Everything You've Heard About Oxytocin is Wrong

[@braincraft]

Thank you to Dan for this fascinating interview, which rescued me from a "what am I going to release this month??" spiral, because (cue depressing segue), my beloved labradoodle Luna passed away earlier this month and I've been a mess. She's been such a star on this channel over the years, and it's tough to think that this may be her last video. Give your dogs a hug from me (and just remember that the oxytocin in this exchange is negligible). ❤️

[@rasmusbrekke9412]

Super sad to hear about Luna, hope you are doing okay!

[@stuntmonkey00]

Oh no! Luna will be missed!

[@safaiaryu12]

I'm sorry to hear that. She will be missed. I don't have a dog but I'll give my cats some extra love.

[@dsquintana]

Was a pleasure to join you!

[@FootballPsychoPS3T]

So sorry for your loss. Luna was a star and I know you gave her a wonderful life. Take care of yourself and remember the good times you had together. ❤️

[@farouq7107]

It is very annoying how many things are regarded as scientific facts, because of a misunderstood quote.

[@Julia-jz5wt]

Like what else ?? I need to know!

[@VVVVV99611]

@@Julia-jz5wt watch your governments 😌

[@ailtonrocha333]

What are you grateful for today? ✨ Comment below and express your gratitude for someone today. kzbin.info2C_XrwDtRkA?feature=share

[@z97ko55]

@@VVVVV99611 using emojis

[@mikebrown3684]

Omgooodness u nailed it! I am over saturated in "false scientific fact fixes."

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

I read an article in a Psychology magazine about a group who were going through a bunch of studies done in social sciences and attempting to recreate their findings. And in an extremely disturbing number of cases they found they could not recreate the results. Ive often said that people who think we are close to uploading our conciousness to a computer clearly are under the misconception that we have a basically decent understanding of the human brain. And the reality is we have barely scratched the surface

[@catwinterberryneo]

this is called the replication crisis and it’s a big deal for social sciences. the even bigger and more problematic part is that journals only want to publish new findings, so even if researchers want to replicate old studies they probably won’t get published. thus, researchers tend to strive for originality instead of focusing on verifying what we already found in previous studies. Keep in mind, getting published is how researchers keep their jobs. A sad state for the scientific community indeed

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

@@catwinterberryneo I struggle to accept the validity of social sciences as equivalent to harder sciences like chemistry. Most true social experiments were morally reprehensible, and as soon as you compromise your methodology to comform to legal or moral guidelines, you are compromising your research in general. Plus there are just so many biases that are nearly impossible to account for. The fact that the community doesnt see this replication crisis as the literally only important problem to solve at the moment does not help their credibility either.

[@catwinterberryneo]

@@skeetsmcgrew3282 This makes me sad, I recently finished my bachelors in behavioral neuroscience and I love the social sciences. The ethical guidelines in psychology research (eg. the Belmont Report) were a response to the earlier unethical studies you mentioned, and there is certainly a space where we can be ethical and still learn valuable information from our research. The social science community is pretty concerned about the replication crisis and it was mentioned by many of my professors in classes because it’s a huge deal. The reality is that just like any other big issue, there’s not much that most researchers can do because they have to do their research, teach their classes, and make money to live. I think the correct response is to talk about it as much as possible because the solution likely lies somewhere in journals becoming less focused on publishing exciting results and more focused on good science. Open access journals would probably help too. Idk who is responsible for this problem honestly, but it’s definitely not the researchers. Also I agree social sciences aren’t equivalent to hard sciences. The reality is that as soon as we’re dealing with people, there’s a lot more uncertainty and confounding variables than when it’s bacteria or chemicals or whatever else. Social scientists are definitely aware of that. Psychologists mitigate it as much as possible, the amount of interference depending on the type of study they are doing. I’m definitely biased in favor of social sciences, but I see how people could question its credibility if they aren’t a part of the community and aren’t familiar with the ins and outs of psychology research. But fr, psychology > chemistry

[@excalibur2772]

Well you can believe that a brain is analogous to a computer logically and not think that we know all about it, what would be the difference between ai and intelligence anyway

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

@@excalibur2772 Thats exactly it, we literally have no idea. We dont even understand what sentience is, if its emerges slowly over evolutionary time, or if any other creatures on earth are sentient. Even the fact that our meat computer kinda sucks at stuff contributes to who we are. Who among us hasnt spent countless hours piecing together old memories with friends and family? How could you even recreate that?

