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Oxytocin promotes social bonding in dogs - Coggle Diagram
Oxytocin promotes social bonding in dogs
Literature Cited
Romero T, Nagasawa M, Mogi K, Hasegawa T, Kikusui T. 2014. Oxytocin promotes social bonding in dogs. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 111(25):9085–9090. doi:10.1073/pnas.1322868111.
Introduction
The nature and quality of social bonds plays a key role on social individuals for competitive success and reproductive performance
Strong same sex bonds shows a higher longevity or offspring survival individuals with weaker bonds
The impact of social bonds on an individuals fitness id directly related to mating and parental care
human studies shows quality and quantity of social relationships experience better mental health with reduced mortality
behavioral ecology theory states sociability evolved to reduce individuals risk from predation or increase individuals ability to find and defend food
OT regulates pair bonding, parental care, sexual behavior, peer recognition, and social memory (Romero et al. 2014).
Abstract
social bonds have fitness benefits
OT is a neuropeptide, synthesized by the hypothalamus in mammals (Romero et al. 2014).
Hypothalamus regulates social behaviors and cognition in humans and nonhuman animals
dogs showed higher social orientation and affiliation towards their owners
dogs showed higher affiliation and approach behaviors toward dog partners
Conclusion
OT motivates social engagement
OT is an important mechanism that allowed the evolution of enduring cooperative bonds between related and unrelated individuals
An increase in dogs OT levels favored more when reciprocated that providing it or receiving it
Hypothesis
If brain OT regulates the formation and maintenance of social bonds, we should find that dogs given OT show more positive behaviors toward partners than when give placebo.
Materials and Methods
Blood and Urine sample collection
OT measurement
Heart rate measurements
Behavioral measurements
16 dogs older than 12 months. 8 female and 8 male
Discussion
OT acts as a modulator of neural pathways of social behavior
OT can penetrate into the central nervous system in dogs when administered intranasally
natural selection has favored neurological mechanisms that promote their maintenance
Intranasal administration of OT significantly increased plasma OT concentrations
human and nonhuman animals shows a rapid accumulation of peptides in brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid after their intranasal administration
Results
OT caused dogs to engage in higher levels of affiliation, social orientation, and social approach with their owners and dog partners (Romero et al. 2014)
affiliation with owners
affiliation and endogenous OT
oxytocin and affiliation
intranasal administration of OT
affiliation with dog partners
Questions
Does offspring social interaction and relationship with an individual parent differ from each parent and owner affecting the OT levels of each individual?
Does natural and sexual selection play a role in social behavior when the offspring is introduced affecting parental instincts?