Neural and Behavioural Mechanisms Underlying Human Bonding

Dear Colleagues,

Humans cooperate with each other, form long-term pair bonds with selected sexual partners and care for their children over an extended period of time. Social species, such as humans, can be defined as animals that are dependent on conspecifics in order to survive and prosper. Indeed, humans depend on one another to maintain optimal physiological regulation and well-being throughout their lifespan.

The aim of the current Special Issue is to provide a novel and comprehensive view on the mechanisms of human bonding. It will present recent findings within the broad field of bonding research, and bridge across domain-general processes that underlie different kinds of human bonds. The presented evidence may emerge from studies that emphasize neural, physiological or behavioral mechanisms that attach humans together in close bonds. Furthermore, studies may focus on any kind of human bond across the lifespan, including parental and romantic bonding, and on modelling specific cognitive, neural or behavioral abilities that are relevant for social bonding. Finally, studies that include multi-disciplinary approaches involving behavior, neuroscience, physiology, and genetics are welcome.

Authors are invited to submit relevant original research articles, as well as opinion and review papers.

Dr. Shir Atzil
Guest Editor

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