Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology最新文献

{"title":"Trajectories of sociopolitical stress during the 2020 United States presidential election season: Associations with psychological well-being, civic action, and social identities","authors":"Sara Suzuki ,&nbsp;Lindsay Till Hoyt ,&nbsp;Neshat Yazdani ,&nbsp;Mariah Kornbluh ,&nbsp;Elan C. Hope ,&nbsp;Melissa J. Hagan ,&nbsp;Alison K. Cohen ,&nbsp;Parissa J. Ballard","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100218","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Sociopolitical stress arises in reaction to awareness of, exposure to, and/or involvement in political events. Among a longitudinal cohort of 628 college students from 10 universities across the U.S., we explored trajectories of sociopolitical stress during the 2020 United States presidential election season and examined relationships to psychological well-being. Growth mixture modeling classified our sample into four subgroups each with distinct trajectories of sociopolitical stress: <em>High and Decreasing</em>, <em>Moderate and Increasing</em>, <em>Consistently Low</em>, and <em>High-to-Low</em>. Participants with lower levels of sociopolitical stress expressed higher psychological well-being (high flourishing, high optimism, low anxiety symptoms, low depressive symptoms). The <em>High and Decreasing</em> subgroup was associated with the highest levels of civic action. Participants in the <em>High and Decreasing</em> trajectory were 20 times more likely to identify as LGBQ+, and 4 times more likely to be a woman or a transgender/gender diverse student, compared to participants in the <em>Consistently Low</em> subgroup.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100218"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497623000528/pdfft?md5=697acd7db453823ea358030b65377c0c&pid=1-s2.0-S2666497623000528-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"92135621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The relationship between balance and urinary cortisol and neopterin in autistic children","authors":"Siobhan de Lange ,&nbsp;Dee Muller ,&nbsp;Chloe Dafkin","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100216","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100216","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by stereotyped behavior, restricted interests and social/communicative deficits. The physiological etiology of ASD is not currently understood, however recent research has implicated dysregulation of the immune system as a central feature. The interplay between the stress systems, the immune system and the brain has been well-documented and implicated in other psychiatric and neurological disorders. This interplay suggests a role for the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in the etiology of ASD. We assessed levels of urinary cortisol and neopterin as markers of immune function and HPA activation in a cohort of 50 children from the central Johannesburg region. Additionally, we used the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist to assess autistic symptomatology and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Motor Proficiency Test (Second Edition) (BOT-2) to assess motor skills. No relationships were found between cortisol and autistic symptomatology. No relationships were found between neopterin and any of the other measures. However, a relationship was observed between urinary cortisol and performance on balance-related tasks from the BOT-2 (P &lt; 0.05). Our findings support a theory of neurological interconnectedness between postural modulation and activation of the stress system, which has not previously been documented in children with ASD.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100216"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497623000504/pdfft?md5=59404e7aa2812228388c80ada85ab411&pid=1-s2.0-S2666497623000504-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"92013653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association between stress, depression or anxiety and cancer: Rapid review of reviews","authors":"Katy Cooper ,&nbsp;Fiona Campbell ,&nbsp;Sue Harnan ,&nbsp;Anthea Sutton","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100215","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Several studies have suggested links between psychological stress, depression or anxiety, and cancer incidence or outcomes. Existing systematic reviews have addressed this question, with differing results.</p></div><div><h3>Aims</h3><p>This rapid systematic umbrella review summarises existing reviews assessing the association between psychological stress, depression or anxiety and cancer incidence or cancer outcomes.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Systematic reviews assessing stress, depression or anxiety and cancer were identified via searches of MEDLINE, PsycInfo and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from 2010 to November 2020.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Twelve systematic reviews were included, summarising cohort and case-control studies, most of which adjusted for confounders. Regarding cancer incidence, one large meta-analysis reported a significant association between depression/anxiety and cancer incidence, while another showed a non-significant trend. Two further meta-analyses reported significant associations between stressful life events and cancer incidence. Conversely, two meta-analyses of work stress showed no significant association with cancer incidence. Regarding outcomes among cancer patients, three meta-analyses reported significant associations between depression/anxiety and cancer mortality, while another reported a non-significant trend for depression and cancer recurrence. One meta-analysis reported a significant association between partner bereavement and cancer mortality, while another showed no significant association between work stress and cancer mortality.