Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
Interesting

How 'love hormone' regulates sexual behaviour

Darpan News Desk IANS, 10 Oct, 2014 02:17 PM
    Researchers have uncovered a new class of oxytocin-responsive brain cells that regulates an important aspect of female sexual interest in male mice, suggesting that the same mechanism is followed in humans for selecting mate.
     
    These brain cells, found in the prefrontal cortex, may play a role in other oxytocin-related social behaviours such as intimacy, love or mother-child bonding.
     
    "The findings suggest that social interactions that stimulate oxytocin production will recruit this newly identified brain circuit to help coordinate the complex behavioural responses elicited by changing social situations in all mammals,” explained senior study author Nathaniel Heintz from the Rockefeller University.
     
    Oxytocin has been called the “love hormone” because it plays an important role in social behaviours such as maternal care and pair bonding.
     
    Lead study author Miho Nakajima from Rockefeller University discovered a population of neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex that express the oxytocin receptor.
     
    When the researchers disrupted the activity of these neurons, female mice lost interest in male mice during estrus - the sexually receptive phase of their cycle - and spent about the same amount of time with them as with a plastic Lego block.
     
    By contrast, these females retained a normal level of social interest in other females and in male mice when not in estrus.
     
    Moreover, the social behaviour of male mice was unaffected by the silencing of these neurons.
     
    “This critical cell population in prefrontal cortex may mediate other aspects of behaviour in response to the elevated oxytocin levels that occur in a variety of different contexts,” Heintz noted.
     
    The study appeared in the journal Cell.

    MORE Interesting ARTICLES

    Euthanasia: Debate rekindled on right to die for the terminally ill

    Euthanasia: Debate rekindled on right to die for the terminally ill
    Three years ago, the Supreme Court ruled against 'active euthanasia', administering a lethal injection to end lives of patients with terminal illness, but said that 'passive...

    Euthanasia: Debate rekindled on right to die for the terminally ill

    Companion planets can host life better

    Companion planets can host life better
    Having a companion in old-age is good for people and, it turns out, might extend the chance for life on certain earth-sized planets as well....

    Companion planets can host life better

    Penguin's language decoded

    Penguin's language decoded
    In a significant breakthrough, Italian researchers have decoded the language of penguins....

    Penguin's language decoded

    Man builds spaceship in his kid's bedroom!

    Man builds spaceship in his kid's bedroom!
    Have you ever thought of building a spacecraft for your kid? Learn from this man who gifted his four-year-old son a NASA spaceship simulator - right in his bedroom...

    Man builds spaceship in his kid's bedroom!

    DNA may shape political affiliations

    DNA may shape political affiliations
    The extent of liberalism in people may be linked to their bodies and deep seated psychology and not just results of conscious decision-making...

    DNA may shape political affiliations

    Lead in teeth as kid can reveal origin later

    Lead in teeth as kid can reveal origin later
    The lead that gets accumulated in children's teeth as they inhale dust and ingest soil when they put their hands in their mouths can later reveal where they come from, reveals a study....

    Lead in teeth as kid can reveal origin later