Oxytocin receptor and vasopressin receptor 1a genes are respectively associated with emotional and cognitive empathy
Abstract
Empathy is the ability to recognize and share in the emotions of others. It can be considered a multifaceted concept with cognitive and emotional aspects. Little is known regarding the underlying neurochemistry of empathy and in the current study we used a neurogenetic approach to explore possible brain neurotransmitter pathways contributing to cognitive and emotional empathy. Both the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and the arginine vasopressin receptor 1a (AVPR1a) genes contribute to social cognition in both animals and humans and hence are prominent candidates for contributing to empathy. The following research examined the associations between polymorphisms in these two genes and individual differences in emotional and cognitive empathy in a sample of 367 young adults. Intriguingly, we found that emotional empathy was associated solely with OXTR, whereas cognitive empathy was associated solely with AVPR1a. Moreover, no interaction was observed between the two genes and measures of empathy. The current findings contribute to our understanding of the distinct neurogenetic pathways involved in cognitive and emotional empathy and underscore the pervasive role of both oxytocin and vasopressin in modulating human emotions.
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Men and women carrying one or two copies of the A allele in rs53576 show reduced empathy.
“men and women carrying one or two copies of the A allele in the most common SNP, rs53576, show reduced empathy (Rodrigues et al., 2009; Uzefovsky et al., 2015)”
From Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior (2016) · cites this paper as Uzefovsky et al., 2015
Variations of the OXTR have been associated with individual differences in the capacity and tendency to empathize with others' emotional states in healthy individuals and related brain function in individuals with ASD.
“Further, variations of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) have been associated with individual differences in the capacity and tendency to empathize with others’ emotional states in healthy individuals25–30 and related brain function in individuals with ASD31.”
From Randomized clinical trial shows no substantial modulation of empathy-related neural activation by intranasal oxytocin in autism (2021) · cites this paper as [28]
Variation in OXTR and AVPR1a alleles has been associated with individual capacities for affective and cognitive empathy, respectively.
“and variation in OXTR and AVPR1a alleles has been associated with individual capacities for affective and cognitive empathy, respectively (30).”
From Variation in the β-endorphin, oxytocin, and dopamine receptor genes is associated with different dimensions of human sociality (2017) · cites this paper as [30]
A small number of OXTR SNPs were found to be tied to attachment style in close friendships and measures of empathy in this study.
“a small number of OXTR SNPs were found to be tied to attachment style in close friendships and measures of empathy in this study, echoing past work (30, 31)”
From Variation in the β-endorphin, oxytocin, and dopamine receptor genes is associated with different dimensions of human sociality (2017) · cites this paper as [30]
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References 62 · Cited by 131
- Authors
- Uzefovsky, F., Shalev, I., Israel, S., Edelman, S., Raz, Y., Mankuta, D., Knafo-Noam, A., & Ebstein, R. P.
- Affiliations
- Hebrew University of Jerusalem (IL)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Hadassah Medical Center (IL)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Corresponding author
- Uzefovsky, F.
- Venue
- Hormones and Behavior
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2015-01
- Volume
- 67
- Pages
- 60-65
- ISSN
- 0018-506X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2081818022
- Cited by
- 131
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 18 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 12
- FWCI
- 19.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Hormones and Behavior (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- AGA Research Foundation
- National University of Singapore (R-122000125133)
- John Templeton Foundation
- Ministry of Education - Singapore
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Keywords
- affective empathy, cognitive empathy, oxytocin receptor gene, oxytocin receptor, AVPR1A, genetic polymorphism, social cognition, individual differences, oxytocin, vasopressin, neurogenetics
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cognition, Emotions, Empathy, Female, Humans, Individuality, Male, Polymorphism, Genetic, Receptors, Vasopressin, Receptors, Oxytocin, Young Adult
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