A study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev found that oxytocin causes participants to lie more to benefit their groups and do so quickly without expectation of reciprocal dishonesty. This raises questions about the morality of lying, even when it benefits those close to us.
A study by Giorgia Silani found that stress undermines empathic abilities in men, while increasing them in women. In the experiment, stressed men performed worse in tasks requiring empathy and social skills compared to unstressed men.
Researchers discovered oxytocin alters anorexic patients' tendencies to fixate on high-calorie foods and body shapes. The study suggests oxytocin may be a potential treatment for anorexia, offering new hope for patients struggling with the mental health disorder.
A study by Concordia University researchers found that oxytocin can increase emotional sensitivity in healthy young adults, leading to an overreaction to social cues. The study's lead author warns against using oxytocin as a treatment for mild social anxiety without proper medical supervision.
A study found that a single change in the oxytocin receptor gene structure affects face memory skills, suggesting an important role of oxytocin in social information processing. This discovery may lead to new strategies for improving social cognition in disorders such as autism and schizophrenia.
A single dose of oxytocin has been shown to temporarily normalize brain regions responsible for social deficits in children with autism. The hormone facilitates social attunement, allowing brain regions involved in social behavior and cognition to activate more for social stimuli.
Researchers discovered a potential new treatment for malaria by targeting the parasite's vulnerability to oxytocin, a naturally occurring hormone. Oxytocin has been shown to enhance brain activity while processing social information in children with autism spectrum disorders.
Researchers found that oxytocin administration increases attractiveness of partner and strengthens monogamy by stimulating brain's reward center. The study suggests a biological mechanism for maintaining love relationships.
A study found that intranasal application of hormone oxytocin enhanced placebo analgesia response. The researchers observed greater pain reduction on the placebo site after applying oxytocin compared to saline.
A study found that oxytocin injections given by health workers without midwifery skills can reduce postpartum bleeding and mortality rates. The trial showed a significant reduction in postpartum hemorrhage among women who received the injection, highlighting a potential solution for preventing this deadly condition in rural communities.
Researchers found that oxytocin can sharpen self-other differentiation, a key function in social bonding and tolerance. Participants who received oxytocin were faster at identifying new faces and rated their own face as similarly pleasant to others', indicating increased acceptance.
Research suggests oxytocin could improve social cognition and reduce repetitive behaviors in patients with autism spectrum disorders. In schizophrenia, some studies have reported encouraging effects on severity and social cognition.
Researchers found that oxytocin plays a unique role in one-on-one bonding, which likely evolved from an existing affinity for group living. The discovery has implications for neurological disorders like autism and suggests possible new treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions.
A new study found that oxytocin increases responses to social stimuli in individuals with autism spectrum disorder, suggesting a potential treatment approach for the condition. The study, published in Biological Psychiatry, used functional imaging scans to examine brain activity in participants with ASD and healthy controls.
The Yerkes National Primate Research Center will explore how oxytocin affects brain communication and mental processing of social experiences in humans with autism and schizophrenia. The team aims to develop novel treatment strategies for improving social cognition in these disorders.
NYU Langone researchers have identified the type of inhibitory interneurons responsible for oxytocin's effects on brain function. The study found that oxytocin increases the reliability of stimulated impulses, improving brain function and potentially relevant to autism-spectrum disorder.
A recent study found that oxytocin improves social interaction interpretation in both men and women, but with distinct effects on kinship vs. competition for each sex. Men's competitive relationships improved with oxytocin, while women's kinship identification enhanced, highlighting the hormone's impact on sex-specific social behaviors.
New research shows oxytocin's role in strengthening negative social memories and increasing future anxiety, contradicting its long-held association with love and social bonding. The hormone activates a brain region that intensifies the memory of stressful social interactions.
A large study led by researchers at the University of New South Wales found that oxytocin nasal spray did not improve symptoms of children with autism. The study suggests caution in recommending oxytocin as a general treatment for young people with autism, possibly due to impaired oxytocin receptor systems.
Researchers at Concordia University have found that oxytocin can increase a person's trust in others following social rejection. In a double-blind experiment, participants who received oxytocin prior to being subjected to social rejection reported greater trust in other people compared to those who received a placebo.
