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Cognitive neuroscience

Oxytocin and serotonin make it worthwhile

Nature Reviews Neuroscience volume 14, pages 740–741 (2013)Cite this article

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Previous studies have indicated that social behaviours can elicit feelings of reward that are similar to those generated by so-called 'natural' rewards, such as water, food or pheromones. In several species, including mice, oxytocin has been linked with social behaviours and polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene have been associated with autism spectrum disorders, which are characterized by varying degrees of social dysfunction.

the coordinated action of oxytocin and serotonin is required to reinforce social behaviours

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References

  1. Dölen, G. et al. Social reward requires coordinated activity of nucleus accumbens oxytocin and serotonin. Nature 501, 179–184 (2013)

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  1. Monica Hoyos Flight
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Flight, M. Oxytocin and serotonin make it worthwhile. Nat Rev Neurosci 14, 740–741 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3610

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