There is growing evidence that the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin modulate complex social behavior and social cognition. These ancient neuropeptides display a marked conservation in gene structure and expression, yet diversity in the genetic regulation of their receptors seems to underlie natural variation in social behavior, both between and within species. Human studies are beginning to explore the roles of these neuropeptides in social cognition and behavior and suggest that variation in the genes encoding their receptors may contribute to variation in human social behavior by altering brain function. Understanding the neurobiology and neurogenetics of social cognition and behavior has important implications, both clinically and for society.

http://science.sciencemag.org/content/sci/322/5903/900.full.pdf

Oxytocin, vasopressin, and the neurogenetics of sociality.

http://www.aipro.info/drive/File/The%20link%20between%20childhood%20trauma%20and%20depression.%20Insights%20drom%20HPA%20axis%20studies%20on%20humans.%20C.%20Heim%20et%20al.,%2001%2002%2014.pdf

The link between childhood trauma and depression: insights from HPA axis studies in humans.

The neuropeptides oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are evolutionarily highly conserved mediators in the regulation of complex social cognition and behaviour. Recent studies have investigated the effects of OXT and AVP on human social interaction, the genetic mechanisms of inter-individual variation in social neuropeptide signalling and the actions of OXT and AVP in the human brain as revealed by neuroimaging. These data have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms by which these neuropeptides contribute to human social behaviour. OXT and AVP are emerging as targets for novel treatment approaches — particularly in synergistic combination with psychotherapy — for mental disorders characterized by social dysfunction, such as autism, social anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia.

/pdf/oxytocin-and-vasopressin-in-the-human-brain-social-1itms1rz5b.pdf

Oxytocin and vasopressin in the human brain: social neuropeptides for translational medicine

https://diplopi.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/social-effects-of-oxytocin-in-humans-context-and-person-matter.pdf

Social effects of oxytocin in humans: context and person matter.

Oxytocin improves "mind-reading" in humans.

In non-human mammals, the neuropeptide oxytocin is a key mediator of complex emotional and social behaviors, including attachment, social recognition, and aggression. Oxytocin reduces anxiety and impacts on fear conditioning and extinction. Recently, oxytocin administration in humans was shown to increase trust, suggesting involvement of the amygdala, a central component of the neurocircuitry of fear and social cognition that has been linked to trust and highly expresses oxytocin receptors in many mammals. However, no human data on the effects of this peptide on brain function were available. Here, we show that human amygdala function is strongly modulated by oxytocin. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to image amygdala activation by fear-inducing visual stimuli in 15 healthy males after double-blind crossover intranasal application of placebo or oxytocin. Compared with placebo, oxytocin potently reduced activation of the amygdala and reduced coupling of the amygdala to brainstem regions implicated in autonomic and behavioral manifestations of fear. Our results indicate a neural mechanism for the effects of oxytocin in social cognition in the human brain and provide a methodology and rationale for exploring therapeutic strategies in disorders in which abnormal amygdala function has been implicated, such as social phobia or autism.

https://www.jneurosci.org/content/jneuro/25/49/11489.full.pdf

Sarina Siddhanti

Papers

Oxytocin Modulates Neural Circuitry for Social Cognition and Fear in Humans