Week 10 Lec 20 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the difference between Prairie and Montane voles?

A

Prairie voles = monogamous and high density of oxytocin receptors in striatum
Montane voles = promiscuous and lack high density of oxytocin receptors

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2
Q

How is oxytocin linked to pair bonding in animals?

A

Oxytocin is released after mating, reinforcing and leading to long term attachment; enhances pair bonding

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3
Q

Name 5 social processes modulated by oxytocin

A

Social memory, emotion recognition, affect sharing, social emotions, social perception, social attention, communication and empathic accuracy

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4
Q

Where is oxytocin synthesized?

A

Hypothalamus (one of the few hormones directly synthesized and released in the brain)

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5
Q

Where is oxytocin released?

A

Hippocampus, amygdala, striatum, hypothalamus, midbrain and into the general circulation

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6
Q

What were the main results of the study by Kosfeld (2005)?

A

Oxytocin increased trusting behaviour by 17% in TG
No effect on non social risk preferences (effect of oxytocin on trust is specific to social context)
No effect on trustees

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7
Q

Which brain area and psychological function might mediate impact of oxytocin on trust?

A

Oxytocin affected trusting behaviour in situations where oxytocin dampened amygdala activity (reduces betrayal aversion)
Oxytocin decreased fear by dampening amygdala activity

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8
Q

Why might we be able to identify the role of oxytocin on social behaviors in animals but have trouble finding these effects in experiments with humans?

A

Kosfeld’s study in which intranasal OT was linked to trust failed to replicate
Animal studies based on experimental manipulations which cannot be conducted in humans/could have different effects

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9
Q

What were the results of the study by Marsh (2015) examining the link between endogenous OT and altruism?

A

Marsh investigated whether OT induced social altruism bias using a donation task
Results: Participants with high level of saliva (endogenous) OT tended to give higher donations only in the social frame

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10
Q

What were the results of the study examining the link between exogenous OT and altruism?

A

Exogenous OT increased donation in social frame and decreased donation in ecological frame

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11
Q

Takeaway

A

Altruism varied as a function of OT activity
Increased OT = induced social altruism bias
Extends to sustainable consumption by making participants willing to pay double the price for socially sustainable goods

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12
Q

Can you name two modulating factors of the link between oxytocin and altruism?

A

Group membership: More generous towards in-group
Differences in trait empathy

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13
Q

What are the results of the study by Strang and colleagues?

A

Strang investigated how does OT and empathy impact social discounting (trait empathy as a modulating factor)
Results: Positive correlation between individual empathy and generous behaviour towards close others for those who received OT

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14
Q

What are the takeaways of the study by Strang and colleagues?

A

Characteristics of decision maker can moderate effect of oxytocin on social behaviour
Oxytocin did not have a general approach enhancing effect, but a social distance dependent effect (increasing generous behaviour only towards socially close people)

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