Neurohormone Research

[Helo]

I was wondering if anyone had spent much time researching or had any working knowledge of neurohypophysial hormones, specifically oxytocin.

For various reasons, I've spent the last several months researching it, how the body produces it, and the mechanics of its actions in the body and the brain. I've gone through almost everything available online and been hacking through some textbooks that I've...come across and frankly run into a bit of a wall.

Some literal ones in the form of paywalls to the really good research and some figurative ones in that I'm just way in over my head with a lot of this. A lot of it seems to be academic-speak for "fuck if we know."

A little knowledge sharing would be a great help right about now.

[AphroditeGoneAwry]

I was wondering if anyone had spent much time researching or had any working knowledge of neurohypophysial hormones, specifically oxytocin.

For various reasons, I've spent the last several months researching it, how the body produces it, and the mechanics of its actions in the body and the brain. I've gone through almost everything available online and been hacking through some textbooks that I've...come across and frankly run into a bit of a wall.

Some literal ones in the form of paywalls to the really good research and some figurative ones in that I'm just way in over my head with a lot of this. A lot of it seems to be academic-speak for "fuck if we know."

A little knowledge sharing would be a great help right about now.


Why oxytocin specifically?

[Helo]

Why oxytocin specifically?
Oxytocin does a number of things in the brain and among those is a somewhat nebulous (as far as I have been able to piece together) relationship with physical contact in humans. The levels of oxytocin in the blood flux when someone is touched and leads to feelings of comfort and attachment to another person.

I've noted a somewhat abnormal reaction in my own self with regards to physical contact and after several months of backtracking, oxytocin is the most likely candidate for the X factor.

[AphroditeGoneAwry]

Oxytocin does a number of things in the brain and among those is a somewhat nebulous (as far as I have been able to piece together) relationship with physical contact in humans. The levels of oxytocin in the blood flux when someone is touched and leads to feelings of comfort and attachment to another person.

I've noted a somewhat abnormal reaction in my own self with regards to physical contact and after several months of backtracking, oxytocin is the most likely candidate for the X factor.


How did you track it to oxytocin? Do you mean in yourself, or the other?

[InfinitePossibility]

I suspect that like most things, oxytocin interacts in a complex way with other chemicals in the body and that it is affected also by what we do with our bodies and how we interpret the world around us.

Rises in oxytocin are also associated with stroking pets. Dogs also experience rises in oxytocin when interacting with humans (and probably other dogs too).

Probably the scientific speak for "fuck if we know" is right about it.

Candace Pert writes some good stuff about neurotransmitters - particularly about the influence of the mind and the body on each other. Her books are written for lay people so quite easy to follow.

Here's a youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJBUmdXxsSg

I also rather like Bruce Lipton's book Biology of Belief which covers some epigenetics - so more about how the environment around us can influence the way our bodies work.

Fascinating stuff. :)

[Helo]

How did you track it to oxytocin? Do you mean in yourself, or the other?
In myself.

Being of limited resources (and apparently limited capacity to influence healthcare professionals) a lot of it has had to come from awareness of my own body.

I noted that the changes in mood and the physical reactions happened after periods of intimate (though not necessarily sexual) contact. There is only a limited number of reactions the body has as a reaction to touch, oxytocin being one of them. With oxytocin's role in increasing pair bonding and engendering feelings of trust with someone else, you can draw the conclusion that oxytocin is the most likely actor.

I suspect that like most things, oxytocin interacts in a complex way with other chemicals in the body and that it is affected also by what we do with our bodies and how we interpret the world around us.

Rises in oxytocin are also associated with stroking pets. Dogs also experience rises in oxytocin when interacting with humans (and probably other dogs too).

Probably the scientific speak for "fuck if we know" is right about it.

Candace Pert writes some good stuff about neurotransmitters - particularly about the influence of the mind and the body on each other. Her books are written for lay people so quite easy to follow.

Here's a youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJBUmdXxsSg

I also rather like Bruce Lipton's book Biology of Belief which covers some epigenetics - so more about how the environment around us can influence the way our bodies work.

Fascinating stuff. :)
Indeed, I'd not seen that video, thank you.

I actually brought it up here because I think the poly community has a little more insight and experience with the effects of oxytocin than others might. We recognize its influence and we even have a term for it; "new relationship energy."

[LovingRadiance]

You might dig around in research regarding premature babies. It is a highly desired topic of study-so tends to get decent funding-thus resulting in more studies and more data.
One of the key details that has been studied is the need of babies for physical touch and what it does in terms of benefits and how-which-very well could lead to finding more info on oxytocin in that circumstance-which doesn't cross directly to adults-but could lead to some interesting theories and ideas.

Also-I wanted to say-I skipped your thread for several days because I thought it was spam. So you might consider re-wording your title so that it is a little more obvious that it's not spam. ;)

Great topic by the way!