archangel16 ([info]archangel16) wrote,

Article Someone Wrote on Oxytocin

Has anyone read the article on love and attraction in the February issue of National Geographic?
I feel so vindicated.
Truly.
I devoured it. I savored every word. I shall have to write a thank you note to the author. Yes. It was that good.
The online edition isn't up yet, but I will link it.
Basically it verified what I have written about for FOREVER. Only she says it much better than I do in my bloggy.
One interesting thing has to do with oxytocin...the chemical of bonding and committment. Oxytocin is released when we nurse our babies, and it is also released during orgasm. Orgasm is actually relational glue, the chemicals released bond us to our partners.
Voles have extremely high levels of oxytocin. They mate for life. When the oxytocin receptors are blocked, the animals cease to form monogamous bonds and they "stray". The article mentions that some forms of autism have been linked with oxytocin deficiency, and some autistic people have had their symptoms improved by the administration of oxytocin.
Long term relationships = abundant levels of oxytocin in both partners. Marriages that work have found a way to sustain the oxytocin production and/or stimulate it.
Very interesting stuff.
She also said that the "falling in love" stage of a relationships has the same chemical cocktail inthe brain as mental illness. Specifically OCD. Perhaps the standard regimen for affair withdrawal should be a hefty dose of Prozac?
More on this later.

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