Curley James P, Keverne Eric B
Sub-Department of Animal Behaviour, University of Cambridge, High Street, Madingley, UK, CB3 8AA.
Trends Ecol Evol. 2005 Oct;20(10):561-7. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2005.05.018. Epub 2005 Jun 13.
Recent studies of monogamous species have revealed the role of the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin in activating reward mechanisms of the brain that are involved in establishing partner recognition and selective 'bonding'. The evolutionary history of these findings resides, at a mechanistic level, in the reciprocal bonding between mother and infant that is common to all mammals. However, in Old World primates, where mother and infant alone would not survive, living in large social groups brings extended family relationships and provides for alloparenting. This has required the emancipation of parenting behaviour from the constraints of hormonal state and the evolution of large brains for decision making that was previously restricted and determined by hormonal state. How this has been achieved, what conserved mechanisms underpin social bonding, and what genetic and mechanistic changes have occurred in the evolution of social bonds are the issues addressed here.
近期对一夫一妻制物种的研究揭示了神经肽催产素和加压素在激活大脑奖赏机制中的作用，这些机制参与建立伴侣识别和选择性“联结”。从机制层面来看，这些发现的进化史存在于所有哺乳动物都有的母婴之间的相互联结之中。然而，在旧世界灵长类动物中，仅靠母婴无法存活，生活在大型社会群体中带来了扩展的家庭关系并提供了异亲抚育。这就要求育儿行为从激素状态的限制中解放出来，以及进化出用于决策的大脑，而这种决策以前是受激素状态限制和决定的。本文探讨的问题是这是如何实现的、支撑社会联结的保守机制是什么，以及在社会联结的进化过程中发生了哪些基因和机制变化。
