Adiesa Burgess Dr. MixonPSYC-40121 October 2022 C.docx
oxytocin_the_facilitator_of_prosociality
1. By: Matthew Brien Worley
The Pennsylvania State University, Altoona
*
2. *
*Sir Henry Dale
Discovered oxytocin in
1906.
*Vincent du Vigneaud
synthesized the
hormone for the first
time in 1953.
3. *Induces contractions in labor.
*Causes the milk Let down reflex.
*Sexual reproduction and orgasm.
*
4. *
*Oxytocin is a neuro-
modulator that is
released within the
brain to produce
prosocial behavior and
the peripheries to
produce physiological
functioning.
7. *Social recognition:
*Social cues
*Social interactions
*Social awareness
*Popik et al (1992) found that oxytocin
decreases the amount time needed to
become acclimated.
*Unkelbach et al (2008) found that
oxytocin increases recognition of positive
and sexual words in human participants
*Kirsch et al (2005) found that oxytocin
increases social awareness and reduces
fear in human participants
*
9. *
*Zak et al (2007)
studied the effect of
oxytocin on generosity
and between strangers
and finding the
difference between
altruistic and generous
behavior.
* Participants
* Intranasally infused 68 Participants
from UCLA.
* 34 with oxytocin
* 34 with saline
* Procedure
* Money making and donation scenario.
* Results
* Oxytocin has a positive effect on
generosity.
* OT Condition was 80% higher than
the control in donations.
* Through analysis oxytocin and twice
the effect on generosity as it did for
altruism.
10. *
*Oxytocin has been implicated in trusting behavior in many studies:
*Barraza et al. (2011) found that in conducting research on
generosity it can be generalized that generous individuals are more
likely to trust that their monetary funds given will be used in a
positive manner.
*Zak et al. (2005) found that plasma oxytocin levels shares a positive
relationship between when measuring trustworthiness.
*Riedl et al. (2012) found that density of oxytocin receptors within
the Pulvinar and Thalamus once trust is formed.
12. *
*Montog et al. (2011)
Conducted a genetic
study to to investigate
serotonin and oxytocin’s
interactions with moral
decision making.
* Participants
* 750 participants
* (240 male, 510 female)
* Procedure
* Personality characteristics were
assessed via ANPS (Affective
Neuroscience Personality Scale).
* Genotyping via mouth swabs for
serotonin transporter
polymorphism (5-HTTLPR) and
oxytocin receptor gene rs226898.
* Results
* Strong interaction with serotonin
transporter polymorphism and
oxytocin oxytocin receptor within
the personality dimensions of fear
and sadness.
13. *
*Walter et al. (2012)
conducted a study
linking oxytocin
receptor gene
(rs2268498) and moral
judgment.
* Participants
* 150 participants
* (28 male, 122 female)
* Procedure
* Genotyping via mouth swabs for oxytocin
receptor gene rs226898.
* Moral Judgment scenario
* Results
* Individuals homozygous and heterozygous
dominant for rs2268498 (CC & CT) were
more likely to associated accidentally
committing harm not being blameworthy
than those who are homozygous recessive
for the T allele (TT)
* Participants of the homozygous dominant
group associated both intentional and
attempted but failed harm as
blameworthy as well
14. *
*Studies that have found oxytocin to have an effect on
empathetic behavior:
*Barraza et al. (2009) found there is a positive relationship
between plasma oxytocin levels and the degree of empathy.
*Singer et al. (2004) found that through intranasal oxytocin
injections that when placed in a economic monetary game that
the Insula and ACC are activated.
*ACC and Insula are associated with empathetic behavior.
16. *
*Attachment and its relationship with oxytocin:
* Skuse et al. (2009) explained how both oxytocin and
vasopressin interact with brain regions associated with
attachment and solidify that attachment.
*Baskerville et al. (2010) found an interaction between
dopaminergic and oxytocinergic systems when forming
attachment within the brain. This is known as the
oxytocin response.
* Schneiderman et al. (2011) found that oxytocin is
involved in forming the initial attachment in early
stages of a romantic relationship.
17. *
*Thomas Insel and his
colleagues studies with the
prairie voles.
*Insel (2008) Found that
though prairie and montane
voles are 99% genetically
identical they differ in their
pair bonding style, and that
oxytocin modulates pair
bonding.
*Insel et al (1997) found that
the prairie voles have
different oxytocin responses
than that of the montane
voles.
*Scheele et al (2013) provides
evidence via neuronal
imaging that oxytocin may be
a contributor to romantic
pair bonding in men.
18. *
• Oxytocin as a modulator of pair
bonding.
• Oxytocin as a modulator of the
parasympathetic response.
• Trier Stress Study
• Measure oxytocin
• Give oxytocin intranasally
Today we are going to speak about oxytocin. Which in many aspects is the facilitator of prosocial behavior
1: Henry dale was an English pharmacologist and physiologist studying neurotransmission. He discovered that when taking extracts from the pituitary and injecting it into the uterus causes contractions. Dale coined the term oxytocin from the Greek word “okytokine “ which means rapid birth.
2: Vincent du Vigneaud an american biochemist synthesized oxytocin from blood plasma. He described it as a peptide hormone composed of nine amino acids called a nono-peptide. With a sulfar bridge connecting the two cytosine molecules
Oxytocin is associted with:
Inducing contractions in labor
Causing lactation
Sexual reproduction and orgasm
For oxytocin there are two tracts:
Oxytocin is producted in the hypothalamus and travels to the posterior pituitary where it is stored until released. Oxytocin can be released into the periphery where it will affect physiological functioning
oxyotcin can also back track to the hypothalamus and be released into the brain : most notably the limbic system and the mid and hind brain regions.
It central nervous system oxytocin release which causes behavioral changes.
What most people do not know about oxytocin is that it is show to have an effect on these four areas of behavior and emotion.
1 social recognition
2 trust and generosity
3 empathy and morality
4 attachment and pair bonding
As you can see oxytocin is a very versitile neuro-peptide
What is social recognition and how can oxytocin affect it.
Oxytocin as noted before is a very versatile hormone
Social recongition is important to our every day lives.
As infants we used social recognition to build our first memories, to learn what is safe and what is not safe, to learn what is normal and what is abnormal
A few studies I would like share with you that have shed some light on how oxytocin is related to social recognition are the following:
Popik et al., (1992) using rats conducted an experiment by injecting oxytocin, vasopressin, and a synthetic neuropeptide into the septal area of the rat’s brain. Introducing them to a particular situation multiple times over a specific time interval tested the rat’s social recognition and memory.
Popik and colleagues found that
Popik and his colleagues concluded that the relationship between the amounts of time taken for the rat to be acclimated to the situation was positively correlated with the amount of oxytocin injected into the septal region of the brain
Oxytocin has been extensively studied with regards to the prosocial behaviors of trust and generosity
Zak study
Although this study did not directly link oxytocin to moral decision making it proved that there was a relatiopship between oxytocin and emotions. This led to another study by a colleague of montog
