title: Neurobiology of sociability.
abstract: Sociability consists of behaviors that bring animals together and those that keep animals apart. Remarkably, while the neural circuitry that regulates these two "faces" of sociability differ from one another, two neurohormones, oxytocin (Oxt) and vasopressin (Avp), have been consistently implicated in the regulation of both. In this chapter the the structure and function of the Oxt and Avp systems, the ways in which affiliative and aggressive behavior are studied and the roles of Oxt and Avp in the regulation of sociability will be briefly reviewed. Finally, work implicating Oxt and Avp in sociability in humans, with a focus on neuropsychiatric disorders will be highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Behavior, Department of Biological Sciences and School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio, USA. hcaldwel@kent.edu
authors.forename: Heather K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Caldwell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009446:Neurobiology / Q000379:methods*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents