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Cited by 556Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAttachment and Relationship DynamicsHuman-Animal Interaction Studies

A neurobiological basis of social attachment.

Thomas R. Insel·1997·American Journal of Psychiatry
DOI 10.1176/ajp.154.6.726
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Although an inability to form normal social attachments characterizes many forms of psychopathology, there has been little study of the neural basis of social bond formation. The primary purpose of this article is to describe a novel approach to the neurobiology of attachment. METHOD: The author reviews animal research on two closely related neuropeptides, oxytocin and vasopressin, implicated in the central mediation of attachment behaviors. These neuropeptides appear to be important for the initiation of pair bonds and parental behaviors as well as the infant's response to social separation. RESULTS: Both cellular and molecular studies have begun to reveal the mechanisms by which oxytocin and vasopressin neural pathways are regulated, leading to a preliminary understanding of how these hormones act within the brain to influence complex social behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Although their function in the human brain has yet to be demonstrated, the available evidence suggests that oxytocin and vasopressin may prove to be important in the pathophysiology of clinical disorders, such as autism, characterized by an inability to form normal social attachments.

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  • Relationship discord is the most frequent cause of emotional distress.

    “In contrast, relationship discord has been found to be the most frequent cause of emotional distress [19]”

    From Could intranasal oxytocin be used to enhance relationships? Research imperatives, clinical policy, and ethical considerations (2013) · cites this paper as [19]

  • Research has repeatedly implicated OT as one of the key hormones involved in parent-infant bonding in mammals, as well as in a range of social and affiliative behaviors.

    “Research has repeatedly implicated the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) as one of the key hormones involved in parent-infant bonding in mammals, as well as in a range of social and affiliative behaviors (3–7).”

    From Oxytocin and the development of parenting in humans (2010) · cites this paper as [5]

  • Oxytocin may specifically facilitate the transition from avoidance of pups to caring for them.

    “For instance, hypothalamic lesions block the initiation, but not the maintenance, of maternal behaviors in rats (18), suggesting that OXT may specifically facilitate the transition from avoidance of pups to caring for them (19,20).”

    From Dissecting the Role of Oxytocin in the Formation and Loss of Social Relationships (2016) · cites this paper as [19]

  • Pre-existing primers are necessary to induce oxytocin-facilitated social bonding in monogamous Prairie voles; these primers can be gonadal hormones (e.g., estrogen), mating behaviors, or prolonged pre-exposure to a former stranger (Insel, 1997).

    “Similarly, pre-existing ‘primers’ are necessary to induce oxytocin-facilitated social bonding in monogamous Prairie voles, and, depending on the study designs, these primers can be gonadal hormones (e.g. estrogen), mating behaviors, or prolonged pre-exposure to a former stranger (for an early review, (Insel, 1997)).”

    From Approaching the biology of human parental attachment: Brain imaging, oxytocin and coordinated assessments of mothers and fathers (2014) · cites this paper as Insel, 1997

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Authors
Insel, T. R.
Affiliations
Emory University (US)
Corresponding author
Thomas R. Insel
ORCID
Thomas R. Insel
Venue
American Journal of Psychiatry
Publisher
American Psychiatric Association Publishing
Published
1997-06-01
Volume
154
Issue
6
Pages
726-735
ISSN
  • 0002-953X (ISSN-L)
  • 1535-7228
DOI
10.1176/ajp.154.6.726
OpenAlex
W1717145785
Cited by
553
References
82
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 21 · 2012: 30
FWCI
4.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Keywords
social attachment, neurobiology of attachment, oxytocin, vasopressin, pair bonding, parental behavior, social separation, autism spectrum disorder, neuropeptides
MeSH terms
Animals, Arginine Vasopressin, Behavior, Animal, Arvicolinae, Female, Humans, Male, Maternal Behavior, Oxytocin, Pair Bond, Sexual Behavior, Animal, Social Behavior, Vasopressins, Receptors, Vasopressin, Receptors, Oxytocin

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