Oxytocin and social behavior

Hormones orchestrate a wide range of behaviors and physiological processes. Oxytocin is famous for its role in social behavior, but also has important health functions. We provide a natural history perspective on oxytocin, studying how it evolved to facilitate species-typical social behavior and concurrent physiological responses. Previous work in non-human primates linked oxytocin to cooperation in bonobos but failed to find consistent associations with personality traits or social structure in two baboon species. Working with the Tsimane people in Bolivia, we showed that oxytocin is elevated after hunting. In our current SNSF-funded project we expanded this naturalistic approach to study (i) how oxytocin fluctuates in response to daily activities and social contexts, and (ii) whether individuals consistently differ in their oxytocin levels and whether such differences relate to personality or life history traits, and ultimately reproductive success. This research has implications for understanding and potentially treating social deficits in autistic people, who have lower levels of oxytocin.

• Coppeto DJ, Martin JS, Ringen EJ, Palmieri V, Young LJ, Jaeggi AV (2024) Peptides and primate personality: Central and peripheral oxytocin and vasopressin levels and social behavior in two baboon species (Papio hamadryas and Papio anubis). Peptides 179:171270
• John S, Jaeggi AV. (2021). Oxytocin levels tend to be lower in autistic children: A meta-analysis of 31 studies. Autism 25:2152-2161
• Moscovice LR, Surbeck M, Fruth B, Hohmann G, Jaeggi AV, Deschner T. (2019). The cooperative sex: Sexual interactions among female bonobos are linked to increases in oxytocin, proximity and coalitions. Hormones and Behavior 116:104581
• Trumble BC, Jaeggi AV, Gurven M. (2015). Evolving the neuroendocrine physiology for human and primate cooperation and collective action. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 370:20150014
• Jaeggi AV, Trumble BC, Kaplan HS, Gurven M. (2015). Salivary oxytocin increases concurrently with testosterone and time away from home among returning Tsimane’ hunters. Biology Letters 11:20150058