From affiliative behaviors to romantic feelings: A role of nanopeptides

Dębiec, Jacek

doi:10.1016/j.febslet.2007.03.095

« Previous Next »FEBS Letters
Volume 581, Issue 14 , Pages 2580-2586, 12 June 2007

From affiliative behaviors to romantic feelings: A role of nanopeptides

Edited by Veli-Pekka Lehto

Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA

W.M. Keck Foundation Laboratory of Neurobiology, Center for Neural Science, New York University, 4 Washington Place, Room 809, New York, NY 10002, USA

Received 4 January 2007; accepted 13 March 2007. published online 09 May 2007.

Abstract

Love is one of the most desired experiences. The quest for understanding human bonds, especially love, was traditionally a domain of the humanities. Recent developments in biological sciences yield new insights into the mechanisms underlying the formation and maintenance of human relationships. Animal models of reproductive behaviors, mother–infant attachment and pair bonding complemented by human studies reveal neuroendocrine foundations of prosocial behaviors and emotions. Amongst various identified neurotransmitters and modulators, which control affiliative behaviors, the particular role of nanopeptides has been indicated. New studies suggest that these chemicals are not only involved in regulating bonding processes in animals but also contribute to generating positive social attitudes and feelings in humans.

Abbreviations: IT, isotocin, MT, mesotocin, OT, oxytocin, OTR, oxytocin receptor, AVP, vasopressin, V1aR, vasopressin receptor 1a, AVT, vasotocin