The hormone oxytocin (OT) is released both centrally and peripherally during and after
mating. Although research in humans suggests a central role in sexuality, the most reliable
findings to date involve peripheral activation. This review will discuss these results and will
particularly focus on understanding the most recent findings from fMRI data and the effects of
exogenous peripheral OT administration. We will then consider hypotheses of the roles
played by central and systemic OT release as well as their control and modulation in the …