Oxytocin – The key to social bonds?
Often called the "love hormone," oxytocin helps us form bonds, build trust, and navigate social interactions. Researcher Shanshan Xiao explores how oxytocin affects the brain, aiming to understand its potential benefits in healthcare.
Oxytocin is a brain chemical that influences social behavior and human relationships, but oxytocin seems to operate differently for different individuals and in various situations. Scientists are still exploring the neurobiological mechanisms underlying its effects and how genetic variations affects its function.
One researcher studying this topic is Shanshan Xiao, who recently defended her doctoral thesis entitled "The Role of Oxytocin Pathway Genes and Intranasal Oxytocin in Brain Structure and Connectivity: Insights into Neural Mechanisms".
– In my studies, I explored how genetic differences in the oxytocin pathway influence brain size and function, using data from about 30,000 people. I also studied how intranasal oxytocin changes brain connectivity and whether these effects vary with age.
Shanshan Xiao’s research contributes to understanding how oxytocin may affect social behavior, which may provide insights for treating social cognitive difficulties.
– One reason I became interested in oxytocin is its positive effects on human connection. If we can understand it better, we can use it in the right way to help people, says Shanshan Xiao.
WHAT IS OXYTOCIN?
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that plays a key role in human physiology and social behavior. It helps us recognize social cues, bond with others, and cooperate in groups. Oxytocin is especially important for mother-infant bonding and social connections, and researchers have linked it to conditions like autism spectrum disorder (ASD), where social interaction can be challenging.
Oxytocin may affect brain structure and connectivity by strengthening or weakening the connections between neurons. This process starts in brain regions rich in oxytocin-related genes, where oxytocin directly influences brain activity. Since these regions are naturally linked to other areas, oxytocin’s effects can spread throughout the brain, shaping how we process emotions, social interactions, and behavior.
Oxytocin plays a key role in trust, bonding, and emotional regulation. When used effectively, it strengthens relationships, enhances social awareness, and reduces stress – earning its nickname, the “love hormone”, for its role in prosocial behaviors and human bonding.
The link between oxytocin and social behavior
– Oxytocin is known as the "love hormone" because it can make people more social and helpful. It may even help treat conditions like autism. But research shows that oxytocin doesn’t always work the same way – it can sometimes have no effect or even increase aggression, explains Shanshan Xiao.
Shanshan Xiao investigated whether small genetic variations in oxytocin-related genes could be linked to differences in brain volume. One key discovery was that people who carry a particular variant of the oxytocin receptor gene tend to have a larger hippocampus, an area crucial for memory and recognizing social cues.
– My research provides preliminary evidence that oxytocin may directly affect brain regions rich in oxytocin-related genes. These regions are naturally connected to other parts of the brain, so oxytocin's effects can spread through these networks.
When examining how these genetic differences affect brain connectivity at rest, she found that some individuals with specific gene variants showed reduced connectivity in regions involved in processing social information. This may explain why some people are more responsive to social cues than others.
Oxytocin has the potential to be a treatment to help people with social difficulties, such as those with autism or social anxiety.
Intranasal oxytocin and the role of age
In addition to genetics, Shanshan Xiao also studied how oxytocin affects the brain when administered as a nasal spray.
When analyzing resting-state brain activity, Shanshan Xiao found that younger adults displayed decreased connectivity in the thalamus after receiving intranasal oxytocin, whereas older adults showed increased connectivity in the caudate nucleus. This suggests that age may also influence how oxytocin regulates brain communication patterns.
– Taken together, the different studies in my thesis offer new insights into the ways oxytocin – whether through our genes or via nasal spray – may be associated with both the structure and resting-state connectivity of the brain, factors that could shape social behavior. These findings can lead to further research in neuropsychology and potentially guide new approaches for helping individuals with social or cognitive challenges.
Potential applications in healthcare
How could Oxytocin be used in healthcare?
– Oxytocin has the potential to be a treatment to help people with social difficulties, such as those with autism or social anxiety. It might be given as a nasal spray or other forms to improve social interactions and emotional bonding. However, since oxytocin doesn’t always work the same way for everyone, more research is needed to use it safely and effectively as a treatment.
Is it possible to measure your own Oxytocin levels?
– Currently, it's not easy for an ordinary person to check their own oxytocin levels. Measuring oxytocin usually requires blood or saliva tests in a lab, and levels can change quickly depending on the situation. So, there’s no simple test like a blood sugar check for oxytocin yet.
What is the next step for you and this research?
– I will continue my research career. After my defense, I will start a study on how intranasal oxytocin affects brain connectivity during emotional tasks.
Last updated: February 18, 2025
Source: Department of Psychology