Oxytocin is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. Hormones travel through the blood and act on cells. Electrical signals in your brain and nerves cause chemicals called neurotransmitters to release ...

It’s been called the cuddle hormone, the holiday hormone, the moral molecule, and more—but new research suggests that oxytocin needs some new nicknames. Like maybe the conformity hormone, or perhaps ...

Oxytocin is a hormone best known for its roles in childbirth and lactation. Oxytocin is sometimes referred to as the “love hormone” or “love drug” for its roles in sexual bonding, parenting, and other ...

Oxytocin is a hormone and a neurotransmitter that is associated with empathy, trust, sexual activity, and relationship-building. It is sometimes referred to as the “love hormone,” because levels of ...

Oxytocin has long been called the love hormone because of the critical role it plays in attachment, bonding, and plenty of other feel-good moments humans share with one another. What is oxytocin? The ...

If you’ve heard of oxytocin, you might know a little about its somewhat impressive reputation. Even if the name oxytocin doesn’t ring a bell, you might know this hormone by one of its other names: the ...

If you’ve ever felt better after getting a hug from someone you love or petting your dog, you’re no stranger to the oxytocin effect. Many people are craving that calming sensation, given the constant ...

Oxytocin has been coined the “love hormone” for good reason—you know those warm and fuzzy feelings you get when you cuddle a puppy, hug your friend, or kiss your partner? That’s oxytocin at work.

Maternity wards routinely use synthetic oxytocin to kick-start the birth process and keep it moving. That is the main reason why this hormone is so widely known. It is less well known that, after ...

As researchers work out how oxytocin affects the brain, the hormone is shedding its reputation as a simple cuddle chemical. In April 2011, Robert Froemke and his team were reprogramming the brains of ...

Brian Resnick was Vox’s science and health editor and is the co-creator of Unexplainable, Vox’s podcast about unanswered questions in science. In a memorable stunt to kick off his 2011 TEDGlobal talk, ...