Cited by 138Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorPrimate Behavior and EcologyNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

The neuroethology of friendship

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Brent, Lauren J.N., Chang, Steve W.C., Gariépy, Jean‐François, Platt, Michael L.·2014·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Friendship pervades the human social landscape. These bonds are so important that disrupting them leads to health problems, and difficulties forming or maintaining friendships attend neuropsychiatric disorders like autism and depression. Other animals also have friends, suggesting that friendship is not solely a human invention but is instead an evolved trait. A neuroethological approach applies behavioral, neurobiological, and molecular techniques to explain friendship with reference to its underlying mechanisms, development, evolutionary origins, and biological function. Recent studies implicate a shared suite of neural circuits and neuromodulatory pathways in the formation, maintenance, and manipulation of friendships across humans and other animals. Health consequences and reproductive advantages in mammals additionally suggest that friendship has adaptive benefits. We argue that understanding the neuroethology of friendship in humans and other animals brings us closer to knowing fully what it means to be human.

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  • Oxytocin released during interactions with bond partners may enhance the social memory of those interactions, reinforcing partner-specific preferences.

    “It may be that oxytocin released during interactions with bond partners enhances the social memory of those interactions (see Choleris et al., 2009; Ross and Young, 2009; Brent et al., 2013 for reviews), reinforcing partner-specific preferences.”

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Authors
Brent, L. J. N., Chang, S. W. C., Gariépy, J., & Platt, M. L.
Affiliations
Duke University (US)
Corresponding author
Brent, Lauren J.N.
Venue
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2013-12-11
Volume
1316
Issue
1
Pages
1-17
ISSN
  • 0077-8923 (ISSN-L)
  • 1749-6632
OpenAlex
W1532218787
Cited by
138
References
204
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 2
FWCI
1.15
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (R01-MH-096875: LNJB, MLP, K99-MH-099093: SWCC, R01-MH-095894, R21-NS-078687, R01-MH-086712: MLP)
  • Fonds de la Recherche en Santé du Québec (JFG)
  • Duke Institute for Brain Sciences Incubator Award (MLP)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
friendship, neuroethology, social bonds, neural circuits, neuromodulation, autism spectrum disorder, depression, animal social behavior, social health, reproductive advantage, human uniqueness
MeSH terms
Animals, Behavior, Animal, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Neurobiology, Friends

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