[@uke7084]

Fascinating. I just gave birth to my daughter a week ago. It was an unintentional natural birth, so no pain medication. The rush of "I LOVE YOU" I felt when she was handed to me was intense. Interestingly, my husband told her, when he held her, "I would die for you. Heck, I would kill for you," very intoxicating hormone to be sure.

[@seawar4]

Congrats on your new bub

[@lekhakaananta5864]

"I would kill for you" there's your example of oxytocin increasing antagonization of the outgroup!

[@thedalewardens9106]

My wife had a planned Caesarian and didn’t get that.

[@nikisawyers7559]

@@thedalewardens9106yes this is one disadvantage of bypassing the hormonal physiology of childbirth, among others.

[@PaulFurman-go7pz]

That's a cringey thing to say to a newborn

[@Zeightar]

I can totally relate with this. With some people it just feels really good to hug and others it isn't the same at all. In my opinion different situations can also effect whether you feel-good during and after a hug. I don't think necessarily hugging anyone for example 5 seconds will help you "feel-good". I think we humans are more complex than that. My guess is - it depends on situation, mood, purpose, who it is, what relation you have with each other, etc. Also when you mentioned regarding the war-scenario. I immediately recognized a scenario where I just wanted to spend time with the one I hugged rather than socializing with other people that were around me. I wasn't interested a second to socialize, but there could be other factors affecting as well. I am not a scientist and I am not sure if this is oxytocin, but I wanted to mention it 😊 Good video, thanks a lot and keep on what you are doing! 😊

[@reaganharder1480]

can confirm, a hug from an aunt I see once every 2 years does not feel nearly as good as a hug from a best friend.

[@troik]

would you suggest that common views for "dopamine", serotonin and endorphins, are similarly over-simplified? or are these hormones more clear-cut the happy hormones they are often called?

[@seatbelttruck]

Serotonin can kill you horribly, so I'm guessing it's more complicated, lol. (Serotonin syndrome is scary). Also, a scan of the Wikipedia article says that it's involved in triggering vomiting and diarrhea. I suspect any other hormone or neurotransmitter would have similar mixed results.

[@roro-mm7cc]

Yep eg when someone says the dopamine is the pleasure molecule they are wrong. Dopamine is a neuromodulator ie its a signalling molecule used by various distinct neural pathways, one of which plays a role in reward motivated behaviour. But there are loads of others.

[@ceasarsalazar5940]

Fun fact: dopamine also plays a role in your gross motor skills. Which is why people with ADD (primarily caused by a deficiency in dopamine) tend to have worse motorics on average.

[@roro-mm7cc]

@@ceasarsalazar5940 Aren’t you referring to Parkinson’s disease (extreme degradation of dopaminergic neurons). ADD is to more to do with attention there aren’t many motor symptoms unlike PD.

[@ceasarsalazar5940]

@@roro-mm7cc No, I am not. ADD has a lot of different symptoms. I'm not a neuroscientist, but I have researched ADD specifically (because I have it). I would take an uneducated guess that whatever causes a deficiency in dopamine for ADD is probably NOT extreme degradation of dopaminergic neurons. It doesn't develop or worsen, and it's really sort of subtle. If you don't have ADD or weren't looking for it, you probably wouldn't notice. Personal experience doesn't count for much, but I notice it. I walk into walls, stumble, drop things. Also, I'll sometimes start to lean to the side, even having to catch myself from falling. Not because I'm passing out, but because I have terrible balance. It's not "I have to use a cane" bad at all, just general clumsiness.

[@SCREENDOORONSUBMARIN]

It's always great to debunk these myths. Thank you!

[@braincraft]

Thank you for watching!

[@kivaunreads4091]

Thank you for setting the facts straight. I'm especially curious about the autism-oxytocin link as well as in-group out-group thing, two aspects I never thought or heard about previously.

[@TheLonelyGod42]

So now I'm super curious about what is happening in my body when I hug someone, especially for prolonged time! I'm a social dancer and two of the styles I do, Blues and Balboa, a good portion of the time are done in a close embrace where your bodies are passed up against each other. My own totally anecdotal experience is I feel really good when I get to spend time dancing with people like that. I would love to know what the brain chemistry that's going on there is. I know some of it is probably based on exercise and sharing an activity with another person. But what is happening chemically in my brain and body?

