Oxytocin in the amygdala links social and reward signals to cataplexy in mice

Nature Neuroscience, Published online: 14 July 2026; doi:10.1038/s41593-026-02349-2

Loss of orexin neurons in narcolepsy leads to sleepiness and cataplexy episodes, which are most common in social contexts. In a mouse model, an oxytocin-sensitive circuit in the central amygdala is both necessary and sufficient for cataplexy induced by socialization and reward, which links positive emotional signals to motor suppression and highlights a potential therapeutic target.