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>There is consistent evidence for an association between psychological stress, depression or anxiety and cancer incidence in general populations, and some evidence for an association with mortality in cancer populations. Future research may focus on confirmation of these findings, as well as the role of social support and stress-reducing interventions in buffering against these effects.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100215"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497623000498/pdfft?md5=66873ebfc80905b556df2057fc9c71a6&pid=1-s2.0-S2666497623000498-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"92099224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex and gender measurement for scientific rigor and data harmonization across studies","authors":"Charlie Rioux,&nbsp;Kira London-Nadeau,&nbsp;Robert-Paul Juster","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100199","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100199"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666497623000334/pdfft?md5=fe681c4d7fb9c92f54b20866b712d35e&pid=1-s2.0-S2666497623000334-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43703835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Within-person associations of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone, and testosterone hair hormone concentrations and psychological distress in pregnant and non-pregnant women","authors":"O.C. Robertson ,&nbsp;E.P. Rolan ,&nbsp;W. Wang ,&nbsp;E.A. Shirtcliff ,&nbsp;K. Marceau","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100214","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100214","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Prenatal hair cortisol concentration is inconsistently associated with maternal psychological distress. However, prior studies have not often measured hair cortisol and maternal psychological distress prospectively over time, examined within-person associations, nor concurrently considered the complex hormonal milieu in which cortisol operates during pregnancy. We addressed these limitations and tested associations against a similar non-pregnant comparison group. Participants included 68 women (34 pregnant and 34 non-pregnant; M_age = 29.14 and 83 % White) from the Midwestern United States. Pregnant women were assessed each trimester, at 12, 26, and 38 weeks and non-pregnant women were assessed three times on the same schedule. At each assessment, participants completed measures of psychological distress and provided hair samples. The first 3 cm (from the scalp) of hair was assayed using enzyme immune-assay kits to reflect cumulative levels within the given trimester/3-month time period of cortisol, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone. Within-person associations of hair cortisol and ratio of hair cortisol-to-DHEA and cortisol-to-testosterone with psychological distress were assessed using multilevel models. There were positive within-person associations of hair cortisol with cumulative psychological distress (γ = 0.01, s.e. = 0.003, p = .049), anxiety (γ = 0.09, <em>s.e.</em> = 0.04, <em>p</em> = .046), and pregnancy-related anxiety symptoms (γ = 0.10, <em>s.e.</em> = 0.05, <em>p</em> = .041) in the pregnant sample such that on occasions when hair cortisol was higher than average so were psychological distress symptoms. No within-person associations of hair cortisol were supported in non-pregnant women although there was a negative within-person association, such that on occasions of having lower testosterone level than typical, depression symptoms were higher. There were no within-person associations of psychological distress and cortisol-to-DHEA ratio or cortisol-to-testosterone ratio in either the pregnant or non-pregnant sample. At the between person-level for pregnant women, lower cortisol levels were associated with higher perceived stress (γ = <em>-</em>0.28, <em>s.e.</em> = 0.09, <em>p</em> = .003) and depression symptoms (γ = <em>-</em>0.11, <em>s.e.</em> = 0.06, <em>p</em> = .039), whereas higher cortisol levels were associated with higher psychological distress (γ = 0.03, <em>s.e.</em> = 0.01, <em>p</em> = .010), state anxiety (γ = 0.33, <em>s.e.</em> = 0.13, <em>p</em> = .010), and depression symptoms (γ = 0.23, <em>s.e.</em> = 0.09, <em>p</em> = .017) in non-pregnant women. Modeling hair cortisol at the within-person and between-person level revealed differential findings in pregnant and non-pregnant women.</p><p>Hair cortisol concentration, psychological distress, pregnancy, hormone coupling, within-person associations.