催产素对学习和记忆的调节效应：来自动物与人类的研究证据

作为一种神经肽, 催产素对于个体社会认知和情绪加工有着非常重要的调节作用, 其中就包括对在人们工作和生活中扮演着关键角色的学习和记忆活动的影响。采用不同模态技术的动物和人类研究一致表明了外源性催产素对于学习和记忆具有重要的调节作用, 这一作用可能是外源性催产素通过与多巴胺奖赏通路、边缘系统等学习和记忆关键脑网络中广泛分布的催产素受体相结合, 进而调整其功能状态实现的; 但与此同时, 催产素对学习和记忆的促进或抑制作用会因实验范式、刺激材料、给药时间、位置和剂量等因素的不同而存在差异。未来需要协同动物和人类研究的各自优势, 采用规范化的实验任务设置和给药程序克服当前该领域的研究局限, 并积极发掘催产素在干预相关精神疾病患者学习和记忆加工缺陷中的应用潜力。

The modulatory effects of oxytocin on learning and memory: Evidence from animal and human studies

The neuropeptide, oxytocin (OT) has been established to play an important role in modulating social behavior and emotional processing which are of fundamental importance in our everyday life. Animal and human studies using multi-modal approaches have provided converging evidence for an important modulatory effect of exogenously administered OT on learning and memory. This effect of exogenous OT may be mediated via its receptors which are extensively distributed in key learning and memory brain networks, notably the dopamine reward pathway and limbic system. Whether OT has a facilitatory or inhibitory modulatory effect on learning and memory can be influenced by experimental paradigms and stimulus materials as well as where and when it is administered and at what dose. Future studies need to combine the respective advantages of animal models and human research and to employ standardized experimental protocols and treatment procedures to overcome current limitations in this field. Further research is also required to explore the therapeutic potential of OT for learning and memory dysfunction in psychiatric disorders.