Do delivery routes of intranasally administered oxytocin account for observed effects on social cognition and behavior? A two-level model. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Quintana, Daniel S.; Alvares, Gail A.; Hickie, Ian B.; Guastella, Adam J.
• Is Part Of: Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews. Volume 49(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 182
• Page End: 192
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Oxytocin -- Intranasal administration -- Social cognition -- Social behavior; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; Human behavior -- Periodicals; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Behavior -- Periodicals; Ethology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychophysiologie -- Périodiques; Comportement humain -- Périodiques; Animaux -- Mœurs et comportement -- Périodiques; Neurologie -- Périodiques; Animal behavior; Human behavior; Neurology; Psychophysiology; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 573.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.12.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0149-7634

Abstract

Highlights: Oxytocin modulates social cognition and behavior. To date, oxytocin pathways to key targets have been poorly characterized. Nasal anatomy and pathways to central and peripheral destinations are reviewed. The impact of oxytocin delivery on target brain and peripheral regions is described. We propose a model to account for the interindividual variability in responses after intranasal oxytocin administration. Abstract: Accumulating evidence demonstrates the important role of oxytocin (OT) in the modulation of social cognition and behavior. This has led many to suggest that the intranasal administration of OT may benefit psychiatric disorders characterized by social dysfunction, such as autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia. Here, we review nasal anatomy and OT pathways to central and peripheral destinations, along with the impact of OT delivery to these destinations on social behavior and cognition. The primary goal of this review is to describe how these identified pathways may contribute to mechanisms of OT action on social cognition and behavior (that is, modulation of social information processing, anxiolytic effects, increases in approach-behaviors). We propose a two-level model involving three pathways to account for responses observed in both social cognition and behavior after intranasal OT administration and suggest avenues for future research to advance this research field.