Effects of oxytocin in humans: Impact on the basic psychological processes of cognition, emotions and behavior. Role for the autonomic functions
Effects of oxytocin in humans: Impact on the basic psychological processes of cognition, emotions and behavior. Role for the autonomic functions

Summary/Abstract: Emotional intelligence enables individuals to be more effective in their personal and social life. The neural structures that support emotional and social intelligence overlap with the structures involved in autonomic functions and decision-making, i.e. ventromedial prefrontal cortex, amygdala and insular regions. Oxytocin (OT) facilitates social bonding by enhancing cognitive control from prefrontal regions to amygdala in order to regulate emotionality. It inhibits excitatory flow from the amygdala to brainstem sites mediating fear response and reduces social anxiety that results in a greater willingness to trust and bond to other people. OT has empathogenic properties and it`s agonists may be a useful therapy in enhancing socially motivated learning and emotional empathy in disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. This neuropeptide may promote mother–infant attachment. OT levels are associated with interactive synchrony between parent and child and appear to play an important role in promoting responsive parental caregiving. Increased values of heart rate variability (HRV) are associated with positive emotions such as cheerfulness and tranquility. Heart rate variability is a reliable indicator of the psychological background, of approach-related motivation and hence of the autonomic nervous system balance.

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