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Neurobiology of Sociability

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Sensing in Nature

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 739))

Abstract

Sociability consists of behaviors that bring animals together and those that keep animals apart. Remarkably, while the neural circuitry that regulates these two ”faces“ of sociability differ from one another, two neurohormones, oxytocin (Oxt) and vasopressin (Avp), have been consistently implicated in the regulation of both. In this chapter the the structure and function of the Oxt and Avp systems, the ways in which affiliative and aggressive behavior are studied and the roles of Oxt and Avp in the regulation of sociability will be briefly reviewed. Finally, work implicating Oxt and Avp in sociability in humans, with a focus on neuropsychiatric disorders will be highlighted.

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  1. Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior; Department of Biological Sciences and School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio, USA

    Heather K. Caldwell

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  1. Department of Immunology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain

    Carlos López-Larrea PhD

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Caldwell, H.K. (2012). Neurobiology of Sociability. In: López-Larrea, C. (eds) Sensing in Nature. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 739. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1704-0_12

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