oxytocin nasal spray

Oxytocin is a hormone that humans naturally create in the body, that also functions as a neurotransmitter in the hypothalamus located deep in the brain, which regulates specific physiological functions like body temperature, hunger, thirst, as well as fight or flight emotions like fear and trust.

It is released naturally particularly in females who are in labor during child birth, and it plays an important part in breastfeeding. It is also released in both males and females during sexual activity and orgasm.

The hormone is also released naturally during hugging and pleasant physical touching between individuals, and the bonding of a mother and her new born baby.

Scientists have found that oxytocin is responsible for the increase in levels of trust between people, which increases social bonding and may be a viable antidote for depression, social phobias and shyness.

Researchers have also begun to discover that insufficient levels of oxytosin that naturally occur in individuals may be a factor in social conditions like depression and autism.

Oxytocin also plays a part in the social recognition of facial expressions, some think by altering the firing of the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that is primarily responsible for stimulating emotion.

Oxytocin is often referred to as the love hormone. It is known to directly effect human communication through the eyes, which is an integral part of emotional interaction between individuals.

The hormone is also known as Pitocin, primarily used to induce labor in women during pregnancy.

Studies have shown that when oxytocin is administered on healthy individuals through the nasal passages that it reduces anxiety, increases feelings of trust and generosity, as well as eye contact between people, and decreases the level of fear.

In the past, most research involving oxytocin was done on animals, but recently there was a study done by researchers in Zurich involving university students who were given oxytocin by intranasal administration, while other students were given a placebo. It was discovered that there was a substantial escalation of trusting behavior, boosted social interaction, and an increased inclination to take risk, in the students who were given oxytocin.

In another series of studies done by Dr. Paul Zak, who is the director of the Center for Neuroeconomics Studies in Clairmont California, he found reduced anxiety and guardedness, and decreased distrustfulness of strangers after giving healthy subjects small amounts of inhaled oxytocin spray.

Some scientists even speculate that further research with oxytocin may uncover a breakthrough in conditions like autism.

Article By E. Macnair

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