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100214"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49777396","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Brain trust","authors":"Susan E. Erdman","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100212","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100212","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This narrative describes a personal journey that led to the discovery of a profound connection between microbial symbionts and oxytocin. Pivotal oxytocin discoveries began to emerge in 2011 while this researcher’s multidisciplinary team explored gut microbial priming of the immune system and perinatal health. Inspired by oxytocin's role in early life events of milk release, neural connections, and social bonding, the team hypothesized a symbiotic relationship between microbes and oxytocin. Scientific experiments demonstrated that specific milk-borne microbes boosted oxytocin levels through a vagus nerve-mediated gut-brain pathway, affecting immune functions and wound healing capacity in the host animal. The exploration then expanded to microbial impacts on reproductive fitness, body weight, and even mental health. Overarching hypotheses envisioned a nurturing symbiosis promoting survival and societal advancement. Ultimately, this oxytocin-mediated partnership between microbes and mammals is portrayed as a harmonious legacy of neurological stability, empathy, and universal wisdom, transcending generations. The author's personal journey underscores the beauty and inspiration found in her scientific exploration.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100212"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49818563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maternal outcomes related to Genetic and epigenetic Variation in the oxytocin system: A scoping review","authors":"Sarah R. Weinstein ,&nbsp;Elise N. Erickson ,&nbsp;Rodin Molina ,&nbsp;Aleeca F. Bell","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100209","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100209","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>In this scoping review, we synthesize the literature on oxytocin and oxytocin receptor genetic and epigenetic variation in relationship to breastfeeding, maternal caregiving behavior, and maternal mental health.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>A literature search was conducted in early 2022, and updated in 2023, utilizing the PRISMA scoping review reporting method, using the following MeSH headings and key terms: oxytocin, oxytocin receptor, genetics, epigenetics, methylation, pregnancy, postnatal, breastfeeding, lactation, mother-infant relations and perinatal outcomes. The search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, and the Cochrane Library. Inclusion criteria included: human literature which was peer reviewed and found in primary sources, printed in the English language. In addition, the study must have reported genetic/epigenetic data in either the oxytocin or oxytocin receptor gene (maternal or infant up to 12 months after birth) in relation to a breastfeeding, maternal caregiving behavior or a maternal mental health outcome. There was no date limitation. Four authors reviewed studies for eligibility. Data was extracted using a structured data extraction form.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>A total of 23 studies met inclusion criteria for this review (breastfeeding n = 4, maternal caregiving behavior n = 7, and maternal mental health n = 16). Seventeen papers reported on oxytocin or oxytocin receptor genotype and nine reported epigenetic associations (namely DNA methylation). These totals are greater than 23, as studies reported on multiple outcomes. One paper assessed the interaction between genotype and methylation. While a number of genotype variations were reported, the single nucleotide polymorphism rs53576 on the oxytocin receptor gene was the most studied. Overall, variation in this polymorphism was related to postnatal depression symptoms. Among numerous epigenetic markers, site −934 was the most studied methylation site, and methylation status was associated with maternal depression and maternal caregiving behavior outcomes. Results suggest that early life experiences impact adult maternal caregiving behaviors and mental health outcomes, and vary based on genetic vulnerability. Breastfeeding outcomes were minimally studied.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This scoping review found that genetic and epigenetic variation at the oxytocin and oxytocin receptor genes were associated with maternal caregiving behavior and mental health, likely through complex gene and environment interactions. The findings suggest that maternal early life experiences and stress impact later caregiving behaviors and mental health in the postnatal period. The findings highlight potential pathways by which environment, experiences, and genes interact to impact maternal caregiving behavior and maternal mental health.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100209"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49818564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biological sensitivity to adolescent-parent discrepancies in perceived parental warmth","authors":"Jessica L. Buthmann ,&nbsp;Joelle LeMoult ,&nbsp;Jonas G. Miller ,&nbsp;Anne Berens ,&nbsp;Ian H. Gotlib","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100211","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100211","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><p>Parenting behaviors are formative to the psychological development of young people; however, parent and adolescent perceptions of parenting are only moderately correlated with each other. Whereas discrepant perceptions may represent a normative process of deindividuation from caregivers in some adolescents, in others a discrepancy might predict psychological maladjustment. The biological sensitivity to context model provides a framework from which individual differences in development can be estimated in adolescents whose perceptions of parenting diverge from those of their parents.