Oxytocin and social motivation
Open accessAbstract
Humans are fundamentally social creatures who are ‘motivated’ to be with others. In this review we examine the role of oxytocin (OT) as it relates to social motivation. OT is synthesized in the brain and throughout the body, including in the heart, thymus, gastrointestinal tract, as well as reproductive organs. The distribution of the OT receptor (OTR) system in both the brain and periphery is even more far-reaching and its expression is subject to changes over the course of development. OTR expression is also sensitive to changes in the external environment and the internal somatic world. The OT system functions as an important element within a complex, developmentally sensitive biobehavioral system. Other elements include sensory inputs, the salience, reward, and threat detection pathways, the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress response axis. Despite an ever expanding scientific literature, key unresolved questions remain concerning the interplay of the central and peripheral components of this complex biobehavioral system that dynamically engages the brain and the body as humans interact with social partners over the course of development.
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Much research has focused on the neurobiological basis of bond formation, but studies have mainly addressed the maternal-infant bond.
“Although much research has focused on the neurobiological basis of bond formation, studies have mainly addressed the maternal–infant bond (Gordon et al., 2011).”
From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Gordon et al., 2011
The Introduction (section 1; page unavailable) describes research on the biobehavioral mechanisms of bond formation, and section 2 discusses studies of maternal–infant interactions. But the paper also discusses paternal–infant and adult bonds, and the passages do not establish that studies have mainly addressed the maternal–infant bond. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredPlasma levels of oxytocin are positively related to the attention and affection mothers and fathers show their infant children.
“Plasma levels of oxytocin are positively related to the attention and affection mothers and fathers show their infant children (see Gordon et al., 2011).”
From Oxytocin, motivation and the role of dopamine (2014) · cites this paper as Gordon et al., 2011
Other hormones and their receptor systems, including cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, endogenous opioids, are also important in the regulation of parenting and interact with OT.
“Other hormones and their receptor systems, including cortisol, estrogen, progesterone, endogenous opioids are also important in the regulation of parenting and interact with OT (Gordon et al., 2011; Lahey et al., 2012; Nowak et al., 2011; Swain et al., 2011)”
From Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers (2014) · cites this paper as Gordon et al., 2011
Positive therapeutic effects of oxytocin on social functioning in ASD may be partially mediated by enhanced socially motivated attention and drive ('wanting') towards social encounters and affiliation.
“the positive therapeutic effects on social functioning in ASD may be partially mediated by enhanced socially motivated attention and drive (‘wanting’) towards important social encounters and affiliation (for example, social stimuli or interactions [120,146])”
From Social “wanting” dysfunction in autism: neurobiological underpinnings and treatment implications (2012) · cites this paper as [146]
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References 318 · Cited by 211
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Hinde RA Animal Behaviour 1970 McGraw Hill New York
- Hrdy SB Carter CS Ahnert L Grossmann KE Hrdy SB Lamb ME Porges SW Sachser N Evolutionary context of human development Attachment and bonding: A new synthesis 2005 9 32 The MIT Press Boston, MA
- Leckman JF Carter CS Hennessy MB Hrdy SB Keverne EB Klann-Delius C Schradin C Todt D von Holst D Carter CS Ahnert L Grossmann KE Hrdy SB Lamb ME Porges SW Sachser N Biobehavioral processes in attachment and bonding Attachment and bonding: A new synthesis 2005 301 347 The MIT Press Boston, MA
- Pedersen CA Caldwell JD Jirikowski GF Insel TR Oxytocin in Maternal, Sexual and Social Behaviors Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 1992 vol. 652 The New York Academy of Sciences New York
- Sacher N Carter CS Ahnert L Grossmann KE Hrdy SB Lamb ME Porges SW Sachser N Adult social bonding: insights fromstudes of nonhuman mammals Attachment and bonding: A new synthesis 2005 119 135 The MIT Press Boston, MA
- Authors
- Gordon, I., Martin, C., Feldman, R., & Leckman, J. F.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Bar-Ilan University (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Leckman, James F.
- Venue
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-10
- Volume
- 1
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 471-493
- ISSN
- 1878-9293 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3185363
- OpenAlex
- W1970239899
- Cited by
- 211
- References
- 318
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 30 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 2.02
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Lee Foundation, Singapore
- National Institute of Mental Health (R25MH077823, K05MH076273)
- US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (2005-273)
- Institute for the Study of Unlimited Love
- National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression
- Associates of the Yale Child Study Center
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Keywords
- oxytocin, social motivation, oxytocin receptor, social behavior, hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, salience, development (biology)
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Brain, Humans, Motivation, Oxytocin, Social Behavior, Receptors, Oxytocin
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