The hormone oxytocin, which is naturally produced by humans and by other mammals, is found to cause couples of the monkey species marmoset to display more attentiveness and affection to their partner.
Yahoo News reports that after one in each couple was dosed with nose drops of this so-called love hormone, males were observed to receive more physical closeness from the female partner and females were observed to receive more attention from their male partner. This boosted intimacy in each couple seems to be spontaneous, requiring neither solicitation for affection nor sexual overtures to initiate bonding.
Oxytocin is aptly nicknamed the "love hormone" for its inherent properties that enhance sociability and bonding.
High hopes are pinned on this new study as data gathered from the monkeys' behaviour seem to suggest that oxytocin may help in treating autism and social anxiety.
American researcher Jon Cavanaugh of the University of Nebraska relates, "We are the first to show that marmosets treated with oxytocin receive more social attention from their long-term mate."
The study evidences that social motivation among people may be enhanced and social attractiveness may be increased through treatments of oxytocin.
"Persons with social deficit disorders, including autism spectrum disorders and social anxiety, typically have reduced rates of initiating and maintaining normative social interactions. Thus, oxytocin treatment could enhance sociality in individuals with social deficit disorders, both by increasing their motivation to interact with others and by increasing their attractiveness as a social partner."
Oxytocins are naturally released in humans during sex, at childbirth and while great feeding. This is also observed to be produced at high levels during the first six months of a couple's relationship.
The study, which findings were reported in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, monitored the social behaviour of six sets of adult marmosets that have been with each other for eight weeks.
