{"id":1872,"date":"2019-02-14T03:21:04","date_gmt":"2019-02-14T03:21:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dimensions.ai\/?p=1872"},"modified":"2022-06-10T15:46:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-10T15:46:18","slug":"everyday-science-with-dimensions-the-secret-life-of-the-love-hormone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dimensions.ai\/blog\/everyday-science-with-dimensions-the-secret-life-of-the-love-hormone\/","title":{"rendered":"Everyday science with Dimensions: unraveling the mysteries of the “love hormone”"},"content":{"rendered":"

To celebrate Valentine\u2019s Day, we decided to use Dimensions to take a closer look at oxytocin, the hormone that plays such a pivotal role in our most intimate relationships. Drawing on our <\/span>rich and interconnected data within Dimensions,<\/span> we uncovered some fascinating facts and insights about the topic, from who\u2019s funding the latest discoveries to who\u2019s researching and publishing them.<\/span><\/p>\n

But first, what is oxytocin, also referred to as the \u201chug hormone\u201d, the \u201clove hormone\u201d, or the \u201ccuddle chemical\u201d? <\/span>Produced mainly in the <\/span>hypothalamus portion of the brain,<\/span> whenever we are in close contact with a loved one or bond socially, <\/span>it\u2019s released into the blood or other parts of the brain and spinal cord via the pituitary gland. It then binds to oxytocin receptors to influence our behavior and physiology.<\/span>(1)<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, a quick search within the nearly 1 million publications in Dimensions shows oxytocin impacts activities as diverse as how we empathize with others to giving birth. <\/span>There are claims it can motivate us to work together for a common purpose. It can also make us more benevolent – a 2007 study found that those given oxytocin were 80% more generous than those given a placebo.<\/span>(2)<\/sup><\/span> Playing with your dog can release oxytocin in your system\u2026<\/span>(3)<\/sup><\/span> Even better, when dogs play with us, their oxytocin levels surge too!<\/span>(4)<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Oxytocin and romantic love<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oxytocin plays a critical role in fanning the flames of love and studies suggest that, in some species, that role kicks in before a relationship even starts, helping them identify potential mates.<\/span>(5)<\/sup>  <\/span>Once we humans have chosen a partner, <\/span>a <\/span>2012 study found <\/span>we already begin to record higher oxytocin levels than our single friends and <\/span>this state persists for at least six months.<\/span>(6)<\/sup><\/span>  This could be because high oxytocin levels encourage us to look at partners through \u201crose-colored glasses\u201d and value their gestures and actions more than we would normally.<\/span>(7)<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Oxytocin may also play a role in keeping us faithful\u2026 In a study of prairie voles, o<\/span>xytocin signaling in their brains <\/span>was found to encourage monogamy.<\/span>(8)<\/sup><\/span>  And studies in humans suggest it has a similar effect on us too.<\/span><\/p>\n

The powerful hormone is also present in our most intimate, bedroom moments. A 2011 article looking at the orgasmic history of oxytocin<\/span>(9)<\/sup><\/span> referenced studies that show \u201cOxytocin injected into the cerebrospinal fluid causes spontaneous penile erections in rats\u2026. increases sexual receptivity and can counteract impotence \u2026.Interestingly, at least two studies have found increases in plasma oxytocin at orgasm—in both men and women.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Oxytocin and parenthood<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s impossible to talk about oxytocin without touching on the role it plays in childbirth and parenting. It is the hormone responsible for causing the muscles of the uterus to contract during the labor process. In fact, scientists <\/span>named it oxytocin after the Greek phrase meaning \u201crapid birth\u201d. <\/span><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve long known that <\/span>oxytocin makes us more maternal.<\/span>(10)<\/sup><\/span>  Recent <\/span>studies have shown that pregnant women with higher levels of oxytocin during their first-trimester bond more strongly with their babies after they are born.<\/span>(11)<\/sup> <\/span>And it\u2019s oxytocin that triggers the release of milk when a baby starts breastfeeding.<\/span><\/p>\n

Exploring the practical applications of oxytocin<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oxytocin is an attractive topic for researchers. Here are a few fast facts from Dimensions we found by searching on oxytocin in the title\/abstract (NOTE: all data for this article were extracted from Dimensions on 02.13.19).<\/span><\/p>\n

Researchers<\/b><\/p>\n

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Figure 1: Listed in descending order, researchers with the highest number of oxytocin-related publications <\/span>featured in Dimensions.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Seven researchers have more than 100 publications on the topic to their name. The author who tops the list, Kerstin Uvn\u00e4s Moberg, MD, PhD, is <\/span>a full professor of Physiology at the University of Agriculture in Uppsala, Sweden. She <\/span>has published 144 oxytocin-related publications and <\/span>is widely recognized as a world authority on the hormone. Her most cited paper, \u201c<\/span>Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interaction and emotions<\/span><\/a>\u201d, was <\/span>published in the journal<\/span> Psychoneuroendocrinology <\/span><\/i>in 1998. It looks at the involvement of o<\/span>xytocin in physiological and behavioral effects induced by social interaction and has earned 565 citations to date. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n

Publications<\/b><\/p>\n

Since 1928, there have been <\/span>27,277<\/span> publications with oxytocin in the title\/abstract.<\/span><\/p>\n

The most cited article is the 2005 <\/span>Nature<\/span><\/i> publication \u201c<\/span>Oxytocin increases trust in humans\u201d <\/span><\/a>by Kosfeld et al, with 1,900 citations.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 2: A screenshot of the article \u201cOxytocin increases trust in humans\u201d in Dimensions.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

In contrast, the article which received most online attention (as measured by Altmetrics) is the 2015 <\/span>Science<\/span><\/i> publication \u201c<\/span>Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds\u201d <\/span><\/a>by Nagasawa et al, with an Altmetric score of 1,536.<\/span><\/p>\n

Publications by year<\/b><\/p>\n

Publications related to oxytocin have been increasing steadily in number over the past eight years – rising from 647 in 2010 to 1,275 in 2018.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 3: The number of oxytocin-related publications by year (2010-2019) in Dimensions.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Grants by year<\/b><\/p>\n

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Figure 4: The number of oxytocin-related grants by year (2010-2019) <\/span>in Dimensions.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

While publications may have peaked in 2018, as we can see in figure 4, active grant funding hit its highest point in 2016 – an indication that we can expect that upward trend in oxytocin-related publications to continue. Since the start of 2016, 256 grants linked to the topic have been awarded, four of them this year. The Swedish Research Council was the recipient of three of those four grants and will use the total of more than 1.2 million euros to look at a range of topics from improving the treatment strategies for autism to helping map brain networks of emotional, social touch.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Figure 5: The four oxytocin-related grants in Dimensions awarded in 2019.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The top five funders over this period were all US-based. Mental health and alcohol abuse take the first and third positions, due to the potential use of oxytocin as a therapeutic treatment in these fields.<\/span><\/p>\n