TY - CHAP
T1 - Molecular genetic studies of the arginine vasopressin 1a receptor (AVPR1a) and the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) in human behaviour
T2 - from autism to altruism with some notes in between
AU - Israel, Salomon
AU - Lerer, Elad
AU - Shalev, Idan
AU - Uzefovsky, Florina
AU - Reibold, Mathias
AU - Bachner-Melman, Rachel
AU - Granot, Roni
AU - Bornstein, Gary
AU - Knafo, Ariel
AU - Yirmiya, Nurit
AU - Ebstein, Richard P.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported in part by grants from the Hebrew University (BINCA: GB, RPE, AK, AD), the Israel Science Foundation founded by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (RPE and GB, NY and RPE), the Israel National Institute for Psychobiology (AK) and Phillip Morris USA and Phillip Morris International (RPE).
PY - 2008/7/24
Y1 - 2008/7/24
N2 - Converging evidence from both human and animal studies has highlighted the pervasive role of two neuropeptides, oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), in mammalian social behaviours. Recent molecular genetic studies of the human arginine vasopressin 1a (AVPR1a) and oxytocin (OXTR) receptors have strengthened the evidence regarding the role of these two neuropeptides in a range of normal and pathological behaviours. Significant association between both AVPR1a repeat regions and OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with risk for autism has been provisionally shown which was mediated by socialization skills in our study. AVPR1a has also been linked to eating behaviour in both clinical and non-clinical groups, perhaps reflecting the social and ritualistic side of eating behaviour. Evidence also suggests that repeat variations in AVPR1a are associated with two other social domains in Homo sapiens: music and altruism. AVPR1a was associated with dance and musical cognition which we theorize as reflecting the ancient role of this hormone in social interactions executed by vocalization, ritual movement and dyadic (mother-offspring) and group communication. Finally, we have shown that individual differences in allocation of funds in the dictator game, a laboratory game of pure altruism, is predicted by length of the AVPR1a RS3 promoter-region repeat echoing the mechanism of this hormone's action in the vole model of affiliative behaviours and facilitation of positive group interactions. While still in its infancy, the current outlook for molecular genetic investigations of AVP-OXT continues to be fascinating. Future studies should profitably focus on pharmacogenomic and genomic imaging strategies facilitated by the ease and efficacy of manipulating AVP-OXT neurotransmission by intranasal administration. Importantly, physiological measures, behavioural paradigms and brain activation can be informed by considering between-group and also within-group individual differences defined by common polymorphisms. Ultimately, investigators should strive to develop a cohesive model explaining how genomic variations are translated into individual and group differences in higher-order social behaviours.
AB - Converging evidence from both human and animal studies has highlighted the pervasive role of two neuropeptides, oxytocin (OXT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), in mammalian social behaviours. Recent molecular genetic studies of the human arginine vasopressin 1a (AVPR1a) and oxytocin (OXTR) receptors have strengthened the evidence regarding the role of these two neuropeptides in a range of normal and pathological behaviours. Significant association between both AVPR1a repeat regions and OXTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with risk for autism has been provisionally shown which was mediated by socialization skills in our study. AVPR1a has also been linked to eating behaviour in both clinical and non-clinical groups, perhaps reflecting the social and ritualistic side of eating behaviour. Evidence also suggests that repeat variations in AVPR1a are associated with two other social domains in Homo sapiens: music and altruism. AVPR1a was associated with dance and musical cognition which we theorize as reflecting the ancient role of this hormone in social interactions executed by vocalization, ritual movement and dyadic (mother-offspring) and group communication. Finally, we have shown that individual differences in allocation of funds in the dictator game, a laboratory game of pure altruism, is predicted by length of the AVPR1a RS3 promoter-region repeat echoing the mechanism of this hormone's action in the vole model of affiliative behaviours and facilitation of positive group interactions. While still in its infancy, the current outlook for molecular genetic investigations of AVP-OXT continues to be fascinating. Future studies should profitably focus on pharmacogenomic and genomic imaging strategies facilitated by the ease and efficacy of manipulating AVP-OXT neurotransmission by intranasal administration. Importantly, physiological measures, behavioural paradigms and brain activation can be informed by considering between-group and also within-group individual differences defined by common polymorphisms. Ultimately, investigators should strive to develop a cohesive model explaining how genomic variations are translated into individual and group differences in higher-order social behaviours.
KW - arginine vasopressin 1a receptor (AVPR1a)
KW - autism
KW - molecular genetics
KW - music
KW - neuropeptides
KW - oxytocin receptor (OXTR)
KW - social behaviour
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=47549099793&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00434-2
DO - 10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00434-2
M3 - Chapter
C2 - 18655900
AN - SCOPUS:47549099793
SN - 9780444532015
T3 - Progress in Brain Research
SP - 435
EP - 449
BT - Advances in Vasopressin and Oxytocin - From Genes to Behaviour to Disease
A2 - Neumann, Inga
A2 - Landgraf, Rainer
ER -