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>At baseline we obtained diurnal cortisol samples from US adolescents (M = 13.37 years of age, SD = 1.06) as well as parents' and adolescents’ ratings of parental warmth; we obtained adolescent-reported symptoms of psychopathology at baseline and again at follow-up two years later (N = 108, 57.5% female). We estimated waking cortisol, cortisol awakening response, and daytime cortisol slopes using piecewise regression models.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Lower adolescent than parent ratings of parental warmth predicted increased externalizing symptoms at follow-up. Higher waking cortisol and steeper cortisol awakening response and daytime slopes predicted increased internalizing symptoms at follow-up. Further, discrepant ratings of parental warmth interacted with cortisol awakening response and daytime slopes such that greater discrepancies predicted greater increases in externalizing symptoms in adolescents with steeper cortisol slopes.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>These findings indicate that steeper changes in cortisol production throughout the day index a greater sensitivity to perceived parental warmth. Lower adolescent than parent ratings of parental warmth may represent dysfunction in the parental relationship rather than a normative process of deindividuation in adolescents with steeper diurnal cortisol slopes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100211"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/04/2c/main.PMC10550797.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41167248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The association between adverse events in later life and mortality in older individuals","authors":"Dinuli Nilaweera ,&nbsp;Caroline Gurvich ,&nbsp;Rosanne Freak-Poli ,&nbsp;Robyn L. Woods ,&nbsp;Alice Owen ,&nbsp;John McNeil ,&nbsp;Mark Nelson ,&nbsp;Nigel Stocks ,&nbsp;Joanne Ryan","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100210","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100210","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Stress can have adverse impacts on health, particularly when it is chronic or resulting from major adverse events. Our study investigated whether relatively common adverse events in older individuals were associated with an increased risk of death, as well as cause-specific death and potential gender differences.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>Participants were 12896 community-dwelling Australians aged ≥70 years at enrolment into the ASPREE (ASPirin in Reducing Events in the Elderly) study and without known life-limiting disease. A questionnaire administered in the year after enrolment, collected information on ten adverse events experienced in the past year. Mortality status was verified by multiple sources including health records and the National Death Index across a maximum of 10 years. Underlying causes of death were determined using clinical information by two adjudicators. Cox-proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate mortality risk.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Two of the ten adverse events were associated with an increased risk of mortality in fully adjusted models. A 69% increased risk of mortality was observed in participants who reported their spouse/partner had recently died (95% CI: 1.19–2.39, P &lt; 0.01). Cancer-related but not cardiovascular deaths also increased. Participants with a seriously ill spouse/partner also had a 23% increased risk of mortality (HR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.02–1.48, P = 0.03). There was a tendency for these associations to be stronger among men than women.</p></div><div><h3>Limitations</h3><p>Perceived stress and cortisol were not measured, thus limiting our understanding of the psychological and physiological impacts of adverse events.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Experiencing adverse events in later-life, especially the death of a spouse/partner, may be a risk factor for earlier mortality. These findings may increase public health awareness and better inform initiatives for particular groups, including bereaved men.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100210"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/49/5f/main.PMC10518669.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41177593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Monitoring oxytocin signaling in the brain: More than a love story","authors":"Inga D. Neumann","doi":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100206","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cpnec.2023.100206","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>More than any other neuropeptide, oxytocin (OXT) is attracting the attention of neurobiologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, evolutionary biologists and even economists. It is often called a “love hormone” due to its many prosocial functions described in vertebrates including mammals and humans, especially its ability to support “bonding behaviour”. Oxytocin plays an important role in female reproduction, as it promotes labour during parturition, enables milk ejection in lactation and is essential for related reproductive behaviours. Therefore, it particularly attracts the interest of many female researchers. In this short narrative review I was invited to provide a personal overview on my scientific journey closely linked to my research on the brain OXT system and the adventures associated with starting my research career behind the Iron Curtain.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":72656,"journal":{"name":"Comprehensive psychoneuroendocrinology","volume":"16 ","pages":"Article 100206"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43796690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}