CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM ACTIONS OF OXYTOCIN AND MODULATION OF BEHAVIORIN HUMANS

The posterior pituitary hormone oxytocin has modulatory effects on neu ral functioning that are significant to the regulation of behavior, Ba sic research in animals has established the importance of oxytocin in affiliation, including mating, pair bonding and parenting behaviors, I t is also an important regulator of feeding, grooming and responses to stress, The actions of oxytocin in the brain are regulated by gonadal steroid hormones, particularly estrogen, Oxytocin might also influenc e normal behavior in humans, and dysfunctions in the oxytocin system m ight be involved in the etiology and expression of neuropsychiatric di sorders.