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The neurobiology of pair bonding: Insights from a socially monogamous rodent
Open accessAbstract
The formation of enduring relationships between adult mates (i.e., pair bonds) is an integral aspect of human social behavior and has been implicated in both physical and psychological health. However, due to the inherent complexity of these bonds and the relative rarity with which they are formed in other mammalian species, we know surprisingly little about their underlying neurobiology. Over the past few decades, the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) has emerged as an animal model of pair bonding. Research in this socially monogamous rodent has provided valuable insight into the neurobiological mechanisms that regulate pair bonding behaviors. Here, we review these studies and discuss the neural regulation of three behaviors inherent to pair bonding: the formation of partner preferences, the subsequent development of selective aggression toward unfamiliar conspecifics, and the bi-parental care of young. We focus on the role of vasopressin, oxytocin, and dopamine in the regulation of these behaviors, but also discuss the involvement of other neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, and hormones. These studies may not only contribute to the understanding of pair bonding in our own species, but may also offer insight into the underlying causes of social deficits noted in several mental health disorders.
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“Their effects on bonding are mediated via interactions with dopamine (DA) release, particularly in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc).”
From Oxytocin enhances brain reward system responses in men viewing the face of their female partner (2013) · cites this paper as [2]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“In prairie voles, partner bonds are formed after the neuropeptides oxytocin (OXT) or arginine vasopressin (AVP) are released in the brain during mating.”
From Oxytocin enhances brain reward system responses in men viewing the face of their female partner (2013) · cites this paper as [2]
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredThe source backs part of the claim, not all of it — or backs it for a different population, condition or comparison.
In the citing paper
“The parvocellular system sends projections to the median eminence and throughout the brain and is sexually dimorphic, steroid hormone sensitive, and fundamental for the coordination of affiliative and social behaviors including courtship, pair bonding, empathy, reciprocity, trust, and context-specific aggression (1–4).”
From Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors (2017) · cites this paper as [3]
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“This view is consistent with the observation that the density of ERα markedly differs across prosocial and asocial species and is directly related to the degree to which individuals and species are prosocial (3, 137, 138).”
From Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors (2017) · cites this paper as [3]
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“The evolutionarily conserved neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is associated with the formation of partner bonds in some species via interactions with brain dopamine reward systems.”
From Oxytocin enhances brain reward system responses in men viewing the face of their female partner (2013) · cites this paper as [2]
In the citing paper
“Studies aimed at modeling, in animals, the core phenotypes associated with ASDs have focused on studying social and repetitive behaviors in mice [530-532] and pair-bonding behaviors in the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) [533,534].”
From Reward circuitry dysfunction in psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders and genetic syndromes: animal models and clinical findings (2012) · cites this paper as [534]
In the citing paper
“In addition to the role of OXT in the modulation of social behavior between pair-mates, there is abundant evidence to suggest that AVP neural circuits are crucial to pair bonding in male prairie voles (Lim and Young, 2004; Young et al., 2011).”
From Marmosets treated with oxytocin are more socially attractive to their long-term mate (2015) · cites this paper as Young et al., 2011
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Metadata
- Authors
- Young, K. A., Gobrogge, K. L., Liu, Y., & Wang, Z.
- Affiliations
- Florida State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wang, Zuoxin
- Venue
- Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-01
- Volume
- 32
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 53-69
- ISSN
- 0091-3022 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3012750
- OpenAlex
- W2153712825
- Cited by
- 389
- References
- 249
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 34 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 26 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 40 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 30 · 2013: 27 · 2012: 18
- FWCI
- 26.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R21MH083128, R21-MH83128, R01MH058616, F31-MH79600, F31MH079600, R01-MH-58616)
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01-DA19627, K02DA-23048, F31DA025570, K02DA023048, F31-DA25570, R01DA019627)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Keywords
- pair bonding, Microtus ochrogaster, mate preferences, biparental care, vasopressin, oxytocin, dopamine, neuropeptides, neurotransmitters, hormones, social behavior
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Animals, Arvicolinae, Humans, Models, Biological, Nervous System Physiological Phenomena, Neurobiology, Pair Bond, Rodentia, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Social Behavior, Models, Animal
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