Hug the Monkey

Air Force Testing Oxytocin as "Trust Level"

Can levels of oxytocin in the blood indicate how trustworthy you are? The Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB will spend $1 million to try to find out.

Air Force psychologist James Christensen is monitoring the blood oxytocin levels of research subjects as they play economic trust games. According to John Nolan of the Springfield News-Sun, Christensen is not so much looking at whether high oxytocin equals more trustworthiness, but rather at whether there are fluctuations in oxytocin levels when someone is about to betray trust.

http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/springfield-news/wright-patt-to-spend-1-million-to-test-trust-1329899.html

 

Romantic Movies Warm You Up

A  study found that people who drank cold tea were more likely to choose a romantic movie than those who quaffed hot tea.

Researchers Jiewen Hong (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) and Yacheng Sun (University of Colorado, Boulder) also analyzed movie rental data from an unnamed online movie rental company to back up the findings.

They hypothesize that a physical chill causes us to crave psychological warmth. But let's not forget that the body and mind are connected.

Part of oxytocin's phsyical effects are increasing relaxation and blood flow, which would physically warm you up as the romantic movie causes your brain to release oxytocin.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2101545/Do-cold-consumers-like-warm-romance-movies.html#ixzz1mT1qjgXa

 

Self-Worth, Respect and Oxytocin

Sure, there's a connection between how we're treated and our feelings of self-worth. Is there also an oxytocin connection?

Nekole Shapiro of EmbodiedBirth speaks to the connection between how a woman feels about herself sexually--  whether on a date or in the birthing room -- and the production of oxytocin. Learn why disrespecting a laboring woman hinders the birthing process. She finishes by taking us through an exercise that can help you feel more in touch with your own body.

This is Nekole's intro to @RickiLake's movie More Business of Being Born - The VBAC Dilemma at Birth Uncut in Reno NV Nov. 2011.

 

Dogs in Dorms an Antidote to Stress?

Research shows that dogs make us healthier and happier. Should college dorms allow them?Rebecca McGoldrick @BrownUniversity thinks universities should create policies that allow for dogs in dorms.

http://www.browndailyherald.com/rebecca-mcgoldrick-12-the-student-dog-relationship-1.2689736#.TyBKnGUsFzY

McGoldrick writes,

... a casual conversation with my peers leads me to believe that many of us lack our greatest companion for years while earning a college degree. And science is showing that this interspecies relationship has more health implications than we might imagine.

She suggests policies could allow students to bring dogs from home, or they could participate in a fostering program with the local shelter or animal rescue organization.

As someone who sneaked a puppy into her dorm spring semester of her sophomore year -- and switched schools rather than give up the dog -- I'm all for it.

 

 

 

Tonight: Two Faces of Oxytocin

If you think oxytocin is only about the warm and fuzzy, recent studies have shown that's not the case. Tonight, I'll be speaking with Dr. Veronica on BlogTalk Radio about "Two Faces of Oxytocin."

Paul Zak and Bryan Post will also be on the program; it should be informative and fun. The show is live at 5 pm Eastern, and you'll also be able to listen to it in the archives.

 

Listen to internet radio with DrVeronica on Blog Talk Radio

You can join us. Here is the call-in number: (714) 364-4731.