(Jhoanna Robinson) A recent study from the University of Tampere in Finland has found out that nasally-administered oxytocin spray can make mothers of one-year-old infants develop strong brain responses to pictures of infant and adult faces.
by Jhoanna Robinson, March 19th, 2018
While oxytocin seems to be a key player in processing social information and strengthening social bonds, it is surprising to think that there had been very few studies that analyze the effects of intranasal oxytocin in mothers of small children. This, especially, when researchers have been quick to suggest in the past that oxytocin might be used to enrich early parent-infant interaction.
The new study reviewed whether a nasal oxytocin spray affects how mothers of one-year-old children respond neurally to faces. The study was geared towards discovering whether oxytocin effectively made one’s neural responses more pronounced when it came in contact with infants’ faces.
Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure the brain responses garnered in the experiment.
Participants of the study included of 52 Finnish mothers of one-year-old infants. The researchers had them administered either a placebo or a nasal oxytocin spray and measured their neural responses to images of infant and adult faces during a span of two laboratory visits.
Neither the mothers nor the researchers knew which mothers were given the placebo and which mothers were given the nasal oxytocin spray.
The researchers concluded that oxytocin heightened the so-called N170 component of the EEG signal responding to infant and adult faces. The N170 component induces the activation of areas of the brain that are sensitive to faces.
However, the study did not clearly identify whether oxytocin has a more significant effect in response to adult faces or whether it has a greater effect in response to infant faces.
The main contribution of this study was to expand experimental oxytocin research to the mothers of young children who have rarely been included in this type of studies,” said academy research fellow Mikko Peltola from the University of Tampere.
For his part, Professor Kaija Puura from the University of Tampere and Tampere University Hospital said: “In the future, it will be important to conduct research with larger samples in order to determine whether oxytocin specifically affects sensitivity to infant signals because that is one of the key aspects of parenting.”
What oxytocin does to the body and society in general
Oxytocin is responsible for two critical actions in the female body: contraction of the womb (uterus) during childbirth and lactation during pregnancy. Artificial oxytocin is sometimes administered to induce labor, as it contains prostaglandins, which aid in increasing contractions. Artificial oxytocin is also given to fast-track the delivery of the placenta and avoid the risk of heavy bleeding during childbirth.
During the lactation period, oxytocin stimulates the movement of milk into the breast. Men also need oxytocin for sperm movement and testosterone production. (Related: OXYTOCIN, HUMAN LOVE, AND HUMAN BONDING)
Recent studies have shown that oxytocin plays a big role in social behavior as well. It acts as a chemical messenger in the brain and influences human behaviors such as mother-infant bonding, recognition, anxiety, sexual arousal, and trust, among others. As such, oxytocin has been dubbed the “love hormone” or the “cuddle chemical.”
For more news about the general wellness and well-being of humans, visit MindBodyScience.news.
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So, the dosing of society with love potions is a good idea? Just like anything else that can be misused, it IS being misused in Germany to dose the population so they are attracted to the Islamists inside the country. I can’t believe you would post a cover-psyop article to get people to think this is about peace and love. Artificial Agreeability is not the way to go, and you aren’t even mentioning the study of German Scientists saying they need to dose the public to make them more agreeable. Obviously, you must think this is a good idea, otherwise you wouldn’t have written this sham of an article.
And I don’t care if you won’t publish this comment, it is directly to the authors of this website that I write this. No research in how this drug is being misused has been presented. I’m really starting to think you guys are psy-operators.
Jesse, the article doesn’t say anything about dosing society with love potions. It talks about the observed phenomenon of oxytocin and how it plays a role in various biological, neurological, and social functions. I think you’re misconstruing the content of the article, and then using this straw man’s understanding, and laying at my feet as if I had done what you claim, which isn’t true.
And, we post all sorts of information and implore you to discern. We specifically state on every page of this site that article content is shared for your consideration, and that we don’t necessarily endorse, support, or agree with anything offered.
In short, you’re wrong. I didn’t say, nor did the article say, anything about dosing people with oxytocin. Nor did I offer any artificial agreeability solutions, or assert using oxytocin as a tool of mind influence. I didn’t write the article, but you seem to imply in your comment that I should have included this or that point. This idea that if a piece of content doesn’t include what you think it should means it’s somehow a tool of manipulation is an other unfounded and fallacious premise. Again, just because I post an article doesn’t mean I “Obviously, must think this is a good idea”—-dead wrong again. You didn’t even pick up on the fact I didn’t write the article.
Your narrow minded interpretations and wildy antagonizing way of interacting with others isn’t helpful. You jump to unfounded conclusions that are baseless, and then accuse me, or the authors of the article, of being psyop-ers, just because we don’t agree with your views? It’s so nonsensical I’m not even sure what you’re trying to say here. This black and white way of looking at things that paints everyone who isn’t you as some kind of villain is exactly what the powers that be want. They want you to think little, and rage against anyone who doesn’t agree with you. And you’re playing right into their hands. It’s this kind of thinking is what gets people hurt or killed when people take their wrong, misguided, and fallacious views and act on them to defame, slander, and attack others—-especially in a group setting.
I hope you’ll consider what I’ve said, and take a step back. If you really want to be part of a growing body of wise, learned, and ethical world changers, you need to be more humble and less judgemental. I would argue that a more compassionate, forgiving, and less prejudicial approach will get you and humanity further toward freedom and prosperity.
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, most medical research is bogus because it is controlled by Big Pharma. As a former researcher I can attest to this. The last thing they want are real cures for disease. Whether the intention of the writer was to suggest we all be dosed with this or not is of little consequence. The fact is scientists are discussing it. It’s been in the news. Hence the article should of mentioned this line of thinking and the fact most research is bogus because it’s funded by those who stand to profit from the bogus research and have profited from it.
This is a biased article and this perception is bolstered by the fact the writer totally lost composure in his response. Good job to Jesse, the person who challenged the writer.