Sexual dimorphism of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition and behavior
Qiaoqiao Lu,1,2 Jianbo Lai,1,3–4 Yanli Du,2 Tingting Huang,2 Pornkanok Prukpitikul,2 Yi Xu,1,3–4 Shaohua Hu1,3–41Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, People’s Republ...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Dove Medical Press
2019-05-01
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| Series: | Psychology Research and Behavior Management |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.dovepress.com/sexual-dimorphism-of-oxytocin-and-vasopressin-in-social-cognition-and--peer-reviewed-article-PRBM |
| _version_ | 1811325784852267008 |
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| author | Lu Q Lai J Du Y Huang T Prukpitikul P Xu Y Hu S |
| author_facet | Lu Q Lai J Du Y Huang T Prukpitikul P Xu Y Hu S |
| author_sort | Lu Q |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Qiaoqiao Lu,1,2 Jianbo Lai,1,3–4 Yanli Du,2 Tingting Huang,2 Pornkanok Prukpitikul,2 Yi Xu,1,3–4 Shaohua Hu1,3–41Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People’s Republic of China; 3Brain Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People’s Republic of China; 4Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, People’s Republic of ChinaAbstract: The neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) are hormones that are known to mediate social behavior and cognition, but their influence may be sex-dependent. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the sex-related influence of OT and VP on social cognition, focusing on partner preference and sexual orientation, trust and relevant behaviors, memory modulation, and emotion regulation. Most studies have suggested that OT facilitates familiar-partner preference in both sexes, with females being more significant, increased trust in others, especially for male, enhanced memory in either sex, and reduced anxious emotion in males. However, VP-regulated social cognition has been less studied. Other relevant studies have indicated that VP facilitated familiar-partner preference, improved memory, induced empathy formation, increased positive-emotion recognition, and induced anxiety without any sex difference. However, there was a male preponderance among studies, and results were often too complex to draw firm conclusions. Clarifying the interplay between OT/VP and sex hormones in the regulation of social cognition is necessary for further applications.Keywords: oxytocin, vasopressin, sexual difference, social cognition, social behavior |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:39:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a8aa9870b8c04d1b9ad0090df5c2ed4c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1179-1578 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T14:39:07Z |
| publishDate | 2019-05-01 |
| publisher | Dove Medical Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Psychology Research and Behavior Management |
| spelling | doaj.art-a8aa9870b8c04d1b9ad0090df5c2ed4c2022-12-22T02:42:57ZengDove Medical PressPsychology Research and Behavior Management1179-15782019-05-01Volume 1233734945887Sexual dimorphism of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition and behaviorLu QLai JDu YHuang TPrukpitikul PXu YHu SQiaoqiao Lu,1,2 Jianbo Lai,1,3–4 Yanli Du,2 Tingting Huang,2 Pornkanok Prukpitikul,2 Yi Xu,1,3–4 Shaohua Hu1,3–41Department of Psychiatry, First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310003, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People’s Republic of China; 3Brain Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, People’s Republic of China; 4Key Laboratory of Mental Disorder Management in Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310003, People’s Republic of ChinaAbstract: The neuropeptides oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) are hormones that are known to mediate social behavior and cognition, but their influence may be sex-dependent. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of the sex-related influence of OT and VP on social cognition, focusing on partner preference and sexual orientation, trust and relevant behaviors, memory modulation, and emotion regulation. Most studies have suggested that OT facilitates familiar-partner preference in both sexes, with females being more significant, increased trust in others, especially for male, enhanced memory in either sex, and reduced anxious emotion in males. However, VP-regulated social cognition has been less studied. Other relevant studies have indicated that VP facilitated familiar-partner preference, improved memory, induced empathy formation, increased positive-emotion recognition, and induced anxiety without any sex difference. However, there was a male preponderance among studies, and results were often too complex to draw firm conclusions. Clarifying the interplay between OT/VP and sex hormones in the regulation of social cognition is necessary for further applications.Keywords: oxytocin, vasopressin, sexual difference, social cognition, social behaviorhttps://www.dovepress.com/sexual-dimorphism-of-oxytocin-and-vasopressin-in-social-cognition-and--peer-reviewed-article-PRBMoxytocinvasopressinsexual differencesocial cognitionsocial behavior |
| spellingShingle | Lu Q Lai J Du Y Huang T Prukpitikul P Xu Y Hu S Sexual dimorphism of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition and behavior Psychology Research and Behavior Management oxytocin vasopressin sexual difference social cognition social behavior |
| title | Sexual dimorphism of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition and behavior |
| title_full | Sexual dimorphism of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition and behavior |
| title_fullStr | Sexual dimorphism of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition and behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual dimorphism of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition and behavior |
| title_short | Sexual dimorphism of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition and behavior |
| title_sort | sexual dimorphism of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition and behavior |
| topic | oxytocin vasopressin sexual difference social cognition social behavior |
| url | https://www.dovepress.com/sexual-dimorphism-of-oxytocin-and-vasopressin-in-social-cognition-and--peer-reviewed-article-PRBM |
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