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Oxytocin has the ability to affect a person's sociability
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Oxytocin is a hormone of the hypothalamus nucleus, which is often called the "love hormone": it ensures the onset of orgasm and the formation of intimate attachment, establishes maternal behavior. However, this is not all: among other things, oxytocin is involved in the formation of interactions, including communication with other people. This information was voiced by Swiss scientists representing the University of Neuchâtel.
Experts have long known the fact that the hormonal substance oxytocin takes part in the formation of social connections. As scientists have suggested, the hormone allows people to relate to each other in a special way. For example, a mother is attached to her baby, previously unknown maternal feelings are revealed in her: all this is the work of the hormone oxytocin.
New research has shown that oxytocin is equally important for undertaking joint actions, such as industrial cooperation or information exchange.
As a rule, an intranasal spray with an active component is used to evaluate the properties of oxytocin. However, this time, the experts chose a different method. They measured the natural content of oxytocin in the saliva of volunteers: this was done in order to determine the quality of its influence on the formation of relationships between people. The following experiment was conducted: volunteers "hunted for eggs": they played a pair game, according to the rules of which they had to choose eggs marked with certain colors. So, the first player in the pair received a reward of 1 franc for each egg found, marked with a red marker. The second player received the same amount for an egg marked with a blue marker. Therefore, the participants were motivated by receiving a material reward. At the same time, the players were given the right to choose: to play independently or to help their partner in the pair, cooperating with him in the search. As a result of the experiment, the specialists were able to discover the following. Volunteers working in pairs and helping their partners had a higher oxytocin content.
In addition, experts have determined the hormone's effect on sociability. With an increased concentration of oxytocin in the blood, volunteers were reluctant to discuss their own goal orientation with partners, but were distracted by participants from other groups, discussing their tasks. According to scientists, this may indicate that the hormone stimulates cooperation in its environment, while extending the social distance with other participants who are not included in "your circle."
Detailed results of the scientists' work are published on the university's website (www.unine.ch/unine/home/pour-les-medias/communiques-de-presse/locytocine-dite-hormone-de-lamou.html).
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