Science Current Events | Science News | Brightsurf.com
 
Email a Friend Send to a friend
Printer Friendly Print Hormone important in recognizing familiar faces

Hormone important in recognizing familiar faces

January 07, 2009

Oxytocin improves human ability to recognize faces but not places

Oxytocin, a hormone involved in child-birth and breast-feeding, helps people recognize familiar faces, according to new research in the January 7 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Study participants who had one dose of an oxytocin nasal spray showed improved recognition memory for faces, but not for inanimate objects.




"This is the first paper showing that a single dose of oxytocin specifically improves recognition memory for social, but not for nonsocial, stimuli," said Ernst Fehr, PhD, an economist at the University of Zurich who has studied oxytocin's effect on trust and is unaffiliated with the new study. "The results suggest an immediate, selective effect of the hormone: strengthening neuronal systems of social memory," Fehr said.

In mice, oxytocin has been shown to be important in social recognition - remembering that another mouse is familiar. Unlike humans, who use visual cues, mice use smell to recognize and distinguish other mice.

In humans, oxytocin increases social behaviors like trust, but its role in social memory has been unclear. "Recognizing a familiar face is a crucial feature of successful social interaction in humans," said Peter Klaver, PhD, at the University of Zurich, the senior author of the new study, which was led by Ulrike Rimmele, PhD, at New York University. "In this study, we investigated for the first time the systematic effect of oxytocin on social memory in humans," Klaver said.

Klaver and colleagues had study participants use a nasal spray containing either oxytocin or a placebo and then showed them images of faces and inanimate objects, including houses, sculptures, and landscapes. Participants were given a surprise test when they returned the next day - they were shown some of the images they had seen the day before as well as some new ones and were asked to distinguish between images that were "new," images that they specifically "remembered" being presented, and images they recognized ("knew") as familiar but could not recall the presentation context.

Volunteers who used the oxytocin spray more accurately recognized the faces they had seen before than did those in the placebo group. However, the two groups did not differ in recognizing the other, nonsocial images, suggesting that oxytocin specifically improved social memory and that different mechanisms exist for social and nonsocial memory. Further analysis showed that oxytocin selectively improved the discrimination of new and familiar faces - participants with oxytocin were less likely to mistakenly characterize unfamiliar faces as familiar. "Together, our data indicate that oxytocin in humans immediately strengthens the capability to correctly recognize and discriminate faces," Klaver said.

"The study highlights the parallels in social information processing in mice and man, and adds further support to the notion that oxytocin plays a critical role," said Larry Young, PhD, at Emory University, an expert on oxytocin who is unaffiliated with the current study. "This has important implications for disorders such as autism, where social information processing is clearly impaired," Young said.

Society for Neuroscience



Related Oxytocin Current Events and Oxytocin News Articles Oxytocin Current Events and Oxytocin News RSS Oxytocin Current Events and Oxytocin News RSS
The narrow line between love and jealousy
A new study carried out at the University of Haifa has found that the hormone oxytocin, the "love hormone", which affects behaviors such as trust, empathy and generosity, also affects opposite behaviors, such as jealousy and gloating.

Yerkes researchers show early life nurturing impacts later life relationships
Researchers at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, have demonstrated that prairie voles may be a useful model in understanding the neurochemistry of social behavior.

Scientists find a common link of bird flocks, breast milk and trust
What do flocks of birds have in common with trust, monogamy, and even breast milk?

New genetic study of Asperger syndrome, autistic traits and empathy
Scientists from the University of Cambridge have identified 27 genes that are associated with either Asperger Syndrome (AS) and/or autistic traits and/or empathy.

Laboring without the labor bed: It's a good thing
A University of Toronto pilot study that re-conceptualized the hospital labour room by removing the standard, clinical bed and adding relaxation-promoting equipment had a 28 per cent drop in infusions of artificial oxytocin, a powerful drug used to advance slow labours.

Why dishing does you good: U-M study
Why does dishing with a girlfriend do wonders for a woman's mood?

Enriched environment improves wound healing in rats
Improving the environment in which rats are reared can significantly strengthen the physiological process of wound healing.

Oxytocin: Love potion #1?
Relationships are difficult and most of us probably think at some point that communicating positively with our partner when discussing stressful issues, like home finances, is an impossible task.

Ecstasy could help patients with post-traumatic stress disorder
Ecstasy may help suffers of post-traumatic stress learn to deal with their memories more effectively by encouraging a feeling of safety, according to an article in the Journal of Psychopharmacology published today by SAGE.