[@ooooneeee]

If I were to speculate I'd say it's probably many senses (touch, smell), hormones, mirror neurons that all align with the joy of exercise and music. It's gonna be several hormone and neuron systems working together. Animals also have bonding behaviours, so many of these phenomena are probably very old evolutionarily.

[@TheLonelyGod42]

@@busimagen I love finding other dancers in the comments of random videos 😃

[@Kram1032]

Nice video! This (the fact that it's misunderstood) is also in line with recent research on genetically modified guinea pigs where there was some hormone associates with agressive behavior ( I forget what hormone it was; it wasn't oxytocin) with the hypothesis that disabling that hormone would lead to particularly docile breeds. This, it turns out, was very very wrong. Instead of unusually docile, the modified group would turn extra aggressive. It didn't reduce the capacity to be aggressive, but rather the ability to regulate aggression. I suspect doing similar things with oxytocin would also have such surprising effects

[@rainbowinthedark453]

Was it possibly vasopressin?

[@Kram1032]

@@rainbowinthedark453 I really don't remember, entirely possible

[@sparagnino]

I took part to an experiment on autistic adults. We had to read moral/ethic stories and debate about them. After a oxytocin shot in the nose we started the game again. Nothing strange or different happened😅

[@Alresu]

That might be (and probably is) true but it might also not be. As a participant you usually do not realise if something has changed. Changes are usually small and need careful observation. Most people are not qualified to do that and even if they were they'd lose a big chunk of that qualification by being personally involved.

[@killertruth186]

I think on my take from a personal experience about Oxytocin, there can be big changes if one person who is the receiver of oxytocin is sad/down and the person who would deliver it is happy/joyful. I had experienced that twice and notice the difference. Because both times I had been feeling down. Maybe you will never find out in such a small sample or even huge amount. I think the volume is what matters. None of this was recorded on any experiments. Nor it is a scientific fact. Just my story and experience.

[@deedeee6271]

Congrats on 600K subscribers!

[@braincraft]

THANK YOU!

[@dirrelito]

This is great. It is lovely to get some facts and current research. But I'd be even more delighted if you'd include some effect sizes and confidence intervals from the studies cited. Saying "it is not clear" becomes so much more precise if you show some numbers. Could you please include some in future videos like this? And thanks again. Great video!

[@almightytreegod]

I was always skeptical of that "hug hormone" idea, but to be fair, it was likely due to serotonin reabsorbtion issues. lol

[@todolson5040]

This morning, before this turned up in my feed(!) I encountered a suggestion that one way of reading the experimental results from both animal and human research is that oxytocin is that it has the effect of decreasing anxiety and increasing confidence. The author was clear this was not established, but suggested that is a better fit than the “love molecule” reading (e.g. both for the pro-social and more confrontational effects) and would be worth more exploration. See Jaak Panksepp (2012) “The Archaeology of Mind: Neuroevolutionary Origins of Human Emotion”, pp. 38-42 (and elsewhere).

[@legendp2011]

I haven't even heard of Oxytocin before, still this should be an interesting watch, always high quality content

[@BeckyStern]

Great video, Vanessa! May Luna's memory give you great joy. 💔

[@braincraft]

Thanks Becky 😢

[@eoincampbell1584]

I'm not sure if oxytocin increasing schadenfreude is necessarily a negative thing. Schadenfreude may be joy at others' pain but it's not usually sadistic joy, it's laughter. And it requires a certain amount of empathy towards the person in pain to have any reaction to their experience no?

[@orsettomorbido]

Thanks for the video! Is harsh sometimes to have some stuff debunked, but it's ultimately more useful!

[@SievertSchreiber]

Great video! Bonus points for the subtitles 👍

[@braincraft]

Thanks! 😃

[@HulluHurtta]

Highly agree, the subtitles are an absolute blessing! Makes scientific and research heavy content way more easier to access and follow for anyone and speficially ie. non-native speakers, ones having from hearing issues, etc. Thank you so much BrainCraft for taking the time to make them (yourself or through someone else), it is too often easily missed effort!

