Neuroendocrine bases of monogamy
Abstract
A number of studies have implicated the neurohypophyseal peptides oxytocin and vasopressin in the central mediation of complex social behaviors, including affiliation, parental care and territorial aggression. Research on a monogamous rodent, the prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster), suggests that these neuropeptides are also involved in the control of several behaviors associated with monogamy, including pair bonding, paternal care and mate guarding. Comparative studies using several species of vole have identified species-specific patterns of oxytocin- and vasopressin-receptor expression in the brain that appear to be associated with a monogamous versus non-monogamous social structure. Molecular studies suggest that changes in the regulation of oxytocin- and vasopressin-receptor gene expression underlie these species differences in receptor distribution and might provide a mechanism for the evolution of monogamy in voles.
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Pair bond development is influenced by dopaminergic activity within the nucleus accumbens.
“Pair bond development is influenced by dopaminergic activity within the nucleus accumbens (Liu and Wang, 2003, Young et al., 1998).”
From Oxytocin, motivation and the role of dopamine (2014) · cites this paper as Young et al., 1998
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- Authors
- Young, L. J., Wang, Z., & Insel, T. R.
- Affiliations
- Emory University (US)
- Venue
- Trends in Neurosciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1998-02
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 71-75
- ISSN
- 0166-2236 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2078308196
- Cited by
- 265
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 10
- FWCI
- 3.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Trends in Neurosciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (5r29mh054554-06)
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH-56539, MH54554, MH 56897)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › 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
- monogamy, oxytocin, vasopressin, oxytocin receptor, vasopressin receptor, Microtus ochrogaster, pair bonding, paternal care, mate guarding, social behavior, species differences, neuroendocrinology
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Arvicolinae, Female, Humans, Male, Neurosecretory Systems, Oxytocin, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Vasopressins
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