Oxytocin-a social peptide? Deconstructing the evidence.

ABSTRACT: In this paper, we analyse the claim that oxytocin is a 'social neuropeptide'. This claim originated from evidence that oxytocin was instrumental in the initiation of maternal behaviour and it was extended to become the claim that oxytocin has a key role in promoting social interactions between individuals. We begin by considering the structure of the scientific literature on this topic, identifying closely interconnected clusters of papers on particular themes. We then analyse this claim by considering evidence of four types as generated by these clusters: (i) mechanistic studies in animal models, designed to understand the pathways involved in the behavioural effects of centrally administered oxytocin; (ii) evidence from observational studies indicating an association between oxytocin sig

SUBMITTER: Leng G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9272144 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature