Mongolian Gerbil Study
An animal study, okay, it’s really cool, as it was run on Mongolian gerbils, by neuroscientists at Emory University, reveals what I have been saying for years.
Hormones are a family. They “function” and “dysfunction” together. This study highlights how testosterone helps boost the neural activity of oxytocin cells -- the 'love hormone' associated with social bonding.
Testosterone can directly promote nonsexual, “pro” social behavior.
Also, intimacy, such as cuddling, begets more “pro” social behavior.
Make love, not war, was a slogan shouted by many when I was in college way back when.
Turns out to be true.
These scientists have been trying to get at the question of how hormones work in the brain to allow an animal to rapidly change its behavior, depending on the social context.
In addition to sharing this research interest, these two scientists happened to be a married couple.
The idea for this paper was borne out of them chatting over a glass of wine. Like Southwest airlines was famous to have started with an idea in a bar written on a piece of napkin. This idea also started in a pub. Ha.
These researchers mated gerbils. Then gave the male a shot of testosterone.
The male gerbil became more cuddly and prosocial with his partner.
He became like a 'super’ partner.
I open my last book “Sexy Brain”, named that way as sex steroid hormones “rule” the brain, about the University of Georgia research. When couples, in a laboratory, made love, know, care and respect each other, their testosterone levels increase. In both males and females.
Testosterone is brain protective. Nature wants us to have healthy brains. To remember and be able to be good parents to caretake the next generation.
This study resonates with the Georgia study.
It appears that testosterone enhances context-appropriate behavior.
Testosterone plays a role in amplifying the tendency to be cuddly and protective or aggressive depending on whatever the situation demands.
Hormones influence “our world life perceptions”.
In the “wild” mating with a partner elevates testosterone, which primes them to act cuddly in the moment and the near future while living with their partner, even if the testosterone levels decline.
If a rival entered its burrow the gerbil would likely experience another surge of testosterone that would immediately help adjust his behavior so he can fend off the rival and protect his pups.
In this way, the hormone, testosterone, helps animals rapidly pivot between prosocial and antisocial responses as the social world changes.
We “need” hormones to be able to “right” ourselves with whatever life throws at us.
The current study also looked at how testosterone and oxytocin interact biologically.
The results showed that the male subjects receiving injections of testosterone exhibited more oxytocin activity in their brains.
Like the Georgia study.
Oxytocin overlaps in the brain with estrogen. But it also overlaps with testosterone.
As we cuddle and make love we make more hormones. To feel better with our world.
To adapt to our world.
Yet love-making between couples is on the decline. I also discuss this documented phenomenon in Sexy Brain.
T levels are documented to be lowering in American males.
As our hormones are under assault by endocrine disruptors along with less human connection, is this a contributor toward what is making our society more easily “triggered” and “angered”? Perhaps even contributing to the “polarization” we are witnessing?
Human behaviors are far more complex than those of Mongolian gerbils. But we have the same hormones and they act on the same parts of the brain,
The more we make love, the caveat is with people we respect and are close to, the more our brains make hormones. To help us better adapt to our world.
I hear from patients repeatedly, young women in loving relationships, that they just haven’t cared about sex or intimacy for years. They often share that most of their friends feel the same way.
We have less and less healthy hormone signaling.
Intimacy? They could take it or leave it.
They also just don’t feel great. And weight keeps piling on.
Are we experiencing the threat of “environmental castration”?
Less intimacy. Less hormones. Less desire to cuddle. Less appropriate social behavior from social cues? More angst rather than unifying “good feelings” of connection?
This is a very interesting study. Even if it is run on Mongolian gerbils.
I ponder all these things.
What do you think?
Reference:
Beyond sex and aggression: testosterone rapidly matches behavioural responses to social context and tries to predict the future. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2022; 289 (1976) DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.0453
Interesting about more younger women feeling less need for intimacy. Thanks for this article Dr B.
Hi Devaki, loneliness, lack of intimacy or physical connection, I believe, is up there with pre-diabetes in its prevalence. If we do the math, (divorced and alone) + married and alone (silent divorcee's) + singles (looking waiting, wanting) = more than 50%, aka majority of adult population. No 'we're friends' and friendship doesn't cut it .... unless of the 'with benefits' kind. Any studies? Interested in your thoughts .... too negative or close to the mark? Bernie