A team of addiction researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) report in Psychopharmacology that oxytocin, a hormone produced naturally in the hypothalamus, has significant gender differences when used as a treatment for cocaine-addicted individuals with a history of childhood trauma. The MUSC team was led by Jane E. Joseph,…
Play ball or go rogue? Oxytocin affects cooperative behavior
Oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the “love hormone,” helps to regulate social and sexual interactions. Best known for its role in romantic and mother-infant bonding, scientists are now showing that it could also influence whether we cooperate with others in a team setting. Researchers Jennifer McClung, Zegni Triki, and colleagues,…
Oxytocin reduces cravings for methamphetamine
Many people have suggested that addiction hijacks the body’s natural drives in the service of compulsive drug use. A new study now suggests that hijacking another natural system in the brain may help overcome drug addiction. Published in Biological Psychiatry, the study shows that administration of oxytocin — a naturally…
Potential Role of ‘Love Hormone’ Oxytocin in Brain Function Revealed
In a loud, crowded restaurant, having the ability to focus on the people and conversation at your own table is critical. Nerve cells in the brain face similar challenges in separating wanted messages from background chatter. A key element in this process appears to be oxytocin, typically known as the…