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Oxytocin shapes the priorities and neural representations of attitudes and values

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2017

René Hurlemann ,
Nina Marsh ,
Johannes Schultz  and
Dirk Scheele
René Hurlemann
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany. renehurlemann@icloud.com http://renehurlemann.squarespace.com/welcome/ Division of Medical Psychology, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany. n.marsh@gmx.de johannes.schultz@gmail.com dirk-scheele@gmx.de https://sites.google.com/site/johannesschultz/ http://psychiatrie.uni-bonn.de/
Nina Marsh
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Psychology, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany. n.marsh@gmx.de johannes.schultz@gmail.com dirk-scheele@gmx.de https://sites.google.com/site/johannesschultz/ http://psychiatrie.uni-bonn.de/
Johannes Schultz
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Psychology, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany. n.marsh@gmx.de johannes.schultz@gmail.com dirk-scheele@gmx.de https://sites.google.com/site/johannesschultz/ http://psychiatrie.uni-bonn.de/
Dirk Scheele
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Psychology, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany. n.marsh@gmx.de johannes.schultz@gmail.com dirk-scheele@gmx.de https://sites.google.com/site/johannesschultz/ http://psychiatrie.uni-bonn.de/
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Abstract

The phylogenetically ancient neuropeptide oxytocin has been linked to a plethora of social behaviors. Here, we argue that the action of oxytocin is not restricted to the downstream level of emotional responses, but substantially alters higher representations of attitudes and values by exerting a distant modulatory influence on cortical areas and their reciprocal interplay with subcortical regions and hormonal systems.

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Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 40 , 2017 , e241
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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