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Oxytocin Promotes Social Bonding in Dogs - Coggle Diagram
Oxytocin Promotes Social Bonding in Dogs
Background
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide synthetized in the hypothalamus that regulates social behavior and cognition. It also plays a role in reproductive characteristics including birth and breastfeeding. In addition, it regulates parental care, sexual behavior, and other reproductive/ social behaviors
There is evidence that oxytocin encourages positive social behaviors in dogs within its own species as well as human partners such as their owners
New evidence shows that sociability is an adaptive trait that can affect an individuals competitive and reproductive success based on the social bonds they form
References
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:
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1322868111
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Goals
Little is know about how neurochemistry affects the formation of prosocial behaviors. Oxytocin may help reveal the neurological basis of how social connections are formed.
This will be done through pharmacological intervention to determine if oxytocin modulates the endurance of close social bonds using dogs
The researchers hypothesis is that dogs that are given oxytocin intranasally will exhibit more positive behaviors towards other dogs and their owners versus when given the placebo
Results
When oxytocin was administered, the dog's affiliation and proximity to owners and other dogs were strong
When oxytocin neurons were activated, central and peripheral oxytocin is released and directly affects behavioral levels
Social contact on its own does not raise oxytocin levels. It must be coupled with affiliation.
The positive feedback loop that occurs when oxytocin secretion behaviorally is induced allows for the repetition of positive interactions with individuals through which those positive interactions have previously occurred with
Hormonal mechanisms with oxytocin can cause the formation of cooperative relationships with individuals outside of the original conspecifics
While it is known that natural selection factors neurological mechanisms that promote during social bonds, exogenous oxytocin further contributes to the formation of nonsexual social relationships behaviorally
Questions for the future
Since increasing oxytocin levels in dogs promoted greater affiliation and proximity to other dogs and their owners, would the results be similar with another animal that they do not typically get along with unless they were raised with them such as a cat?
Will the pattern still be the same with an animal partner that is different?