Figure 3.

The influence of oxytocin on human altruism. The behavior-modifying effects of oxytocin (OXT) are highly sensitive to person-specific and context-related variables. According to our model, intranasal OXT modulates functioning in at least three partially overlapping neural networks, including salience-, reward-, and fear-related circuits. Thus, OXT-signaling in the brain is centrally involved in the formation and maintenance of social relationships that rely on empathy- and care-based mechanisms that facilitate altruistic behavior toward others. For example, OXT may promote an altruistic response bias toward a stranger in need by attenuating amygdala reactivity and increasing the perceived salience of social approach signals.