Oxytocin May Help People Bond * Research presented at the Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting in New Orleans
Helen R. Pilcher, Nature (translation: Dikla Oren)
Trust begets trust - and the hormone oxytocin, research reveals. The chemical messenger may help people bond, researchers said this week at the Society for Neuroscience's annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana. People's oxytocin levels rise when they receive a signal of trust, says Paul Zack of the University of California's Claremont. More likely, those with the highest hormone levels, will be more generous in return and therefore trust others more, he says.
Zach's team gave 19 people $10 each. Each participant was invited to share their money with an anonymous recipient. Then the recipients' money tripled, and they were allowed to send part of it to the donors. The researchers found that 54% of the recipients returned money to the donors. Those who gave and returned the most money had the highest oxytocin levels. Women who participated in the study and lived during ovulation were less trusting of others, the researchers found. It makes sense, says Zach. Women, who can become pregnant, need to protect their resources. They also have to be selective in their interpretation of social signals, so that they can choose the best partner, he explains.
Also, the research may shed light on the causes of autism, says neuroscientist Richard Parkwiak of University College London: Autistic people often trust people too much. Oxytocin sends signals to cells in the amygdala - an area of the brain that is involved in emotions and social behavior and is affected in cases of autism. Oxytocin stimulates new mothers to secrete breast milk, which strengthens the bond between mother and child. Touch boosts oxytocin levels in rats. It also suppresses stress hormones.
