July 15, 1999 The hormone best known for its role in inducing
labor may influence our ability to bond with others, according
to researchers at the University of California, San Francisco.
In a preliminary study, the hormone oxytocin was shown to be
associated with the ability to maintain healthy interpersonal
relationships and healthy psychological boundaries with other
people. The study appears in the July issue of Psychiatry. "This
is one of the first looks into the biological basis for human
attachment and bonding," said Rebecca Turner, PhD, UCSF adjunct
assistant professor of psychiatry and lead author of the study.
"Our study indicates that oxytocin may be mediating emotional
experiences in close relationships." " The study builds upon
previous knowledge of the important role oxytocin plays in the
reproductive life of mammals. The hormone facilitates nest
building and pup retrieval in rats, acceptance of offspring in
sheep, and the formation of adult pair-bonds in prairie voles.
In humans, oxytocin stimu