[@trauma2happiness]

Thanks for dispelling the myths. Liked and subscribed.

[@CherryFlower24]

Well I don't know but what i know is when i hug my mom, it feels like a 30 min meditation xD and i feel so good after

[@ScreamingLemon]

I really enjoy your videos! I just subscribed and have been "binge" watching your shows. One thing I can't find here is a condition I have of Synesthesia. I see days of the week as colors and months as shapes. I would like to see your take on this condition sometime.

[@Urspo]

You remain a most sensible and entertaining source of science and reason.

[@krein511]

so interesting as always, Vanessa!

[@dailydoseofmedicinee]

warm, fuzzy feelings

[@nikisawyers7559]

It can also contribute to postpartum depression if you bypass your body’s oxytocin and have ANY amount of Pitocin during/after labor.

[@nikisawyers7559]

You should do an episode on this.

[@stillme4084]

Great video. Thanks. Be well.

[@cruzcflores]

On the plus side this channel is like a hug for my brain

[@eaterdrinker000]

I wish it weren't, if ya know what I mean!

[@lakrids-pibe]

I was just watching Severance, and now I have new theories about the mysterious baby goats.

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks so much!

[@kellydalstok8900]

Hugging anyone other than my daughter and grandchildren actually makes me feel uncomfortable. Not having greet people with a hug or a kiss during Covid actually made me happy.

[@DrPatrickKingsep]

Hi Interesting video to watch on oxytocin - thanks for putting this out there for others to learn from too!

[@nataliem4434]

Fascinating! Though I wish you went further into what we *do* know about it, rather than just the misconceptions. Or maybe we just don't know that much yet?

[@Alresu]

The pronounciation of "Schadenfreude" was fine. Sounded like there was a little lisp, and the second "e" could have been longer, but I heard much, much worse from people that thought they'd sounded way, way better. (08:37)

[@michaelzumpano7318]

This was a great topic for a video! I really liked the example of the oxytocin bomb - the lesson being that things are always more complex than we thought they were. And you are lovely and smart, as always.

[@shuja8156]

Hi is oxytocin addictive and do you take it short term to snap out

[@SpearChuck777]

Daniel lives in the attic, empty bookshelf, no pictures, gray walls...is there no one up there? I'd say he needs to make some lactobacillus reuteri yogurt.

[@jaypaans3471]

I got a bit of Aspergers and I wanna say: When I was young, my feelings and behavior were pretty typical for the diagnose (which I only got at a pretty later age) but those things also slowly decreased over the years. Then, a couple of years ago, I used Citalopram (a SSRI) and I dare to say that the autism that I had, was gone. When I stopped, I did indeed regress to a point where I chose to start using is again.

[@outpostcheerfuloyster]

SSRI works opposite on me; makes me more detached and unmotivated.

[@ivornoiv]

Hug is a big lower of stress and sadness, so something happens for sure.

[@orsolyadeak4962]

this was such a great and thorough video, thank you!! there are just way too many things in science that peolpe - including me - are misinformed about.

[@GlenHunt]

Instead of dropping oxytocin bombs on war zones, maybe lavender scented placebos? Or pictures of puppies. This interview was really great. I do have to admit that I've never seen an empty bookshelf behind a researcher before, though.

[@dsquintana]

I just moved house, my books are still in moving boxes 😊

[@GlenHunt]

@@dsquintana Then you'll have to do another interview when the bookshelf is full. Can't wait!

[@skeetsmcgrew3282]

What about lavender scented pictures of puppies?

[@winterinbloom]

Ah, lavender. Everyone will either relax or be crippled by raging headaches and sneezing.

[@PiggyXMalone]

Impressive book collection, Dan!

[@michaelwebster5967]

Somebody else noticed! Thank you.

[@brandontylerburt]

If you are uncomfortable being hugged, it's ok to say so, and anybody who hugs you against your will is a sociopath.

[@rachana777]

I feel the energy or the frequency that matters. So much non-verbal communication in terms of energies that is happening.

[@FuncleChuck]

Wait - you’re telling me I’m being lied to?? That I can’t trust the scientific value on the Nightly News fluff pieces, or some dude named “Dr Love”!? Shocking. Next you’re going to tell me that I shouldn’t form my political opinions from memes.