Researchers found postpartum women exhibit reduced stress response to images unrelated to their babies compared to childless women. Oxytocin nasal spray administration showed similar brain activity and reduced subjective stress in childless women, suggesting its role in these changes.
A new study published in Biological Psychiatry found that oxytocin administration to fathers increased their parental engagement, with parallel effects observed in their infants. Oxytocin levels were also found to increase in both parents and children, leading to improved social behavior and bonding.
New research examines how social groups work, including in-group conformity and prejudice reduction strategies. Studies find that oxytocin stimulates in-group conformity and a small dose of negativity can reduce prejudice toward stigmatized groups.
Two UNC researchers, Dr. Joseph Piven and Dr. Linmarie Sikich, have been awarded $12.6 million grants to establish new autism research networks and conduct studies on early brain markers and oxytocin-based treatments. These grants further solidify UNC's position as a premier institution for autism research.
A new animal study finds that oxytocin helps regulate food intake and energy metabolism without causing adverse effects. Oxytocin administered through daily injections or implanted mini pumps reduced food consumption, body weight, and liver fat, improving glucose tolerance and reducing abdominal fat.
A study published in PLoS One found that individuals with Williams syndrome exhibit abnormal hormonal responses to emotional triggers, particularly increased levels of oxytocin and arginine vasopressin. This may help understand human social behavior and inform treatment for related disorders.
Researchers studied people with and without Williams syndrome to gauge emotional response through hormone release. The study found that oxytocin levels increased in response to music, particularly Elvis songs, suggesting a link between the hormone and emotional experience.
A Yale University study found that oxytocin increased brain function in regions processing social information in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. This breakthrough may lead to more effective treatments for core social deficits in autism.
A new study found that genes related to oxytocin and vasopressin receptors influence prosocial behavior, particularly in people who perceive the world as threatening. However, there was no direct connection between genes and charitable or social attitudes.
Research by psychologists at the University at Buffalo found that certain genes associated with niceness can influence behavior, particularly in response to perceived threats. The study suggests a genetic component to kindness, which can vary depending on individual experiences and perceptions of the world.
Researchers have designed a new partograph to assess labor progress and potentially reduce unnecessary cesarean sections. The tool takes into account the complexity of labor and aims to improve birth outcomes for low-risk first-time mothers.
A simplified approach to preventing post-birth bleeding appears safe and effective, reducing the risk of severe bleeding by almost half. The study's findings suggest that a uterotonic agent like oxytocin can be used to prevent PPH, making it accessible to more women in areas with limited medical staff.
Researchers found that oxytocin administration enhanced prosocial choices in rhesus macaques, making them pay attention to each other and choose to give juice to a neighbor. The hormone also increased gaze duration when choosing to reward another monkey, suggesting improved social skills.
Researchers from Concordia University discovered that oxytocin increases a person's perception of themselves as more extroverted and open to new experiences. The study involved administering nasal sprays containing oxytocin to 100 young adults, who reported higher ratings of extraversion and openness.
A new study from the University of California, Berkeley, found that complete strangers can pick up on who is trustworthy and kind in just 20 seconds based on facial expressions and body language. People with a specific variation of the oxytocin receptor gene, known as the GG genotype, displayed more trustworthy behaviors.
A recent study found that a gene influencing empathy and sociability can be detected in strangers, who rated individuals with a particular genetic variation as more caring and trustworthy. The oxytocin receptor gene was linked to prosocial behavior, with those carrying the GG genotype exhibiting higher levels of kindness and trust.
Researchers discovered a crucial brain area, neuro-hypophysis, where biochemical commands are passed from the brain to the bloodstream. They found that oxytocin, known as the 'hormone of love,' plays a key role in the development of this structure, governing blood vessel formation during embryonic stages.
Recent research reveals oxytocin's role in promoting approach-related emotions, including envy and gloating, which could have implications for psychiatric treatments. Oxytocin's effects on social behavior are more complex than previously thought.
Researchers found that oxytocin improved trust, mood, and reduced disruptive behavior in Prader-Willi syndrome patients. The hormone, which plays a key role in social interactions and empathy, showed promise as a potential treatment for the condition.
Researchers have developed a mouse model that mimics the social deficits of autism and schizophrenia, showing improved social behavior with oxytocin treatment. The study provides insights into biological factors related to social deficits and may be useful in evaluating new treatments for these disorders.
