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Oxytocin and Monogamous Relationships

Oxytocin and Monogamous Relationships. Caitlyn Kendrick Neha Verma Andrew Darvin Vincent Abiona. What is Oxytocin?. Oxytocin is a hormone released from the posterior pituitary gland

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Oxytocin and Monogamous Relationships

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  1. Oxytocin and Monogamous Relationships Caitlyn Kendrick NehaVerma Andrew Darvin Vincent Abiona

  2. 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.  

  3. 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 • Implications • Among humans, there is a correlation between oxytocin and trust within interpersonal interactions

  4. 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 relationship • Picture from: http://thenewaquaristfish.blogspot.com/

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

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