Oxytocin and Monogamous Relationships
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Transcript of Oxytocin and Monogamous Relationships
OXYTOCIN AND MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIPS
Caitlyn KendrickNeha Verma Andrew DarvinVincent Abiona
WHAT IS OXYTOCIN? Oxytocin is a hormone released from the
posterior pituitary gland Oxytocin plays an important role in the
formation of monogamous relationships, as well as in the levels of trust and attachment within these relationships.
The release of oxytocin is related to affiliative behaviors between members of a monogamous pair.
INVESTOR GAME Experiment
Experimental group received intranasal dose of oxytocin, while control group received placebo
Measured trust through an investing game Results
Members of experimental group were more likely to trust their investing partners
ImplicationsAmong humans, there is a correlation between
oxytocin and trust within interpersonal interactions
CICHLID FISH Experiment
Treated males with oxytocin receptor antagonist during pair bond formation
Observed: Affiliative behavior toward mate; Aggression toward neighbors
Results Affiliative behavior toward mate and aggression
toward neighbors were reduced in experimental males
Implications Oxytocin is important in the formation of a
monogamous pair bond Oxytocin can be thought of as a “building block”
for a monogamous relationshipPicture from: http://thenewaquaristfish.blogspot.com/
VOLES EXPERIMENTS Hypothesis: Varying density of oxytocin receptors
in certain areas of brain impact partner preference formation Focused on Nucleus Accumbens Prairie Voles-6 hour/12 hour cohabitation periods Meadow Voles-24 hour/48 hour cohabitation periods Three-Chambered Apparatus
Findings: Prairie Voles-Significantly more pair bonding after 12
hour cohabitation Meadow Voles-No significant differences in pair bonding
Implications: Oxytocin and receptor density play role in partner
preference formation, but are not only factors
Picture from: http://www.anxietyinsights.info/how_stress_flips_the_brain_between_desire_and_dread.htm
TAMARINS MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIPS Experiment
Test tamarins urine to measure oxytocin levels Observed affiliative behaviors
Results The tamarins in a monogamous relationship had
higher oxytocin levels than polygamous tamarins Correlation between partners
Implications The higher levels in monogamous partners could
explain happiness Better in tune to partners needs Good relationships mean higher oxytocin and vice
versa Picture from: http://pixdaus.com/single.php?id=61836
CONCLUSION There is a correlation between oxytocin
levels/oxytocin receptor levels and behavior and trust, as demonstrated in the experiments studied High levels of oxytocin and receptors correlated
with more trust and partner preference formation Lower levels of oxytocin were connected to less
trust and polygamous relationships