[@braincraft]

I'm sorry. Though sometimes I form political opinions based on memes, so you're safe there.

[@Friendship1nmillion]

@@braincraft Great #Video 📼📲 Even if some of it was randomly funny 🤣 . I'll be showing this to my { retired } Psychologist mother . Glad to hear my city of birth is indulging in such valuable research . *MAYBE* if the research is still on-going , I'll see IF i can be part of their test subjects at Oslo university 🏤🇳🇴 ? ♑️✍️🇦🇺🇳🇴

[@reaganharder1480]

Memes are a better source of political opinions than those Nightly News fluff pieces, because with a meme you know going in that some things are going to be overstated for effect.

[@somethingyousaid5059]

You don't need the insufferable background music.

[@Calaman345]

🎯..What about power posing increasing testosterone?

[@Noosa21]

Great to hear the Australian accent in KZbin videos! ... Yeah David from Sydney NSW.

[@JuliusUnique]

great video!

[@michaelbindner9883]

I wonder how it would work in PTSD therapy. This is also a trust issue situation.

[@exosproudmamabear558]

It works with psilocybin macrodosages. It increases trust when you are high, so it becomes easy to do therapy like hypnotherapy and it is damn effective in 3 macrodose and psychotherapy you can make almost half of the patients lose their ptsd diagnoses. It is in phase 2 for major depression,drug addiction and ptsd right now.And it is in phase 3 in drug resistant major depression, so it could come out in a few years, since phases usually go a little faster when the drug has been used for years safely. Ketamine for example came from research in 2,5 years, normally it takes like 10-15 years.

[@rainbowinthedark453]

@@exosproudmamabear558oxytocin WITH The ketamine or psilocybin?

[@RBCharger]

Good subject but half way through the video I stopped and learned all about "schadenfreude" and "epicaricacy" (a word that spell check doesn't seem to like). I've heard of schadenfreude before so this time I wanted to make an effort to get into my vocabulary.

[@brynyard]

Kinda fascinating that there's not a word for schadenfreude in English, it's a fairly universal and basic feeling (and it's quite prolific over in the colonies).

[@amirbahalegharn365]

the only way to increase the good part of oxytocin by hugging is to chant "abracadabra my life&soul" softly into his-her ears, ..and you will see it's effect on the one receiving a warm hug yep.that's how our hug should be from now on.

[@staceyhart9746]

😂

[@Nefi424]

The oxytocin bomb idea is particularly interesting. Not because of it's (lack of) usability, but what if someone who COULD make it happen, ignorant of it's actual harmful potential, would actually get it done and used it? What it if it wasn't a myth about hormones, but a much more harmful scientific misconception? Resources like these that debunk misinformation are very appreciated and important!

[@nathanaelink]

It’s been a while now that neurotransmitters and hormones have been getting popular by being grossly oversimplified.. I’m hopeful we can keep bringing back in the complexity and unknowns of how ALL of our neurotransmitters works in so many unknown ways in our body.

[@BNL07604]

Yeah I was just gonna say, it really depends on who you're hugging and variants like this.

[@michael35241]

This guy sounds like he hasn't studied oxytocin for a decade. He said 'Yes hugs release oxytocin but it *may* not be enough to affect the brain significantly.' He sounds like he's saying he doesn't understand something and therefore he knows it must be false

[@pauligrossinoz]

All hormones are very complex, and it's not likely any one of them can be reduced to such simplistic descriptions like "cuddle hormone". Just look at the heavily studied testosterone for example. One large study concluded that testosterone could not increase body mass, and that's actually true under some circumstances: If you don't do any exercise while taking testosterone supplements, you won't gain any body mass at all! Of course if you hit the weights hard while taking testosterone supplements, you will blow up like a balloon. Oxytocin, like any hormone, will likely have different effects depending on what the person is doing, thinking or experiencing at the time. Which is different for everyone in general.

[@wizard7314]

"Mixed evidence" is a euphemism for "strong evidence for no correlation". I disapprove of using the euphemism because it flies over most people's heads.

[@RaffieFaffie]

I don't understand what you said

[@derheadbanger9039]

Got is! I will start pinching people instead of hugging them - thanks science!

