“…The nonapeptide oxytocin (OT) promotes social affiliation and bond formation, and functions to reduce anxiety and dampen the stress response in mammalian species [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. OT also plays a role in mediating the stress-buffering and anxiolytic effects of close social interactions [ 16 , 17 ]. Impairments in the OT system are found in patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), borderline personality disorder, and anxiety disorders [ 3 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”