Cited by 214Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorTryptophan and brain disorders

The reciprocal interaction between serotonin and social behaviour

Kiser, Dominik, SteemerS, Ben, Branchi, Igor, Homberg, Judith R.·2012·Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews

Abstract

Serotonin (5-HT) is an ancient molecule directing behavioural responses to environmental stimuli. The social environment is the most powerful environmental factor. It is well recognized that 5-HT plays a key role in shaping social responses, and that the serotonergic system itself is highly responsive to social influences. This review aims to provide an overview of a selection of representative papers that significantly contribute to a coherent view on the role of serotonin in reciprocal social interactions. The studies here reviewed, selected using the pubmed search terms "social behaviour" and "serotonin", describe the effects of serotonergic gene variation and pharmacological manipulations in humans, monkeys, and rodents, and involve parental attachment and caregiving, social play, aggressiveness, cooperation, and sexual behaviour. We conclude that serotonin is positively correlated with sensitivity to social factors and modulates social behaviour in a 'for-better-and-for-worse' manner, depending on the nature of social factors. Simultaneously, these behavioural responses influence the serotonergic system, leading to highly complex bidirectional serotonin×environment interaction.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.12.009

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173 of 173 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Serotonin release in the central nervous system has been implicated in regulating a broad range of behaviors, including sociability.

    “For decades, 5-HT release in the central nervous system has been implicated in regulating a broad range of behaviors, including sociability [3,18,[44][45][46].”

    From Neural circuits regulating prosocial behaviors (2023) · cites this paper as [44]

  • The GM modulates the tryptophan and kynurenine pathways and is a humoral route through which the GM may influence cognition at the level of the CNS.

    “Mounting evidence suggests that the GM modulates the tryptophan and kynurenine pathways and is a humoral route through which the GM may influence cognition at the level of the CNS (206–210).”

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Authors
Kiser, D., SteemerS, B., Branchi, I., & Homberg, J. R.
Affiliations
  • Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (NL)
  • Istituto Superiore di Sanità (IT)
Corresponding author
Homberg, Judith R.
Venue
Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-02
Volume
36
Issue
2
Pages
786-798
ISSN
0149-7634 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2021060120
Cited by
214
References
175
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 23 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 4
FWCI
0.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (86410003)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
Keywords
serotonin, social behavior, serotonergic system, parental attachment, caregiving, social play, aggression, cooperation, sexual behavior, reciprocal social interaction
MeSH terms
Animals, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Serotonin, Sexual Behavior, Social Behavior, Social Perception, Signal Transduction, Serotonin Agents

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