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Oxytocin

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 30, 2020·3 min read

Breastfeeding Hormones Make Mothers Happier

Breastfeeding mothers with higher levels of oxytocin show more enhanced positive recognition of adult faces. The findings shed light on how oxytocin may support both continued nurturing behaviors and affects general social cognition of other adults.

This shows a drawing of a child and a heart shaped balloon blowing away

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 9, 2020·5 min read

People Who Were Children When Their Parents Divorced Have Less Oxytocin

Levels of oxytocin were substantially lower in adults who experienced parental divorce as children compared to those whose families remained together.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 6, 2020·4 min read

Face Masks: Why Your Eyes Might Be Saying More Than You Realize

Researchers investigate how the eyes play a critical role in emotional expression and finding a potential mate.

Autism Featured Genetics

·August 5, 2020·4 min read

How a Gene Alteration Modifies Social Behavior in Autism

Researchers have uncovered a link between the Nlgn3 gene and the oxytocin signaling pathway in mouse models of ASD. Nlgn3 disrupts the oxytocin signaling pathway in neurons in the reward system, consequentially resulting in reduced social interactions in mice.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·July 23, 2020·4 min read

Antibiotics Disrupt Development of the ‘Social Brain’ in Mice

Early-life exposure to antibiotics may impact brain signaling pathways associated with social behavior and pain regulation. Young mice treated with antibiotics had reduced expression of receptors that mediate endorphin, oxytocin, and vasopressin signaling in the frontal cortex.

Featured Neurology

·July 20, 2020·4 min read

Oxytocin Could Be Used to Treat Cognitive Disorders Like Alzheimer’s

Oxytocin, the so-called "love hormone," could help to treat cognitive disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Researchers demonstrated oxytocin reversed the effects of amyloid-beta on hippocampal LTP in mice. The findings suggest oxytocin could be used as a therapeutic for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 23, 2020·3 min read

A furry social robot can reduce pain and increase happiness

One hour long session with a cuddly seal-like social robot increased happiness, boosted oxytocin levels, and reduced pain in adults.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·June 16, 2020·5 min read

The “Love Hormone” Oxytocin can also give rise to aggressive behavior

Using optogenetics, researchers were able to manipulate oxytocin producing cells in a highly precise manner. They discovered oxytocin can amplify aggression as well as social friendliness.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 22, 2020·5 min read

Wired for marriage: The neural and genetic links to romantic love

Researchers have identified both genetic and neural mechanisms associated with romantic love and attachment. The maintenance of romantic love is not only associated with subcortical brain regions but also higher-order centers of the brain. The propensity to sustain romantic love appears to also be affected by genetic variability, specifically with genes associated with dopamine, vasopressin, and oxytocin.