Women tend to be more sensitive than men and now scientists believe they know one reason why: the hormone oxytocin. A shot of it, in fact, can turn guys into the empathetic and emotionally responsive man their partners have always wanted.
To investigate the effects of oxytocin, researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany and the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, England gave 24 men a nose spray that contained the hormone. Another 24 men received a placebo. All of the men were shown photos of a crying child, a girl hugging her cat and a grieving man, then asked to express the depth of feeling they experienced for the people in the pictures. The oxytocin group had significantly higher empathy levels.
The researchers also conducted a second experiment where the men answered questions on a computer and, depending on whether their answers were correct or not, were shown either an approving or disapproving face or red or green circles. "In general, learning was better when the feedback was shown in the form of faces," says Dr. Keith Kendrick of the Babraham Institute. "But, once again, the oxytocin group responded clearly better to the feedback in the form of facial expression than did the placebo group."
Oxytocin plays a role in childbirth and is known to be associated with strengthening the emotional bond between a mother and newborn child. Its also released during orgasm and is associated with love and trust. This new study indicates that oxytocin may also modulate emotional empathy. In practical terms, the hormone could possibly be used as medication for diseases like schizophrenia, which is often associated with reduced social approachability and social withdrawal.
Source: University of Bonn