A new study suggests that severely obese women may not need to gain as much weight during pregnancy as current guidelines recommend, without undesirable outcomes. In contrast, obese and non-obese women who gained less weight suffered adverse outcomes, including a higher likelihood of delivering a small-for-gestational-age baby.
Researchers found that oxytocin enhances positive attachment memories and boosts recall of mothers' care, but can also intensify negative memories. The study suggests oxytocin plays a key role in human attachment by modulating early childhood memories.
A new study from the University of Gothenburg found that oxytocin medication is often unnecessary in normal deliveries, particularly for healthy first-time mothers with spontaneous starts of labor. The research, which monitored over 100 women, showed no significant differences between groups in terms of complications or outcomes.
New human research suggests oxytocin influences feelings of well-being, sensitivity to advertising, trust, empathy, and reduces anxiety in stressed animals. Oxytocin is linked to happiness, resilient individuals are less likely to be depressed.
Researchers found that oxytocin selectively improves social cognitive abilities in less socially proficient individuals but has little effect on those who are more socially proficient. The study suggests oxytocin may hold potential for treating social deficits in people with disorders marked by deficits in social functioning.
Researchers found that oxytocin increases trust in reliable partners but not in potentially unreliable ones. Volunteers who received oxytocin nasal spray were more generous with computer and reliable partners than those who received a placebo.
Researchers found that oxytocin levels in fathers were not different from those in mothers, suggesting that other aspects of parenthood stimulate oxytocin release in fathers. Oxytocin was also linked to parent-specific styles of interaction, with mothers showing more affectionate parenting and fathers exhibiting more stimulatory contact.
Researchers at Florida State University have developed a mathematical model to study prolactin secretion from the pituitary gland, which could lead to new treatments for disorders such as infertility. The study found that oxytocin stimulates prolactin secretion and that dopamine inhibits it.
A large trial found that adding misoprostol to standard uterotonics did not reduce post-partum blood loss, but was associated with increased shivering and body temperature. WHO's withdrawal of support for misoprostol use in low-income settings has been criticized.
Researchers found that oxytocin improved emotion recognition in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. The study suggests potential for earlier intervention and improved social function in everyday settings.
Two large trials found misoprostol tablets non-inferior to intravenous oxytocin for controlling postpartum bleeding, with similar efficacy but increased side effects. The findings support the potential role of misoprostol as a first-line treatment alternative in low-resource settings.
A new study at the University of Haifa found that oxytocin hormone boosts positive feelings but also increases envy and gloating in individuals with a negative association, highlighting the narrow line between love and jealousy.
Researchers discovered a new genetic signature that correlates strongly with autism and involves the way genes are turned on and off. The finding may suggest new approaches to diagnosis and treatment of autism, potentially identifying individuals who will respond better to oxytocin treatment.
A new study has identified a possible link between autism and non-DNA sequence mutations in the oxytocin receptor gene, OXTR. The research found that this alteration is present in both peripheral blood cells and the brain's temporal cortex, suggesting a major role in human development.
A new study by Indiana University researchers found a common link between bird flocks, breast milk, and trust, regulated by neurochemicals oxytocin and mesotocin. Blocking mesotocin in female zebra finches reduced social preferences, while administering it increased social behavior.
A University of Toronto pilot study found that removing the standard hospital bed during labor reduced infusions of artificial oxytocin by 28% and allowed women to move freely, promoting feelings of calm and confidence. The ambient room design also led to greater one-on-one attention and support from nurses.
Researchers found that oxytocin increased positive communication behavior in relation to negative behavior, reducing salivary cortisol levels. The study evaluated real-time natural couple behavior in the laboratory, providing new insights into the effects of social interaction on mental health.
Researchers found that oxytocin increases the encoding of positive social memories, allowing individuals to better recall happy faces. This breakthrough has potential implications for treating psychiatric disorders related to social isolation.
A team of researchers found that the 'trust' hormone oxytocin is released from dendrites in response to suckling, triggering a positive-feedback loop that coordinates intense bursts of release. This discovery sheds light on how mothers form strong bonds with their infants.
Researchers discovered how suckling babies stimulate the release of oxytocin, a hormone linked to trust and love. The study found that dendrites play a crucial role in coordinating oxytocin production, leading to synchronized bursts of activity.