UK Wedding News
26/11/2013
In particular, the 'cuddle' hormone oxytocin.
The study, which was conducted by scientists at the University of Bonn found that when men smelt the hormone, it made them rate their partners as being more attractive. Interestingly, however, the chemical – which is released when we hug or kiss – did not make strangers or work colleagues more attractive in the men's eyes.
As a result, the researchers suggest that oxytocin could play a vital role in monogamy.
For the study, scientists showed 40 young men, who were said to be passionately in love, photos of their partners. They were then asked how attractive they found the women after being given a placebo spray to sniff, as well as oxytocin.
The men were also shown photographs of strangers and long-term acquaintances, like work colleagues. In addition, for those in long-term relationships, they underwent scans to record how much the brain areas responsible for rewarding feelings lit up.
The findings were published in the journal 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' and lead author, Dirk Scheele, explained: "When the men received the oxytocin instead of placebo, the reward system in the brain was very active when viewing their partner and they perceived them as more attractive than other women.
"The activation of the reward system with the aid of oxytocin had a very selective effect with the pictures of the partners.
"We did not detect this effect with pictures of long-standing acquaintances."
They added that the oxytocin released during close physical appears to boost monogamy by making a woman seem more attractive in a man's eyes – but only when the two are in a loving relationship. They also claim a fall in the production of oxytocin that accompanies the end of a relationship could make the break-up even harder to deal with.
The researchers said: "The biological mechanism in a couple relationship is very similar to a drug.
"Both in love and taking drugs, people are striving to stimulate the reward system in the brain.
"This could also explain why people fall into depression or deep mourning after a separation: Due to lack of oxytocin secretion, the reward system is under-stimulated and is more or less in a withdrawal state."
Previous research has demonstrated that oxytocin helps diffuse arguments in relationships, as well as leading married men to physically distance themselves from attractive women.
(JP/CD)
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'Cuddle' Hormone Increases Attractiveness
New research has suggested that it isn't a new haircut or outfit that makes a woman more attractive to her partner, but hormones.In particular, the 'cuddle' hormone oxytocin.
The study, which was conducted by scientists at the University of Bonn found that when men smelt the hormone, it made them rate their partners as being more attractive. Interestingly, however, the chemical – which is released when we hug or kiss – did not make strangers or work colleagues more attractive in the men's eyes.
As a result, the researchers suggest that oxytocin could play a vital role in monogamy.
For the study, scientists showed 40 young men, who were said to be passionately in love, photos of their partners. They were then asked how attractive they found the women after being given a placebo spray to sniff, as well as oxytocin.
The men were also shown photographs of strangers and long-term acquaintances, like work colleagues. In addition, for those in long-term relationships, they underwent scans to record how much the brain areas responsible for rewarding feelings lit up.
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The findings were published in the journal 'Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences' and lead author, Dirk Scheele, explained: "When the men received the oxytocin instead of placebo, the reward system in the brain was very active when viewing their partner and they perceived them as more attractive than other women.
"The activation of the reward system with the aid of oxytocin had a very selective effect with the pictures of the partners.
"We did not detect this effect with pictures of long-standing acquaintances."
They added that the oxytocin released during close physical appears to boost monogamy by making a woman seem more attractive in a man's eyes – but only when the two are in a loving relationship. They also claim a fall in the production of oxytocin that accompanies the end of a relationship could make the break-up even harder to deal with.
The researchers said: "The biological mechanism in a couple relationship is very similar to a drug.
"Both in love and taking drugs, people are striving to stimulate the reward system in the brain.
"This could also explain why people fall into depression or deep mourning after a separation: Due to lack of oxytocin secretion, the reward system is under-stimulated and is more or less in a withdrawal state."
Previous research has demonstrated that oxytocin helps diffuse arguments in relationships, as well as leading married men to physically distance themselves from attractive women.
(JP/CD)
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