Oxytocin News and Research

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Oxytocin is a small but potent nine-amino acid hormone secreted within the brain, from the hypothalamus.

Can pregnancy leave a lasting mark on biological aging?

A review examines how pregnancy spacing affects maternal aging, proposing that insufficient recovery may lead to cumulative biological aging and health risks.

3 Nov 2026

Doubling postpartum oxytocin dose cuts vaginal birth bleeding forty percent

A change in how oxytocin is administered after childbirth may help reduce postpartum hemorrhage, a new study suggests.

27 Oct 2026

Adrenaline and dopamine help explain the thrill of being scared

Monsters, bloodcurdling screams, howling ghosts, and being chased by a chainsaw-wielding stranger are elements that make a great night out for many people.

27 Oct 2026

New book examines how digital screens cause social disconnection

The most dramatic shift in human communication patterns in history is underway – the migration of social life onto screens – and researchers have issued stark warnings about the long-term impact on the health of our social species.

28 Sep 2026

Oxytocin selectively increases trusting behavior in men with low disposition to trust

For over 20 years, it has been a matter of dispute whether oxytocin bolsters trust. A new study conducted with the involvement of the University of Zurich now provides robust evidence that the hormone selectively increases trusting behavior in men with a low disposition to trust.

12 Aug 2026

Voltammetry and machine learning for real-time neurotransmitter detection

Anne Andrews (UCLA) explains how voltammetry and machine learning can track multiple neurotransmitters in real time, even with overlapping signals.

From Pittcon 10 Aug 2026

Biohub researchers use artificial intelligence to uncover new psoriasis targets

Biohub researchers performed what they believe is the first genome-wide CRISPR study of primary human adult skin cells, then used an AI model to mine the results for overlooked drug targets for psoriasis.

8 Jul 2026

Dogs could transform the future of autism drug development

For thirty years the search for autism medicines has hit the same wall, and a new peer-reviewed Perspective in Genomic Psychiatry suggests that the way around it has been sleeping at our feet the entire time.

25 Jun 2026

Shared humor and play strengthen children’s brains and emotional wellbeing

Making children laugh can build deep emotional connections and soothe their nervous systems, making them more resilient and open to new ideas, a leading child development expert tells us.

24 May 2026

Tranexamic acid modestly reduces bleeding after cesarean delivery in women

Giving tranexamic acid to women with placenta praevia (when the placenta covers the cervical opening) undergoing cesarean birth leads to a significant yet modest reduction in severe bleeding after delivery with no evidence of an increase in serious adverse events, finds a trial from China published by The BMJ today.

13 May 2026

Can doula care improve pregnancy outcomes?

The role of doulas in maternal care is evolving, with studies suggesting improved health outcomes, yet further research is needed for comprehensive insights.

27 Apr 2026

Neural circuit mechanisms explain how chronic sleep loss disrupts social memory

Social memory—the ability to recognize familiar individuals and distinguish them from strangers—is fundamental to social cognition.

5 Mar 2026

Oxytocin circuits mediate sleep loss-induced social memory deficits

Social memory-the ability to recognize familiar individuals and distinguish them from strangers-is fundamental to social cognition.

23 Feb 2026

Key protein regulates slow oxytocin release in the brain

The brain does not only communicate through fast electrical impulses; it also relies on slower, more diffuse chemical signals that modulate our emotional and social states over time.

19 Feb 2026

Maternal perinatal depression linked to autistic traits in toddlers

A research team from the Department of Psychiatry at Tohoku University, led by Dr. Zhiqian Yu and Professor Hiroaki Tomita, has uncovered compelling evidence that maternal perinatal depression - psychological distress occurring during pregnancy or postpartum - elevates the risk of autistic-related traits in toddlers, with a particularly strong impact on girls.

5 Feb 2026

Labor induction methods show similar effectiveness and differing safety profiles

A new review including over 100 clinical trials has found that no induction method was clearly effective than low-dose vaginal misoprostol, although some methods were less effective and safety profiles varied.

27 Jan 2026

Breastfeeding is linked to lower depression and anxiety years later

A decade-long study links breastfeeding to lower anxiety and depression in mothers, suggesting long-term mental health benefits beyond the postnatal period.

13 Jan 2026

Rare sugars activate metabolic signaling to reduce alcohol consumption in mice

While investigating the FGF21-oxytocin-dopamine system, a mechanism that regulates sugar appetite, a team of researchers at Kyoto University noticed reports suggesting that the protein FGF21 may regulate alcohol ingestion.

12 Jan 2026

SwRI and Trinity researchers work on next-generation intranasal therapy for PTSD

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) and Trinity University are developing an intranasal (IN) drug-device combination to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

9 Dec 2025

Supportive marriages may shape appetite control through oxytocin and the brain–gut axis

Supportive marital relationships are associated with lower BMI, fewer food addiction symptoms, higher oxytocin, stronger frontal brain responses to food cues, and favorable gut tryptophan metabolites. These coordinated social, neural, hormonal, and gut pathways suggest a plausible biological link between emotional support and healthier eating regulation.

8 Dec 2025