[@everythingisartyouknow]

One things for sure, this video reduced my trust levels

[@zannejae]

I suspect it has something to do with how regulated the nervous system is if the " positive effects" of oxytocin are felt. I can feel oxytocin effects, and it's strange to me he suggests people can't feel the difference.

[@peterturner6497]

"Even hugging their pets" What kind of soulless is this creature?

[@luddaite]

Watching this with facebook running in a side panel. What comes up on my feed, a video about how petting your dog releases Oxytocin...

[@ivannestorovic4495]

Does it have a role in addiction?

[@HagenvonEitzen]

8:37 The pronounciation of Schadenfreude was quite perfect, I don't even feel the urge to fremdschäm :)

[@TheSmiaf]

That's sad news.... I need a hug.

[@alienplatypus7712]

So is there any actual evidence that hugs don't release oxytocin? Claiming "Insufficient evidence" doesn't actually mean a lot. Affectionately pinching rats and hugging people may be a tenuous connection but it's still a connection. Has there actually been a study showing oxytocin _doesn't_ get released during hugs, or that it being released in your body doesn't coincide with any release in your brain?

[@titaa56]

Good points

[@18matts]

I was just wondering about you! Yputube never recommends you'd videos and it's been so long I couldn't remember the channel name. I'll hit the bell and hope that helps

[@sleepy_Dragon]

These researchers in the 60/70s were just men staring at goats. 😁

[@IceSpoon]

This "please remember to hug your dog"-video premiered after Luna passed away, giving it an entire new meaning. My condolences, Vanessa. I'm sure you two had plenty of hugs and she shall carry them to wherever they go when they go.

[@CHSidChou]

its interesting because the med i take for my narcolepsy is the same as my friends for ADHD even our behavior are kinda opposite but same med can treat it

[@reaganharder1480]

going to comment halfway through... "when we pinch rats experimentally" is such a fabulous phrase. Just like... wot?

[@Baggytrousers27]

TIL that you can buy a shirt with Trace Dominguez on it that says the classic "More research is needed."

[@steelstone4039]

I will do a science project and try it on myself to really see what is fact and what isn't.

[@aprilrahee]

Did you do the project?

[@THETRIVIALTHINGS]

Well, this is very interesting indeed. To know the actuality of oxytocin.

[@cancan-wq9un]

Chemicals can change behavior, that much is certain.

[@dj_laundry_list]

I was a participant in a study where males were given oxytocin followed by psychological tests, EEG, and blood draws. AMA

[@fandyus4125]

Did you actually feel any sort of "high" or something upon being given the oxytocin?

[@jukebox.monepyants]

If it didnt make you want to hug people, then what did it do?

[@dj_laundry_list]

@@fandyus4125 No, not particularly

[@dj_laundry_list]

@@jukebox.monepyants The most noticeable change was to social interaction. Sitting there for hours in a hospital bed watching nature videos on an empty stomach meant that the only pleasure I experienced was from socializing with the doctors once an hour. But when I was given the oxytocin, I didn't receive any pleasure from social interaction. I didn't really care, just kind of felt content regardless

[@fandyus4125]

@@dj_laundry_list Interesting, thanks.

[@riharrison7634]

So does oxytocin just amplifiers personality traits that you already have?

[@WanderTheNomad]

What's with the difference between the captions and the actual audio? 🤔

[@graphosxp]

“Have you heard about this new operation they’re supposed to have developed-the one where they cut out the imagination?” (I had in fact recently heard something like this.) “Yes, I know. Why do you bring that up?” “Because, if I were you, I’d go see about having that done.” - Yevgeny Zamyatin's "We"

[@jdspecht682]

Not sure what affect this video had on my oxytocin level but it sure was a dopamine boost 😀

[@ericarichardson2983]

I wonder if oxytocin has any relation to cuteness aggression

[@Densoro]

I’m curious if cuteness aggression is another sort of pop-psych misconception, similar to the oxytocin one. ‘We love cute things so much we want to kill them because we can’t handle it’ has a sort of horrifying, Freudian draw, feels like confronting a hard truth. When I examine my own cuteness aggression though, it feels more like, ‘Squish is comforting -> More squish must be more comforting! -> I want to maximum squish for maximum comfort! -> But this is such a tiny creature omg what if I hurt them? :’ D’ Fixating on ‘hurt them, hurt them, hurt them’ seems like a case of ‘taking intrusive thoughts too seriously.’ I believe our intrusive thoughts more often highlight and give a clear picture of things we _don’t want._ ‘Be careful of this mental image.’

