The cross-generation transmission of oxytocin in humans
Abstract
Animal studies demonstrated that the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT), implicated in bond formation across mammalian species, is transmitted from mother to young through mechanisms of early social experiences; however, no research has addressed the cross-generation transmission of OT in humans. Fifty-five parents (36 mothers and 19 fathers) engaged in a 15-min interaction with their infants. Baseline plasma OT was sampled from parents and salivary OT was sampled from parents and infants before and after play and analyzed with ELISA methods. Interactions were micro-coded for parent and child's socio-affective behavior. Parent and infant's salivary OT was individually stable across assessments and showed an increase from pre- to post-interaction. Significant correlations emerged between parental and infant OT at both assessments and higher OT levels in parent and child were related to greater affect synchrony and infant social engagement. Parent-infant affect synchrony moderated the relations between parental and infant OT and the associations between OT in parent and child were stronger under conditions of high affect synchrony. Results demonstrate consistency in the neuroendocrine system supporting bond formation in humans and other mammals and underscore the role of early experience in shaping the cross-generation transmission of social affiliation in humans.
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Parent and infant OT responses are interrelated and the cross-generation link is shaped by the degree of social reciprocity during infant-mother and infant-father interactions.
“parent and infant OT responses were interrelated and the cross-generation link was shaped by the degree of social reciprocity during infant-mother and infant-father interactions (13).”
From Oxytocin administration to parent enhances infant physiological and behavioral readiness for social engagement (2012) · cites this paper as [13]
A cross-generation correlation between parent and child salivary OT was found for both mothers and fathers.
“a crossgeneration correlation between parent and child salivary OT was found for both mothers and fathers (13).”
From Oxytocin administration to parent enhances infant physiological and behavioral readiness for social engagement (2012) · cites this paper as [13]
Baseline plasma and salivary OT in mothers and fathers are interrelated and comparable during the first months of parenting.
“Human studies have indicated that baseline plasma and salivary OT in mothers and fathers are interrelated and are comparable during the first months of parenting (10,13,29,30)”
From Oxytocin administration to parent enhances infant physiological and behavioral readiness for social engagement (2012) · cites this paper as [13]
In humans, OT plays key roles in social bonding in general, as well as specific aspects of maternal brain function, including vaginal delivery, breastfeeding, and parental sensitivity.
“In humans, OT plays key roles in social bonding in general (29), as well as specific aspects of maternal brain function (30), including: (i) vaginal delivery (31); (ii) breastfeeding (32); and (iii) parental sensitivity (33–36).”
From Neuroendocrinology of Parental Response to Baby‐Cry (2011) · cites this paper as [34]
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References 64 · Cited by 256
- Authors
- Feldman, R., Gordon, I., & Zagoory-Sharon, O.
- Affiliations
- Bar-Ilan University (IL)
- Corresponding author
- Feldman, Ruth
- Venue
- Hormones and Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2010-09
- Volume
- 58
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 669-676
- ISSN
- 0018-506X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2033420771
- Semantic Scholar
- a4033c38e758fc4705eb7a8041121e57fbef6be1
- Cited by
- 256
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 20 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 18.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Israel Science Foundation
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
- Keywords
- oxytocin, parent-infant interaction, social bonding, salivary oxytocin, plasma oxytocin, early social experience, social affiliation, neuroendocrine system
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Humans, Infant, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Maternal Behavior, Oxytocin, Parent-Child Relations, Paternal Behavior, Play and Playthings, Saliva, Cohort Effect, Infant Behavior, Young Adult
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