Hormones and Puppy Love

TL;DR

New research suggests that humans and dogs have a deep emotional bond due to the release of oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone," when they make eye contact.

Transcript

It’s high time we here at SciShow dispel this myth that YouTube is all about cat videos. The fact is we like dogs as well. We’ve talked a lot about the science of canines -- like their health, their behavior, and how they evolved alongside humans to become our companions and helpmates and friends. But this week scientists said they may have pinpoin... Read More

Key Insights

• 😃 Dogs and humans have a unique bond that is reinforced by the release of oxytocin during eye contact.
• ❓ Oxytocin is a hormone associated with various aspects of relationships, including parenting.
• 👋 Humans and dogs share a feel-good feedback loop, driving each other's levels of oxytocin and strengthening their emotional bond.
• 🤵 This hormonal bond is not observed in wild canines, highlighting the special relationship between humans and domesticated dogs.
• 🦧 The human gut microbiome varies significantly between isolated populations and industrialized societies.
• 🇵🇬 Remote populations, such as those in rural Papua New Guinea and the Yanomami in the Venezuelan Amazon, have vastly different gut bacteria compared to those in industrialized societies.
• 😚 Industrialized societies may have lost some natural microbial diversity due to advancements in public health and sanitation practices.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why do humans have a deep emotional bond with dogs?

Humans have a deep emotional bond with dogs due to the release of oxytocin, which creates a similar chemical connection as the one between parents and their babies.

Q: How do humans and dogs release oxytocin in each other?

Humans and dogs release oxytocin when they make eye contact with each other, creating a feel-good feedback loop that reinforces their bond.

Q: Do wild canines show the same hormonal response to humans?

No, wild canines, including wolves raised in captivity, do not show the same intimate, hormonal response to humans as domesticated dogs do.

Q: What are the effects of oxytocin in humans?

Oxytocin stimulates contractions during childbirth, promotes the production of breast milk during nursing, and is associated with feelings of comfort, security, and intimate behaviors.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Scientists have discovered that humans have a similar hormonal response to their dogs as they do to their own babies, due to the release of oxytocin.

• Oxytocin, a hormone associated with comfort, security, and parenting, is released in both dogs and humans when they make eye contact with each other.

• This hormonal bond between humans and dogs has not been observed in wild canines, suggesting a unique relationship between humans and domesticated dogs.