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Oxytocin as an allostatic agent in the social bonding effects of music

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 September 2021

Niels Chr. Hansen Open the ORCID record for Niels Chr. Hansen [Opens in a new window]  and
Peter E. Keller Open the ORCID record for Peter E. Keller [Opens in a new window]
Niels Chr. Hansen
Affiliation:
Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark. nchansen@aias.au.dk; http://www.nielschrhansen.com/ Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University & Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Aarhus, Denmark
Peter E. Keller
Affiliation:
The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. p.keller@westernsydney.edu.au; http://pkpublications.weebly.com/
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Abstract

Despite acknowledging that musicality evolved to serve multiple adaptive functions in human evolution, Savage et al. promote social bonding to an overarching super-function. Yet, no unifying neurobiological framework is offered. We propose that oxytocin constitutes a socio-allostatic agent whose modulation of sensing, learning, prediction, and behavioral responses with reference to the physical and social environment facilitates music's social bonding effects.

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Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 44 , 2021 , e75
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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