Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
377(1858)
Published: July 11, 2022
Social
behaviour
is
an
essential
component
of
human
life
and
deficits
in
social
function
are
seen
across
multiple
psychiatric
conditions
with
high
morbidity.
However,
there
currently
no
FDA-approved
treatments
for
dysfunction.
Since
cognition
rely
on
signalling
processes
acting
concert
various
neural
networks,
aimed
at
may
inherently
require
a
combinatorial
approach.
Here,
we
describe
the
neurobiology
oxytocin
endocannabinoid
systems
as
well
translational
evidence
their
use
treating
symptoms
domain.
We
leverage
this
to
propose
network-based
framework
that
involves
pharmacology,
psychotherapy,
non-invasive
brain
stimulation
skills
training
combinatorially
target
trans-diagnostic
impairment.
Lastly,
discuss
combined
endocannabinoids
within
our
proposed
illustrative
strategy
treat
specific
aspects
function.
Using
provides
roadmap
actionable
treatment
strategies
neuropsychiatric
This
article
part
theme
issue
‘Interplays
between
other
neuromodulators
shaping
complex
behaviours’.
Endocrinology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
163(9)
Published: July 21, 2022
Oxytocin
and
vasopressin
are
peptide
hormones
secreted
from
the
pituitary
that
well
known
for
their
peripheral
endocrine
effects
on
childbirth/nursing
blood
pressure/urine
concentration,
respectively.
However,
both
peptides
also
released
in
brain,
where
they
modulate
several
aspects
of
social
behaviors.
promotes
maternal
nurturing
bonding,
enhances
reward,
increases
salience
stimuli.
Vasopressin
modulates
communication,
investigation,
territorial
behavior,
aggression,
predominantly
males.
Both
facilitate
memory
pair
bonding
behaviors
monogamous
species.
Here
we
review
latest
research
delineating
neural
circuitry
brain
oxytocin
systems
summarize
recent
investigations
into
circuit-based
mechanisms
modulating
We
highlight
using
modern
molecular
genetic
technologies
to
map,
monitor
activity
of,
or
manipulate
neuropeptide
circuits.
Species
diversity
discussed.
conclude
with
a
discussion
translational
implications
improving
functioning
disorders
impairments,
such
as
autism
spectrum
disorder.
Science,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
387(6736)
Published: Feb. 20, 2025
Whereas
humans
exhibit
emergency
responses
to
assist
unconscious
individuals,
how
nonhuman
animals
react
unresponsive
conspecifics
is
less
well
understood.
We
report
that
mice
stereotypic
behaviors
toward
or
dead
social
partners,
which
escalate
from
sniffing
and
grooming
more
forceful
actions
such
as
mouth
tongue
biting
pulling.
The
latter
intense
actions,
prominent
in
familiar
pairs,
begin
after
prolonged
immobility
unresponsiveness
cease
when
the
partner
regains
activity.
Their
consequences,
including
improved
airway
opening
clearance
accelerated
recovery
unconsciousness,
suggest
rescue-like
efforts.
Oxytocin
neurons
hypothalamic
paraventricular
nucleus
respond
differentially
presence
of
versus
active
their
activation,
along
with
oxytocin
signaling,
required
for
reviving-like
actions.
This
tendency
members
may
enhance
group
cohesion
survival
species.
iScience,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
28(2), P. 111796 - 111796
Published: Jan. 11, 2025
Recognizing
conspecifics
is
vital
for
differentiating
mates,
offspring,
and
social
threats.
Individual
recognition
often
reliant
upon
chemical
or
visual
cues
but
can
also
be
facilitated
by
vocal
signatures
in
some
species.
In
common
laboratory
rodents,
playback
studies
have
uncovered
communicative
functions
of
vocalizations,
scant
behavioral
evidence
exists
individual
recognition.
Here,
we
find
that
the
socially
monogamous
prairie
vole
(Microtus
ochrogaster)
emits
behavior-dependent
vocalizations
communicate
identity.
Vocalizations
males
change
after
bonding
with
a
female;
however,
acoustic
variation
across
individuals
greater
than
within-individual
variation.
Critically,
females
behaviorally
discriminate
their
partner's
from
stranger's,
even
if
emitted
to
another
stimulus
female.
