TY - JOUR
T1 - Oxytocin promotes social proximity and decreases vigilance in groups of African lions
AU - Burkhart, Jessica C.
AU - Gupta, Saumya
AU - Borrego, Natalia
AU - Heilbronner, Sarah R.
AU - Packer, Craig
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)
PY - 2022/4/15
Y1 - 2022/4/15
N2 - Oxytocin modulates mammalian social behavior; however, behavioral responses to intranasal oxytocin can vary across species and contexts. The complexity of social interactions increases with group dynamics, and the impacts of oxytocin on both within- and between-group contexts are unknown. We tested the effects of intranasal administration of oxytocin on social and non-social behaviors within in-group and out-group contexts in African lions. We hypothesized that, post intranasal oxytocin administration, lions would be in closer proximity with fellow group members, whereas out-group stimuli could either produce a heightened vigilance response or an attenuated one. Compared to control trials, post oxytocin administration, lions increased their time spent in close proximity (reducing their distance to the nearest neighbor) and decreased vigilance toward out-group intruders (reducing their vocalizations following a roar-playback). These results not only have important implications for understanding the evolution of social circuitry but may also have practical applications for conservation efforts.
AB - Oxytocin modulates mammalian social behavior; however, behavioral responses to intranasal oxytocin can vary across species and contexts. The complexity of social interactions increases with group dynamics, and the impacts of oxytocin on both within- and between-group contexts are unknown. We tested the effects of intranasal administration of oxytocin on social and non-social behaviors within in-group and out-group contexts in African lions. We hypothesized that, post intranasal oxytocin administration, lions would be in closer proximity with fellow group members, whereas out-group stimuli could either produce a heightened vigilance response or an attenuated one. Compared to control trials, post oxytocin administration, lions increased their time spent in close proximity (reducing their distance to the nearest neighbor) and decreased vigilance toward out-group intruders (reducing their vocalizations following a roar-playback). These results not only have important implications for understanding the evolution of social circuitry but may also have practical applications for conservation efforts.
KW - Endocrinology
KW - Social interaction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85128291279&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85128291279&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104049
DO - 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104049
M3 - Article
C2 - 35496998
AN - SCOPUS:85128291279
SN - 2589-0042
VL - 25
JO - iScience
JF - iScience
IS - 4
M1 - 104049
ER -