Friendship Chemistry: How Oxytocin Shapes Who We Bond With
New research on prairie voles shows that while oxytocin is not strictly necessary for friendship, it plays a vital role in quickly forming and maintaining strong social bonds. Voles lacking oxytocin receptors took up to a week to develop preferences for peers that normal voles formed in a day, and they often failed to prioritize known companions in group settings. These receptor-deficient voles also pressed less to access a peer and were less avoidant of strangers, indicating reduced social selectivity. The findings highlight oxytocin’s dual role in fostering affiliation with trusted companions and reinforcing boundaries with outsiders. ….[READ]
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