The DOI matches its Crossref record; 107 of the 107 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Oxytocin and Vasopressin: Powerful Regulators of Social Behavior
Abstract
For many, the terms oxytocin and vasopressin immediately evoke images of animals interacting with one another, as both of these neuropeptides have been implicated as being part of the neurochemical "glue" that socially binds animals. However, social environments and social interactions are complex and include behaviors that bring animals together as well as behaviors that keep animals apart. It is at the intersection of social context, social experience, and an individual's sex that oxytocin and vasopressin act to modulate social behavior and social cognition. In this review, this complexity will be explored across mammalian species, with a focus on social memory, cooperative behaviors, and competitive behaviors. Implications for humans as well as future directions will also be considered.
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“Self-directed play is a common social behavior and oxytocin’s role in social behavior generally is well established (for a review, see Caldwell, 2017), yet few investigations have examined the role of oxytocin in play.”
From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Caldwell (2017)
In the citing paper
“Oxytocin (OT) and arginine-vasopressin (AVP) act in the brain to regulate social cognition/social behavior and in the periphery to influence a variety of physiological processes.”
From Cross-talk among oxytocin and arginine-vasopressin receptors: Relevance for basic and clinical studies of the brain and periphery (2018) · cites this paper as [1]
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Kenkel, W. M., Partie, M. E., Rogers, K., & Watanasriyakul, W. T. (2025) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/jne.70126
Михайлович, Ч. С., Gerasimenko, M., Yuhi, T., Furuhara, K., Tsuji, C., Yokoyama, S., Nakayama, K. I., Nishiyama, M., & Higashida, H. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14525969
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Disconnected Lives: Social Networks and Emotional Regulation in Domestic Dogs
Grynkiewicz, A., Reinholz-Trojan, A., & Imbir, K. K. (2026) · Animals · doi:10.3390/ani16030398
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Effets de l’exposition aux phtalates sur les comportements de reproduction de la souris femelle
Adam, N. (2022) · theses.fr (ABES) · doi:10.70675/f8535eb9z782dz40b8zb1d0z583132d3fd1b
Androgens and estrogens rapidly facilitate short-term memory in the dorsal hippocampus of male mice
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Oxytocin and social neuroscience - sexually dimorphic OXTR neurons in mouse preoptic area
Teruyama, R., & Govar, A. A. (2026) · Progress in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2026.102930
Sex differences in the neural circuitry of aggression in Syrian hamsters
Lee, S. D., Aspesi, D., Huhman, K. L., & Albers, H. E. (2026) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2026.06.003
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Nonlinear and sex-specific effects of V1aR deletion on juvenile social behavior
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Metadata
- Authors
- Caldwell, H. K.
- Affiliations
- Kent State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Caldwell, Heather K.
- ORCID
- Caldwell, Heather K.
- Venue
- The Neuroscientist
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2017-05-11
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 517-528
- ISSN
- 1073-8584 (ISSN-L)
- 1089-4098
- OpenAlex
- W2613755074
- Cited by
- 216
- References
- 107
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 56 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 22 · 2017: 6
- FWCI
- 2.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The Neuroscientist (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (353859)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Keywords
- oxytocin, vasopressin, social behavior, social cognition, social memory, cooperative behavior, competitive behavior, sex differences, neuropeptides
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Humans, Oxytocin, Social Behavior, Vasopressins
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