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Oxytocin as an allostatic agent in the social bonding effects of music

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 September 2021

Niels Chr. Hansen Open the ORCID record for Niels Chr. Hansen [Opens in a new window]  and
Peter E. Keller Open the ORCID record for Peter E. Keller [Opens in a new window]
Niels Chr. Hansen
Affiliation:
Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 8000Aarhus C, Denmark. nchansen@aias.au.dk; http://www.nielschrhansen.com/ Center for Music in the Brain, Aarhus University & Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg, Aarhus, Denmark
Peter E. Keller
Affiliation:
The MARCS Institute for Brain, Behaviour and Development, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW2751, Australia. p.keller@westernsydney.edu.au; http://pkpublications.weebly.com/
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Abstract

Despite acknowledging that musicality evolved to serve multiple adaptive functions in human evolution, Savage et al. promote social bonding to an overarching super-function. Yet, no unifying neurobiological framework is offered. We propose that oxytocin constitutes a socio-allostatic agent whose modulation of sensing, learning, prediction, and behavioral responses with reference to the physical and social environment facilitates music's social bonding effects.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 44 , 2021 , e75
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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