These
results
establish
foundation
voles,
where
neurobiological
tools
enable
future
revealing
its
causal
neural
mechanisms.
The Journal of Comparative Neurology,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
530(16), P. 2881 - 2900
Published: June 28, 2022
Oxytocin
regulates
social
behavior
via
direct
modulation
of
neurons,
regulation
neural
network
activity,
and
interaction
with
other
neurotransmitter
systems.
The
behavioral
effects
oxytocin
signaling
are
determined
by
the
species-specific
distribution
brain
receptors.
socially
monogamous
prairie
vole
has
been
a
useful
model
organism
for
elucidating
role
in
behaviors,
including
pair
bonding,
response
to
loss,
consoling.
However,
there
no
comprehensive
mapping
receptor-expressing
cells
throughout
brain.
Here,
we
employed
highly
sensitive
situ
hybridization,
RNAscope,
construct
an
exhaustive,
brain-wide
map
receptor
mRNA-expressing
cells.
We
found
that
mRNA
expression
was
widespread
diffused
brain,
specific
areas
displaying
particularly
robust
expression.
Comparing
binding
revealed
regions
hippocampus
substantia
nigra
contained
protein
but
lacked
mRNA,
indicating
receptors
can
be
transported
distal
neuronal
processes,
consistent
presynaptic
functions.
In
nucleus
accumbens,
region
involved
oxytocin-dependent
detected
both
D1
D2
dopamine
subtypes
Furthermore,
natural
genetic
polymorphisms
robustly
influenced
cell
types
accumbens.
Collectively,
our
findings
further
elucidate
extent
which
is
capable
influencing
responses
stimuli,
behavior.
KEY
POINTS:
diffusely
expressed
strong
concentrated
certain
localization
misaligned
some
areas,
may
processes.
on
expressing
subtypes,
majority
variation
between
animals
attributable
gene.
The
mesolimbic
dopamine
(DA)
system
has
been
implicated
in
pair
bond
formation.
However,
involvements
of
DA
release,
real
time
activities,
and
electrophysiological
activities
D1/D2
medium
spiny
neurons
(MSNs)
the
nucleus
accumbens
(NAc)
shell
bonding
remain
unclear.
This
work
verified
that
male
mandarin
voles
after
released
higher
levels
NAc
displayed
D1
MSNs
activity
lower
D2
upon
sniffing
their
partners
compared
to
an
unknown
female.
Moreover,
induced
differential
alterations
both
synaptic
plasticity
neuronal
intrinsic
excitability
MSNs.
In
addition,
chemogenetic
inhibition
ventral
pallidum
(VP)
-projecting
enhanced
formation,
while
activation
VP-projecting
inhibited
These
findings
suggest
different
/
regulated
by
increasing
release
may
be
a
neurobiological
mechanism
underlying
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
377(1858)
Published: July 11, 2022
Oxytocin
modulates
social
behaviour
across
diverse
vertebrate
taxa,
but
the
precise
nature
of
its
effects
varies
species,
individuals
and
lifetimes.
Contributing
to
this
variation
is
fact
that
oxytocin's
physiological
are
mediated
through
interaction
with
neuromodulatory
systems
can
depend
on
specifics
local
circuits
it
acts
on.
Furthermore,
those
be
influenced
by
both
genetics
experience.
Here
we
discuss
complexity
lens
a
specific
system,
endocannabinoids,
interacting
oxytocin
in
nucleus
accumbens
modulate
prosocial
behaviours
prairie
voles.
We
provide
survey
current
knowledge
oxytocin–endocannabinoid
interactions
relation
behaviour.
review
detail
recent
research
monogamous
female
voles
demonstrating
experience,
such
as
mating
pair
bonding,
change
how
glutamatergic
signalling
recruitment
endocannabinoids
toward
partner.
then
potential
sex
differences
experience-dependent
modulation
based
new
data
males.
Finally,
propose
future
oxytocin-based
precision
medicine
therapies
should
consider
prior
experience
interacts
influence
actions.
This
article
part
theme
issue
‘Interplays
between
other
neuromodulators
shaping
complex
behaviours’.