[@Calaman345]

🎯...Did this guy give us ways to INCREASE Oxytocin OR is he just saying "no one knows how to increase " ? Cause thats useless

[@Videaprojaekt]

Schadenfreude, pretty well pronounced! :)

[@billmalcolm4291]

I'd like to also point out: there are many varieties of hugs that can convey different meanings. For example, there's the "I haven't seen you in ages!" hug, which generally includes a slightly longer embrace to make up for lost time and a symbolic attempt at not letting it happen again. Then there's a whole variety of hugs that include varying pats on the back, maybe a rub or two if it's a comforting hug, there's the "nice job, proud of you!" hug that may include a light grip on the trapezius muscle. There's even a few uncomfortable hugs, like the one arm "I don't really know you that well, so let's make it quick" embrace, the aggressive "we are both mad but at each other but are gonna do this anyways" hug. Point is, I've got thousands of varieties hugs over here, so come get yours!

[@eaterdrinker000]

YOU FORGOT THE VADGE HUG

[@reaganharder1480]

There's also the "somehow doesn't know how to hug despite having a dozen hugger friends" that involves awkwardly shoving your shoulder into people's neck...

[@jimiwills]

Why is this vid not on Nebula?

[@timeijs12]

I hope Dan's research pays well so he can fill his shelf

[@dsquintana]

Haha I just moved house so my books are still in their boxes

[@timeijs12]

@@dsquintana Congrats on the new house!

[@EmrysMerlin8807]

Show of hands who saw the title and confused it with Oxycontin?

[@braincraft]

Happened in my head a number of times while making it 🙋🏻‍♀️

[@EmrysMerlin8807]

@@braincraft Good to know I wasn't the only one. I recently found your channel and have a question- have you done anything on migraines, and/or do you have plans to do more? I'm a 33 year old man and have been suffering from frequent, severe migraines for going on 6 years now. I'd be willing to share my story if it would be of any help.

[@jordanangelov3795]

I'm autistic and I was thinking up this scenario: 1. Autistic takes oxytocin; 2. Pinches cats all day, so the cats 'pinch' him/her back and release even more oxytocin; 3. Because of increased schadenfreude doesn't feel remorse pinching the cats. - Problem with low oxytocin levels in autism solved.

[@Thorned_Rose]

Maybe do a follow up with Michel Odent as this is in his wheel house and he's a fount of information on oxytocin.

[@popoffs5273]

What doesn't help is that hugs actually do boost mood, but people attribute that to oxytocin, not the act of hugging.

[@reaganharder1480]

I mean, mood is quite effected by neurochemicals, but there's a lot more than just oxytocin going around up there.

[@UHFStation1]

I thought it was about bonding and trust. Never heard anything about hugs and pinches.

[@shanerichins3532]

I thought dogs didn’t like being hugged because to them it is an assertion of dominance.

[@trevorwest3457]

Based on what I know this was spot on... break a celibate state too intensely and you can feel some of these effects. Suggest researchers trial this.

[@kujmous]

Next do dopamine!

[@christopheb9221]

Seems like the same problem with serotonin(happy) and dopamine(pleasure). They body is way to complex to easier condense things because maybe there is a kernel of truth but a lot more to it and when it comes to the body not everyone is the same. When trying to explain things its easy to misrepresent things for sake of understanding if not an expert and then the game of telephone takes places. also seems biggest thing is people trying to sell stuff.

[@the1andonly]

If you leave the oxytocin out of the equation completely, hugging someone you're comfortable with and perhaps attracted, is great. No need to understand what exactly causes it 🙂

[@zaphodbeeblebrox1130]

oh Luna died !! sometimes Labradors are the best friends.😥😇 also glad to know that they failed to replicate the "trust-enabler-notion"; apart from just having the hormone, it might be important to sorta digest it as well, before it has an induced effect. yeah, in group bias can bring about more conflict. OK, bye.

[@zaphodbeeblebrox1130]

also i remember, discussing Harry Potter in the past, and the love-portion thing, was supposed to necessarily contain some oxytocin.