclude that a broader and more inclusive consideration of neural circuits of social approach and avoidance is needed as the field continues to evaluate the potential of OT-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Q Steinman
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Natalia Duque-Wilckens
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and Department of Physiology/Neuroscience, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Brian C Trainor
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California.
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9
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Fortenberry JD. Trust, Sexual Trust, and Sexual Health: An Interrogative Review. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2019; 56:425-439. [PMID: 30289286 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2018.1523999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Trust is experienced almost constantly in all forms of social and interpersonal relationships, including sexual relationships, and may contribute both directly and indirectly to sexual health. The purpose of this review is to link three aspects of trust to sexual health: (1) the role of trust in sexual relationships; (2) the role of trust in sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, particularly condom use; and (3) the relevance of trust in sexual relationships outside of the traditional model of monogamy. The review ends with consideration of perspectives that could guide new research toward understanding the enigmas of trust in partnered sexual relations in the context of sexual and public health.
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10
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Levin RJ. Exceptionalism is not exceptional in relation to sexual and reproduction mechanisms: Contrasts of human and animal sexuality. Clin Anat 2017; 30:940-945. [DOI: 10.1002/ca.22960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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11
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Buttner AP. Neurobiological underpinnings of dogs' human-like social competence: How interactions between stress response systems and oxytocin mediate dogs' social skills. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2016; 71:198-214. [PMID: 27593441 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2016.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Revised: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) have been suggested as a natural model for human social cognition, possessing social skills that are in many ways functionally analogous to those of young humans. Researchers have debated the origins of dogs' human-like social competence and the underlying cognitive mechanisms, but only recently have researchers begun to explore their neurobiological underpinnings. In this review, findings from behavioral studies are integrated with what is known about the biological basis of dogs' human-directed social competence, with an emphasis on how stress-mediating systems, particularly the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, interact with oxytocin and underlying neural systems to facilitate dogs' interspecific social-cognitive abilities. The working model presented in this paper offers a biological explanation for many of the inconsistent findings from past work on social cognition in dogs and generates questions for future research in the field of canine social competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Phillips Buttner
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Allwine Hall, Room 419, 6001 Dodge St., Omaha, NE, 68182, USA.
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12
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French JA, Taylor JH, Mustoe AC, Cavanaugh J. Neuropeptide diversity and the regulation of social behavior in New World primates. Front Neuroendocrinol 2016; 42:18-39. [PMID: 27020799 PMCID: PMC5030117 DOI: 10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (AVP) are important hypothalamic neuropeptides that regulate peripheral physiology, and have emerged as important modulators of brain function, particularly in the social realm. OT structure and the genes that ultimately determine structure are highly conserved among diverse eutherian mammals, but recent discoveries have identified surprising variability in OT and peptide structure in New World monkeys (NWM), with five new OT variants identified to date. This review explores these new findings in light of comparative OT/AVP ligand evolution, documents coevolutionary changes in the oxytocin and vasopressin receptors (OTR and V1aR), and highlights the distribution of neuropeptidergic neurons and receptors in the primate brain. Finally, the behavioral consequences of OT and AVP in regulating NWM sociality are summarized, demonstrating important neuromodulatory effects of these compounds and OT ligand-specific influences in certain social domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey A French
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA.
| | - Jack H Taylor
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Aaryn C Mustoe
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
| | - Jon Cavanaugh
- Program in Neuroscience and Behavior, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE 68182, USA
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13
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Anacker AM, Christensen JD, LaFlamme EM, Grunberg DM, Beery AK. Septal oxytocin administration impairs peer affiliation via V1a receptors in female meadow voles. Psychoneuroendocrinology 2016; 68:156-62. [PMID: 26974500 PMCID: PMC4851907 DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2015] [Revised: 02/23/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The peptide hormone oxytocin (OT) plays an important role in social behaviors, including social bond formation. In different contexts, however, OT is also associated with aggression, social selectivity, and reduced affiliation. Female meadow voles form social preferences for familiar same-sex peers under short, winter-like day lengths in the laboratory, and provide a means of studying affiliation outside the context of reproductive pair bonds. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that the actions of OT in the lateral septum (LS) may decrease affiliative behavior, including greater density of OT receptors in the LS of meadow voles that huddle less. We infused OT into the LS of female meadow voles immediately prior to cohabitation with a social partner to determine its effects on partner preference formation. OT prevented the formation of preferences for the partner female. Co-administration of OT with a specific OT receptor antagonist did not reverse the effect, but co-administration of OT with a specific vasopressin 1a receptor (V1aR) antagonist did, indicating that OT in the LS likely acted through V1aRs to decrease partner preference. Receptor autoradiography revealed dense V1aR binding in the LS of female meadow voles. These results suggest that the LS is a brain region that may be responsible for inhibitory effects of OT administration on affiliation, which will be important to consider in therapeutic administrations of OT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M.J. Anacker
- Program in Neuroscience, Smith College, Clark Science Center, 44 College Lane, Northampton, MA 01063, United States
| | - Jennifer D. Christensen
- Program in Neuroscience, Smith College, Clark Science Center, 44 College Lane, Northampton, MA 01063, United States
| | - Elyssa M. LaFlamme
- Program in Neuroscience, Smith College, Clark Science Center, 44 College Lane, Northampton, MA 01063, United States
| | - Diana M. Grunberg
- Program in Neuroscience, Smith College, Clark Science Center, 44 College Lane, Northampton, MA 01063, United States
| | - Annaliese K. Beery
