The Science of Love

Oxytocin: Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Oxytocin: Too Much Of A Good Thing?

Nov 10, 2012

There's been plenty of research showing that when people inhale oxytocin, they tend to have more positive social behavior: trust, generosity,empathy and communication. But if taking one whiff of oxytocin can make younicer, will taking oxytocin regularly keep you nicer? If you take a biggerdose, will it make you even nicer?U.C. Davis researchers wanted to find out the long-term effects of taking oxytocin, so they studied prairie voles, the monogamous rodents that first demonstrated the positive social effects of this brain chemical.The U.C. Davis research team, led by Karen L. Bales, treateda group of 89 male prairie voles with low, medium or high doses of inhaled oxytocin. The medium dose was roughly equivalent to the amount given to human subjects in lab studies.

Susan Kuchinskas

Susan Kuchinskas

Susan Kuchinskas is a journalist and author who writes about science, technology and culture. She's the author of "The Chemistry of Connection: How the oxytocin response can help you find trust, intimacy and love;" and Oxytocin Parenting: From Womb t…
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Love and Mom's Spaghetti Sauce

Love and Mom's Spaghetti Sauce

Why do some people quickly link up with mates who love them good and strong, while others gravitate to people who hurt them, dump them or withhold love?

It's all in the neurochemistry. I've come up with a metaphor that helps explain this painful syndrome.

When you're a little kid, you get used to your mom's spaghetti sauce; it's the one that tastes right, the one against which all other spaghetti sauces will be judged. (Please substitute latkes, baba ganoush, banh xeo or whatever; and for mom, use dad, another primary caregiver, or Boston Market.) When you leave home and get more experience, your tastes may broaden. But when you're a kid, it's the ONLY real spaghetti sauce.

Your parents take you out to a dinner at a fancy Italian bistro, and that spaghetti just sucks.