Hormone makes men monogamous

Monogamous men by the hormone oxytocin

15.11.2012

Monogamous men with hormone-containing nasal spray? Scientists at the University of Bonn have studied the effect of the hormone oxytocin on the social behavior and flirtation of men and now the results in the renowned journal „The Journal of Neuroscience“ released.

From earlier studies oxytocin was already known for its influence on the pair binding of monogamous prairie mice, the researchers report to first authors Nadine Striepens and Dirk Scheele of the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital Bonn. When the effect of oxytocin was abolished in the prairie voles, they behaved in an extremely polygamous manner, similar to the species of mountain voles. So far, however, it was not clear whether the hormone also has a comparable influence on the pair bond in humans.

Administration of the hormone by nasal spray
Scientists investigated the effects of the hormone oxytocin on male behavior in 57 adult heterosexual volunteers who received either oxytocin or a nasal spray placebo. Then, three-quarters of an hour later, a scientist who was considered attractive by all subjects in retrospect, entered the room that served as an experimenter. The study participants went to talk to the woman and stayed on average at a distance of 60 centimeters in front of the experimenter. This distance was determined by unconscious rules, which apply to the approach between humans, the scientists report.

Hormones affect social distance
„If a certain distance between conversation partners falls below, this is perceived as unpleasant“, explained Dr. René Hurlemann, senior physician at the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the University Hospital Bonn. The maintained distance to the interlocutor refer to scientists as „social distance“. In the flirtation between man and woman, this reflects the willingness to approach. In the current study, the researchers have now investigated, „whether the social distance can be influenced by the hormone“, explained the first authors Nadine Striepens and Dirk Scheele. The Director of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy of the Bonn University Hospital, Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Maier, according to the messenger oxytocin was already „known as binding hormone“, its release in the brain, for example „is particularly large during sex or even with parents after the birth of their child.“ The oxytocin produced in the hypothalamus is responsible for this, „that we engage in a strong social bond“, so Prof. Maier.

Oxytocin as a loyalty hormone?
As part of their current research, the researchers therefore expected a reduction in the social distance between the men who received oxytocin and the attractive experimenter. Because the hormone is in the call, „to promote social interaction.“ But surprisingly, the experiments showed an opposite effect. Subjects who previously received nasal spray oxytocin and were in a committed relationship subconsciously increased the social distance to the attractive interlocutor by approximately ten to fifteen centimeters compared to the subjects who lived as singles or who came from the untreated control group , the researchers write. Apparently worked „the oxytocin here as a kind loyalty hormone“, explained Dr. Hurlemann.

Monogamous human relationships promoted by hormones
The observed effect of oxytocin was also confirmed in another study in which the subjects were shown photos of attractive women on a monitor with the possibility to zoom in on the images. Heterosexual men in a mating relationship took advantage of this option much more slowly after the administration of oxytocin than singles. „Taken together, our results suggest that the increased release of oxytocin promotes fidelity in monogamous human relationships“, so the conclusion of the researchers in the current contribution of the specialist magazine „The Journal of Neuroscience“ (Fp)

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