- Program in Neuroscience, Smith College, Clark Science Center, 44 College Lane, Northampton, MA 01063, United States,Department of Psychology, Department of Biology, Smith College, Clark Science Center, 44 College Lane, Northampton, MA 01063, United States,Corresponding author at: Smith College, Clark Science Center, 44 College Lane, Northampton, MA 01063, United States
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14
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Mustoe AC, Harnisch AM, Hochfelder B, Cavanaugh J, French JA. Inequity aversion strategies between marmosets are influenced by partner familiarity and sex but not oxytocin. Anim Behav 2016; 114:69-79. [PMID: 27019514 PMCID: PMC4802974 DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2016.01.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cooperation among individuals depends, in large part, on a sense of fairness. Many cooperating non-human primates (NHPs) show inequity aversion, (i.e., negative responses to unequal outcomes), and these responses toward inequity likely evolved as a means to preserve the advantages of cooperative relationships. However, marmosets (Callithrix spp.) tend to show little or no inequity aversion, despite the high occurrence of prosociality and cooperative-breeding in callitrichid monkeys. Oxytocin [OXT] has been implicated in a wide variety of social processes, but little is known about whether OXT modulates inequity aversion toward others. We used a tray pulling task to evaluate whether marmosets would donate superior rewards to their long-term pairmate or an opposite-sex stranger following OXT, OXT antagonist, and saline treatments. We found that marmosets show inequity aversion, and this inequity aversion is socially- and sex-specific. Male marmosets show inequity aversion toward their pairmates but not strangers, and female marmosets do not show inequity aversion. OXT treatments did not significantly influence inequity aversion in marmosets. While OXT may modulate prosocial preferences, the motivations underlying cooperative relationships, such as inequity aversion, are multifaceted. More research is needed to evaluate the evolutionary origins, biological processes, and social contexts that influence complex phenotypes like inequity aversion. Inequity aversion can differ within species in important and distinct ways including between individuals who do and do not share a cooperative relationship. Overall, these findings support the view that inequity aversion is an important behavioural strategy for the maintenance of cooperative relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaryn C. Mustoe
- Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - April M. Harnisch
- Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | | | - Jon Cavanaugh
- Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jeffrey A French
- Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
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15
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Romero T, Onishi K, Hasegawa T. The role of oxytocin on peaceful associations and sociality in mammals. BEHAVIOUR 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/1568539x-00003358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
There is currently substantial evidence indicating that oxytocin, a hypothalamus neuropeptide, modulates many forms of social behaviour and cognition in both human and non-human animals. The vast majority of animal research, however, has concentrated on maternal attachment and reproductive pair-bonds. In order to understand the neurochemical foundations of peaceful associations and sociality, oxytocin’s contribution to other types of social bonds, as well as to individual variation in sociality, should also be explored. Here, we summarise the most current studies that have investigated oxytocin’s role in regulating stable peaceful associations not directly related to mating. We also provide an overview on oxytocin’s role in support of specific social structures, and propose a novel research approach to evaluate the relationship between individual variation in social tendencies and variation in the oxytociergic system. We conclude by discussing avenues of future investigation in the biological substrates of sociality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Romero
- aDepartment of Cognitive and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
| | - Kenji Onishi
- aDepartment of Cognitive and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
- bGraduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University, 1-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- cJapan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Toshikazu Hasegawa
- aDepartment of Cognitive and Behavioral Science, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan
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17
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Connecting prosocial behavior to improved physical health: Contributions from the neurobiology of parenting. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2015; 55:1-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 03/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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18
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Mustoe AC, Cavanaugh J, Harnisch AM, Thompson BE, French JA. Do marmosets care to share? Oxytocin treatment reduces prosocial behavior toward strangers. Horm Behav 2015; 71:83-90. [PMID: 25934057 PMCID: PMC4439329 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Revised: 04/19/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Cooperatively-breeding and socially-monogamous primates, like marmosets and humans, exhibit high levels of social tolerance and prosociality toward others. Oxytocin (OXT) generally facilitates prosocial behavior, but there is growing recognition that OXT modulation of prosocial behavior is shaped by the context of social interactions and by other motivational states such as arousal or anxiety. To determine whether prosociality varies based on social context, we evaluated whether marmoset donors (Callithrix penicillata) preferentially rewarded pairmates versus opposite-sex strangers in a prosocial food-sharing task. To examine potential links among OXT, stress systems, and prosociality, we evaluated whether pretrial cortisol levels in marmosets altered the impact of OXT on prosocial responses. Marmosets exhibited spontaneous prosociality toward others, but they did so preferentially toward strangers compared to their pairmates. When donor marmosets were treated with marmoset-specific Pro(8)-OXT, they exhibited reduced prosociality toward strangers compared to marmosets treated with saline or consensus-mammalian Leu(8)-OXT. When pretrial cortisol levels were lower, marmosets exhibited higher prosociality toward strangers. These findings demonstrate that while marmosets show spontaneous prosocial responses toward others, they do so preferentially toward opposite-sex strangers. Cooperative breeding may be associated with the expression of prosociality, but the existence of a pair-bond between marmoset partners appears to be neither necessary nor sufficient for the expression of spontaneous prosocial responses. Furthermore, high prosociality toward strangers is significantly reduced in marmosets treated with Pro(8)-OXT, suggesting that OXT does not universally enhance prosociality, but, rather OXT modulation of prosocial behavior varies depending on social context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaryn C Mustoe
- Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Jon Cavanaugh
- Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - April M Harnisch
- Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Breanna E Thompson
- Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Jeffrey A French
- Callitrichid Research Center, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA; Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA
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