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OXYTOCIN MAY MEDIATE THE BENEFITS OF POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTION AND EMOTIONS1The purpose of this paper is to describe the neuroendocrine mechanisms of positive social interactions.1
Abstract
During breastfeeding or suckling, maternal oxytocin levels are raised by somatosensory stimulation. Oxytocin may, however, also be released by nonnoxious stimuli such as touch, warm temperature etc. in plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid. Consequently, oxytocin may be involved in physiological and behavioral effects induced by social interaction in a more general context. In both male and female rats oxytocin exerts potent physiological antistress effects. If daily oxytocin injections are repeated over a 5-day period, blood pressure is decreased by 10-20 mmHg, the withdrawal latency to heat stimuli is prolonged, cortisol levels are decreased and insulin and cholecystokinin levels are increased. These effects last from 1 to several weeks after the last injection. After repeated oxytocin treatment weight gain may be promoted and the healing rate of wounds increased. Most behavioral and physiological effects induced by oxytocin can be blocked by oxytocin antagonists. In contrast, the antistress effects can not, suggesting that unidentified oxytocin receptors may exist. The prolonged latency in the tail-flick test can be temporarily reversed by administration of naloxone, suggesting that endogenous opioid activity has been increased by the oxytocin injections. In contrast, the long-term lowering of blood pressure and of cortisol levels as well as the sedative effects of oxytocin have been found to be related to an increased activity of central alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Positive social interactions have been related to health-promoting effects. Oxytocin released in response to social stimuli may be part of a neuroendocrine substrate which underlies the benefits of positive social experiences. Such processes may in addition explain the health-promoting effects of certain alternative therapies. Because of the special properties of oxytocin, including the fact that it can become conditioned to psychological state or imagery, oxytocin may also mediate the benefits attributed to therapies such as hypnosis or meditation.
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In the citing paper
“The analgesic effects of exogenous oxytocin in humans identify the oxytocin system as a plausible neural mechanism for the transduction of the effects of social support into the neural and physiological changes that modulate the experience of pain in humans 81”
From The Analgesic Effect of Oxytocin in Humans: A Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Cross‐Over Study Using Laser‐Evoked Potentials (2016) · cites this paper as [81]
In the citing paper
“As a final effect of oxytocin, it is thought that under certain circumstances, oxytocin may activate a positive feedback system, such that oxytocin may trigger a behavior or motivation, or vice versa. Then, the behavior or motivation may trigger further oxytocin release, which may again initiate more of the behavior (Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998; De Dreu, 2012).”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998
In the citing paper
“There are indications for this in the context of labor during child birth (Russell et al., 2003), and this is hypothesized, for example, in the context of affiliation (Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998) and cooperation (see De Dreu, 2012).”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998
In the citing paper
“Positive tactile stimuli (touch, warmth, odors) can release oxytocin (Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998)”
From The impact of atypical sensory processing on social impairments in autism spectrum disorder (2018) · cites this paper as Uvnäs-Moberg, 1998
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“Another neuroendocrine hormone with promising and largely unexplored links to social support is oxytocin (Knox and Uvnas-Moberg, 1998; Taylor et al., 2000).”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Uvnäs-Moberg, K.
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 1998-11
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 819-835
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1878549597
- Cited by
- 966
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 28 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 37 · 2023: 26 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 37 · 2020: 34 · 2019: 30 · 2018: 47 · 2017: 42 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 40 · 2013: 52 · 2012: 44
- FWCI
- 22.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- oxytocin, positive social interaction, social behavior, neuroendocrine mechanisms, anti-stress effects, blood pressure, cortisol, insulin, cholecystokinin, oxytocin antagonist, naloxone, endogenous opioids, alpha2-adrenoceptors, wound healing, health-promoting properties, hypnosis, meditation, complementary and alternative medicine
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Breast Feeding, Emotions, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Lactation, Male, Neurosecretory Systems, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Parents
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