2-Minute Neuroscience: Oxytocin

Oxytocin is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide that is thought to have a variety of effects ranging from increasing uterine contractions during labor to influencing social interactions. In this video, I discuss where in the brain oxytocin is synthesized and the hypothesized effects of oxytocin.

TRANSCRIPT:

Welcome to 2 minute neuroscience, where I explain neuroscience topics in 2 minutes or less. In this installment I will discuss oxytocin.

Oxytocin is a peptide hormone and a neuropeptide, which is a name for a peptide that can also act as a neurotransmitter.

Oxytocin is primarily produced in the hypothalamus and transported through axons to the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. From there it can be secreted into the bloodstream of the body.

Although there are a number of effects linked to this peripherally-acting oxytocin, the best understood effects have to do with childbirth and breastfeeding. Oxytocin is involved with increasing uterine contractions during labor and with the milk let-down reflex, which causes milk to be released during breastfeeding.

There is also evidence, however, that some oxytocin-containing neurons project to other areas of the central nervous system including the hippocampus, cerebral cortex, brainstem, amygdala, and spinal cord. The effects of this centrally-released oxytocin are not as clearly understood. Some research suggests it is involved with trust, empathy, and social bonding. These findings have caused some to call oxytocin the trust hormone, the love hormone, or even the cuddle hormone. Others have argued, however, that oxytocin’s effects on the brain are not so clear-cut. Some researchers have found oxytocin to be associated with negative emotions and aggression, and some of the research supporting oxytocin’s function as a love or trust hormone has been criticized for methodological problems. Other researchers have hypothesized that oxytocin might be involved in promoting responsiveness to social cues in general, whether they be positive or negative. Thus, at this point there is no consensus on the effects of oxytocin’s actions on behavior. It is likely, however, that its effects on behavior are far more complex than a simple designation like the “love hormone” would suggest.

REFERENCES:

Veenema AH, Neumann ID. Central vasopressin and oxytocin release: regulation of complex social behaviours. Prog Brain Res. 2008;170:261-76. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(08)00422-6.

[markhall]

Oxytocin is responsible for passion, that tingling feeling you get when you are surprised or succeed.

[DavidJohnson-dclu]

Has anyone noticed when it comes to science, and anything that could be beneficial for the human whether it be a positive hormone, food or spirituality more often than not there seems to always be an inconclusive outcome or not enough research? Funny how the association of love, trust etc are not clear cut, but the negative emotions have been found.

[superkhoy]

dude these videos are gold keep doing it!! would love if you walked about some computational methods

[brianevans]

I went to a leadership conference where this chemical was sold as the "awesome brain chemical" and that by being generous you release more oxytocin which is a good thing.

[k-Gonzo]

If I had to hypothesize a mechanism for centrally released oxytocin, I'd say that it has a role in sensitizing mirror neurons to stimuli from specific people.

[SashyGryphyth]

Social bonding and cues, empathy, certainly useful information in a brief package.
Thankyou.

[ozzylepunknown]

Ok, so how do I remove this from my system

[laughoutmeow]

Anyone know of a way to increase oxytocin level through diet or some other means without human interaction. With pandemic and coding, living alone and playing piano most of the time I don’t like it get enough human contact but I am afraid there may be some health problems later on if I ignore this. I’m not depressed or anything

[voicefromtheshadows]

Thank you!!
p.s Robert Sapolsky's new book has some exciting information about oxytocin if anyone is interested. He demonstrates how it has a very dark side that most people don't know about. I certainly agree that it is an ambiguous molecule.

[GSIR]

Books can be complicated to encrypted the language, but here, solves the problem...aka visual learner
Thanks

[vincentjablonski]

Thanks for the quick guide, just made a new sub :)

[DrukMax]

I thought it's effect involved both trust, empathy, social bonding and negative emotions, because it depends of what one thinks of as our group. So if the experience that released the oxytocin is positive for what you consider your group, a positive effect on behavior. But if the experience threatens "your group", it's defense-mode, attack the threat.

[snlsgun]

For you its a nerve, for me is a song

[rashmitharushi]

For the amount of hormone given to milking cows, this cannot be aggressive. Instead it definitely produces more trust and love I guess at least in animals like cows. Their bond to calfs are strong.

[lorenzo]

Its true i take oxytocin for non mediacal reason ( I wanted to see what happens to me) and i feel great, I used to feel depressed some times, now the voice that tells me problems just doesn't care

[VenuSalsa]

Oxytocine can cause aggressive behavior to whats a potential threat to and outside the group/one thats loved/bonded with

[Sheeshening]

could you define negative emotions? Even though we might not like it, its still plausible to be a "love hormone" in a similar fashion to serotonin. Effective defensive aggression might put your brain in a relatively similar position to the one after sex or when breast feeding, either directly or considering a negative feedback enhancement.
For a study I would suggest something like unexpected aggression from a someone who the subject would deem as friendly or neutral, followed by an evenly unexpected resolution of the situation by whatever the participant says. This would likely lead to the subject finding the aggressor more friendly, thus more oxytocin after aggressive behavior, but still misattribution from a scientific standpoint to say it's not a "positivity hormone".
Thoughts?

[knabellaks]

Great videos!!! Much appreciated <3

[hugsdrugs]

Anyone seen that "shocking" evidence that giving lions oxytocin supplements made them more compassionate? How unexpected

[samuelreeves]

This video is 1:59 not 2:00 but other than that great video