Exploring the role of oxytocin in social interactions

Research by: Prof. Shlomo Wagner

The hypothalamic neuropeptide oxytocin is a powerful modulator of mammalian social behavior and its administration was shown to affect various types of social interactions. We used a battery of social discrimination tasks to evaluate the effects of systemic blockade of the oxytocin receptor. Our results suggest that oxytocin plays a role in modulating the salience of social stimuli, thus facilitating their memory, rather than in regulating the subject’s motivation for social interaction.

Lab Website