Cited by 359Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorOlfactory and Sensory Function StudiesFace Recognition and Perception

Oxytocin enhances social recognition by modulating cortical control of early olfactory processing

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Oettl, Lars-Lennart, Ravi, Namasivayam, Schneider, Miriam, Scheller, Max F., Schneider, Peggy, Mitre, Mariela, da Silva Gouveia, Miriam, Froemke, Robert C. +6 more·2016·Neuron

Abstract

Oxytocin promotes social interactions and recognition of conspecifics that rely on olfaction in most species. The circuit mechanisms through which oxytocin modifies olfactory processing are incompletely understood. Here, we observed that optogenetically induced oxytocin release enhanced olfactory exploration and same-sex recognition of adult rats. Consistent with oxytocin's function in the anterior olfactory cortex, particularly in social cue processing, region-selective receptor deletion impaired social recognition but left odor discrimination and recognition intact outside a social context. Oxytocin transiently increased the drive of the anterior olfactory cortex projecting to olfactory bulb interneurons. Cortical top-down recruitment of interneurons dynamically enhanced the inhibitory input to olfactory bulb projection neurons and increased the signal-to-noise of their output. In summary, oxytocin generates states for optimized information extraction in an early cortical top-down network that is required for social interactions with potential implications for sensory processing deficits in autism spectrum disorders.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neuron.2016.03.033

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  • Oxytocin in the anterior olfactory nucleus facilitates an increased inhibitory tone in the main olfactory bulb, resulting in a greater signal-to-noise ratio for odors associated with social interactions.

    “OT in the AON facilitates an increased inhibitory tone in the main olfactory bulb (MOB), resulting in a greater signal-to-noise ratio for odors associated with social interactions and subsequently leading to a higher quality signal being transmitted to downstream regions [9,88].”
  • Social recognition is enhanced by optogenetically-induced OT release in the brain in female rats.

    “For example, social recognition is enhanced by optogenetically-induced OT release in the brain in female rats [63]”
  • The presence of a conspecific activates the oxytocin system, increases oxytocin release, activates dopamine neurons of the VTA, and promotes the initiation and maintenance of social interaction.

    “Indeed, the presence of a conspecific activates the oxytocin system, which increases oxytocin release, activates DA neurons of the VTA, and promotes the initiation and maintenance of social interaction (Resendez et al., 2020; Oettl et al., 2016).”

    From Oxytocin neurons mediate the effect of social isolation via the VTA circuits (2022) · cites this paper as Oettl et al., 2016

  • In rodents, oxytocin enhances social discrimination by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of olfactory bulb output.

    “shown to occur in olfactory bulb in rodents, where oxytocin enhances social discrimination by increasing the signal-to-noise ratio of olfactory bulb output [16].”

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Authors
Oettl, L.-L., Ravi, N., Schneider, M., Scheller, M. F., Schneider, P., Mitre, M., da Silva Gouveia, M., Froemke, R. C., Chao, M. V., Young, W. S., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Grinevich, V., Shusterman, R., & Kelsch, W.
Affiliations
  • Heidelberg University (DE)
  • New York University (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • German Cancer Research Center (DE)
  • University of Haifa (IL)
Corresponding author
Kelsch, Wolfgang
Venue
Neuron
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2016-05
Volume
90
Issue
3
Pages
609-621
ISSN
0896-6273 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2336641763
Cited by
359
References
99
Citations by year
2026: 28 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 40 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 48 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 14
FWCI
61.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuron (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health (ZIAMH002498, Z01MH002498)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (T32NS086750)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
Keywords
oxytocin, social recognition, olfactory processing, olfactory bulb interneurons, top-down control, odor discrimination, autism spectrum disorder, social behavior
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Animal, Interneurons, Mice, Transgenic, Nerve Net, Olfactory Bulb, Oxytocin, Smell, Social Behavior, Rats, Wistar

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