Medicine and Health

Oxytocin and vasopressin in the human brain: social neuropeptides for translational medicine

A. Meyer-lindenberg, G. Domes, et al.

The neuropeptides oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are evolutionarily conserved regulators of complex social cognition and behaviour. Recent studies examined their effects on human social interaction, genetic sources of individual differences, and brain mechanisms via neuroimaging, highlighting OXT and AVP as promising targets—particularly alongside psychotherapy—for treating autism, social anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia. Research conducted by Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Gregor Domes, Peter Kirsch, and Markus Heinrichs.

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Abstract

The neuropeptides oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are evolutionarily highly conserved mediators in the regulation of complex social cognition and behaviour. Recent studies have investigated the effects of OXT and AVP on human social interaction, the genetic mechanisms of inter-individual variation in social neuropeptide signalling and the actions of OXT and AVP in the human brain as revealed by neuroimaging. These data have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms by which these neuropeptides contribute to human social behaviour. OXT and AVP are emerging as targets for novel treatment approaches — particularly in synergistic combination with psychotherapy — for mental disorders characterized by social dysfunction, such as autism, social anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia.

Publisher

Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Published On

Authors

Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Gregor Domes, Peter Kirsch, Markus Heinrichs

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn3044

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