The Compass of Pleasure by David J. Linden

Author:David J. Linden
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: Penguin Group USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-06-25T04:00:00+00:00

What does this vole research tell us about our own behavior? Human sexual and social behavior shares some similarities with that of rodents, but has some important differences as well. It shows much greater variability and individuality, for example, and is less closely tied to the olfactory system. At present, it is tempting to speculate that those of us with cheatin’ hearts might have differences in brain dopamine, vasopressin, or oxytocin signaling when compared to our more faithful friends who have adopted the prairie vole lifestyle. Indeed there are some suggestive initial findings in support of this idea. For example, analysis of genetic variation in the aforementioned VR1a type of vasopressin receptor showed that male carriers of the “344 allele” of this receptor and their wives reported lower marital satisfaction and a higher incidence of marital crisis in the previous year. Young adults with higher levels of circulating oxytocin reported greater bonding with their parents and a lower incidence of depression. A single study has reported that circulating oxytocin is decreased in autistic subjects as compared to age-matched controls, but this finding has yet to be replicated. There’s a great deal of promise for the development of a neurochemical model of long-term human attachment, but that promise has yet to be fully realized.

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