OXYTOCIN AND MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIPS Caitlyn Kendrick Neha Verma

OXYTOCIN AND MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIPS Caitlyn Kendrick Neha Verma Andrew Darvin Vincent Abiona

WHAT IS OXYTOCIN? Oxytocin is a hormone released from the posterior pituitary gland Oxytocin plays an important role in the formation of monogamous relationships, as well as in the levels of trust and attachment within these relationships. The release of oxytocin is related to affiliative behaviors between members of a monogamous pair.

INVESTOR GAME Experiment � Experimental group received intranasal dose of oxytocin, while control group received placebo � Measured trust through an investing game Results � Members of experimental group were more likely to trust their investing partners Implications � Among humans, there is a correlation between oxytocin and trust within interpersonal interactions

CICHLID FISH Experiment � Treated males with oxytocin receptor antagonist during pair bond formation � Observed: Affiliative behavior toward mate; Aggression toward neighbors Results � Affiliative behavior toward mate and aggression toward neighbors were reduced in experimental males Implications � Oxytocin is important in the formation of a monogamous pair bond � Oxytocin can be thought of as a “building block” for a monogamous relationship Picture from: http: //thenewaquaristfish. blogspot. com/

VOLES EXPERIMENTS Hypothesis: Varying density of oxytocin receptors in certain areas of brain impact partner preference formation Focused on Nucleus Accumbens � Prairie Voles-6 hour/12 hour cohabitation periods � Meadow Voles-24 hour/48 hour cohabitation periods � Three-Chambered Apparatus � Findings: Prairie Voles-Significantly more pair bonding after 12 hour cohabitation � Meadow Voles-No significant differences in pair bonding � Implications: � Oxytocin and receptor density play role in partner preference formation, but are not only factors Picture from: http: //www. anxietyinsights. info/how_stress_flips_the_brain_between_desire_and_dread. htm

TAMARINS MONOGAMOUS RELATIONSHIPS Experiment � Test tamarins urine to measure oxytocin levels � Observed affiliative behaviors Results � The tamarins in a monogamous relationship had higher oxytocin levels than polygamous tamarins � Correlation between partners Implications � The higher levels in monogamous partners could explain happiness � Better in tune to partners needs � Good relationships mean higher oxytocin and vice versa Picture from: http: //pixdaus. com/single. php? id=61836

CONCLUSION There is a correlation between oxytocin levels/oxytocin receptor levels and behavior and trust, as demonstrated in the experiments studied � High levels of oxytocin and receptors correlated with more trust and partner preference formation � Lower levels of oxytocin were connected to less trust and polygamous relationships