title: Oxytocin promotes social bonding in dogs.
abstract: Recent evidence suggests that enduring social bonds have fitness benefits. However, very little is known about the neural circuitry and neurochemistry underlying the formation and maintenance of stable social bonds outside reproductive contexts. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide synthetized by the hypothalamus in mammals, regulates many complex forms of social behavior and cognition in both human and nonhuman animals. Animal research, however, has concentrated on monogamous mammals, and it remains unknown whether OT also modulates social bonds in nonreproductive contexts. In this study we provide behavioral evidence that exogenous OT promotes positive social behaviors in the domestic dog toward not only conspecifics but also human partners. Specifically, when sprayed with OT, dogs showed higher social orientation and affiliation toward their owners and higher affiliation and approach behaviors toward dog partners than when sprayed with placebo. Additionally, the exchange of socio-positive behaviors with dog partners triggered the release of endogenous OT, highlighting the involvement of OT in the development of social relationships in the domestic dog. These data provide new insight into the mechanisms that facilitate the maintenance of close social bonds beyond immediate reproductive interest or genetic ties and complement a growing body of evidence that identifies OT as one of the neurochemical foundations of sociality in mammalian species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan;Japan Society for the Promotion of Sciences, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan; and tromero@darwin.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp nagasawa@carazabu.com.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan tromero@darwin.c.u-tokyo.ac.jp nagasawa@carazabu.com.
authors.forename: Miho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Kazutaka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mogi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan;
authors.forename: Toshikazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Azabu University, Kanagawa 252-5201, Japan.
authors.forename: Takefumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kikusui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012919:Social Behavior
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: cooperative bonds; cooperative mechanisms