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OT in dogs promote social behaviors - Coggle Diagram
OT in dogs promote social behaviors
Introduction/Background
Sociability evolved in 1 of 2 ways, to reduce predation risk or to increase food foraging.
New evidence from mammals, the types of social bonds and the nature of these effect success in competition and reproductive success, this indicates social bonds are able to adapt on their own.
Social bonds are more than just impacting parental care and mating, they impact the longevity and offspring survival. As well as in humans, controlling mental health and reduced death.
This study is testing the neurocircuitry as well as the neurochemistry involved in forming social monds. Using neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) which plays a role in forming and regulating behaviors as well as more complex forms in humans and primates.
This is tested by using domestic dogs and their OT to discover the mechanisms needed to form social bonds.
Results
Treatment using OT as well as saline and taking into consideration the dogs sex. Endogenous OT effects exogenous OT, the OT is tested in the urine and has stayed level and in correlation during the experiment.
The owners did not communicate with their dogs during the experiment showing they were ignored or reciprocated. Dogs given OT showed more affiliation with their owners than dogs given saline. OT shows effect on their social behavior.
Affect was shown by treatment not by dogs sex. OT treatment dogs showed more affiliation with partners drastically more often as well as a closer distance. This testing showed more effect with lower levels of OT than higher levels.
Reciprocation with dog partners was associated with endogenous OT
Vitals on the dogs were taken before and after intranasal delivery of both OT and saline, after spray was given the heart rate and high frequency had decreased. When given OT, their reaction was significantly increased. This shows the dog was in discomfort when nasal spray was administered.
Blood work was also conducted, dogs receiving the OT treatment showed an increase in plasma indicating the activation of neurons. This is reflected in the OT level taken in the urine sample as well.
Discussion
OT can enhance behavior used to approach and affiliate with others and form stable social bonds which require maintenance over time
Natural selection has increased in selection of the neurological way of doing this.
This study as well shows that preferences for an individual or conspecific is rare as well as animals have the ability to form cross-species association.
The mechanisms that regulate intraspecific bonds is also accountable for cooperative relationships between individuals from different species.
OT injected by nasal sprays is stressful but the result of OT increased in plasma shows that there was a release of thypathalomic OT neurons as well as shows OT increases cardiac control and is able to penetrate the central nervous system. Similar results can be seen done in experiments involving rodents.
OT encourages social engagement, enhances social approach, affiliates relationships, enhances cooperation, and increases out group bias and territoriality.
High endogenous OT counteracted and became less responsive as well as natural variation.
Methods
16 dogs older than 12 were the subject for this experiment. 8 female and 8 male. Dog breeds included 9 poodles, 4 Labrador retrievers, 1 German shepherd, 1 sheep dog, and 1 border collie. All living in the same house or being able to have daily contact.
Conducted in japan, in a room where the owners in a chair and the dog infront of them on a blanket. using a large amount of ok administrated. OT and saline were both admitted nasally and the dogs owner would enter the room unaware of which treatment their dog received.
OT measurements were taken by a radioimmunoassay procedure. Heart rate measured by a polar digital system device, blood and urine samples were taken before and after each test.
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.
A question related to test could be if previous trauma affect the effectiveness of OT in humans. It says that OT affects humans and primates as well as dogs and other species, but when trauma occurs there can be permanent changes in the brain that also impacts social behaviors.