title: Nonapeptide mechanisms of social cognition, behavior and species-specific social systems.
abstract: Nonapeptide functions have been explored in a diverse literature that has burgeoned in recent years, particularly in relation to affiliation, bonding and human social cognition. However, brain distributions of the oxytocin-like and vasopressin-like peptides are fundamentally similar across all vertebrate animals, including many species that do not exhibit social bonds, grouping, or even parent-offspring interaction. Hence, unifying principles extend beyond, and may even constrain, nonapeptide effects on social cognition and behavior. Conversely, nonapeptide receptor distributions are highly species-specific, suggesting almost limitless functional variation. Drawing on the vast recent literature, we here present a phylogenetically integrated review of both ubiquitous vertebrate features and species diversity, highlighting important nonapeptide effects on socially relevant physiology, sensorimotor integration, assignment of valence, and functional connectivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA. jlgoodso@indiana.edu
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Goodson
authors.forename: Richmond R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D009842:Oligopeptides