Protein that regulates hormones critical to women's health found in pituitary
University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have solved the mystery surrounding a "rogue protein" that plays a role in the release of neurotransmitters and hormones in the brain.
More Oxytocin Current Events and Oxytocin News Articles
Liquid Trust

Liquid Trust
by Vero Labs

Scientists have recently discovered a chemical that makes people trust each other. Liquid Trust is the world's first Trust Enhancing Body Spray, specially formulated to increase trust in the wearer.

Realm By Erox For Men. Cologne Spray 3.4 Ounces

Realm By Erox For Men. Cologne Spray 3.4 Ounces
by Erox

Introduced in 1993. Fragrance notes: mandarin, orange, berry, ginger and watery notes. Recommended use: casual.

The Oxytocin Factor: Tapping the Hormone of Calm, Love, and Healing

The Oxytocin Factor: Tapping the Hormone of Calm, Love, and Healing
by Kerstin Uvnas Moberg (Author), Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg (Author), Translated by Roberta Francis (Author), Roberta Francis (Translator)

From the world's leading authority on oxytocin, a ground-breaking look at "the love hormone" and its role in everything from childbirth and bonding to human relationships.

In recent years there have been exciting scientific discoveries about a powerful hormone whose role in the human body has long been neglected. Oxytocin is the hormone involved in bonding, sex, childbirth, and breast-feeding, as well as in relaxation and feelings of calm. It is the mirror image of the stress hormone (adrenaline), which triggers the "fight or flight" systems in the body. Much has been written about the latter but the many-sided importance of oxytocin is currently known only to specialists in obstetrics, physiology, and psychiatry. The Oxytocin Factor, by Dr. Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg, is the first book...

The Chemistry of Connection: How the Oxytocin Response Can Help You Find Trust, Intimacy, and Love

The Chemistry of Connection: How the Oxytocin Response Can Help You Find Trust, Intimacy, and Love
by Susan Kuchinskas (Author)

When you make love, cuddle with a partner, or have coffee with close friends, a powerful brain chemical called oxytocin floods your body with feelings of contentment and trust. This natural "love drug," produced by the hypothalamus, is responsible for human bonding in both platonic and intimate relationships, and is the key to many of the psychological differences between men and women. In The Chemistry of Connection, you'll learn easy ways to increase your natural supply of oxytocin to establish deeper connections with family, friends, and romantic partners.

You'll discover: The power of the "cuddle hormone" in relationships How sex and love are deeply entwined for both women and men The chemical differences between lust, romance, and love How to raise children who trust and...

New Pheromone Additive for Men

New Pheromone Additive for Men
by LaCroy Chemical

New Pheromone Additive is our number one selling additive-type product. It is perfect if you already have your own favorite colgone and want to spike it with a potent pheromone formula.

Scent of Eros for Men

Scent of Eros for Men
by JV Kohl

Scent of Eros was created by well-known pheromone researcher James V. Kohl, author of the definitive book on pheromones by the same name. Scent of Eros is 100% guaranteed to change your social life or your money back.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin
by Snowglobe

Snowglobe is the third band this year from Memphis, TN that I have begun listening to (see: Lucero, Harlan T. Bobo). Prior to that, I think Big Star and Elvis were the most recent Memphis exports filling my iPod. Unlike the other two, Snowglobe don't work any kind of inherently Southern, rootsy angle, but opt for a breezier pop sound undercut with darker lyrics. Here is some official details: "Snowglobe is something of an event or occurance, an ever evolving and shifting phenomenon scattered about the southeastern United States, but you can call it a band. It's easier that way. They have been compared to a wide breadth of artists, including the Band, the Kinks, the Flaming Lips, Leonard Cohen, Neutral Milk Hotel, and Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys. Snowglobe has undeniably been influenced by...

Primal Instinct UNSCENTED for women

Primal Instinct UNSCENTED for women
by Primal Instinct



Handbook of Oxytocin Research: Synthesis, Storage and Release, Actions and Drug Forms

Handbook of Oxytocin Research: Synthesis, Storage and Release, Actions and Drug Forms
by Hugo Jastrow (Editor), Daniela Feuerbach (Editor)

Oxytocin is a mammalian hormone that also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. Oxytocin is a peptide of nine amino acids (a nonapeptide). It is best known for its roles in female reproduction: it is released in large amounts after distension of the cervix and vagina during labour, and induction of milk ejection in facilitating birth and breastfeeding. Recent studies have begun to investigate oxytocin's role in various behaviours, including social recognition, bonding, anxiety, trust, and maternal behaviours. This book gathers the latest research from around the globe in this field.

Oxytocin

Oxytocin
Snowglobe (Primary Contributor)



© 2009 BrightSurf.com