The Oxytocin Factor
Oxytocin Biology
9 amino acids, found unchanged chemically in all mammals.
Stress hormones
Adrenaline and cortisol
Unhealthy Activities to Release Oxytocin
Alcohol use, drug use, fatty foods
Cerebral Cortex
Our memory center and manager of conscious thought processes.
Location of Oxytocin
Pituitary gland
Spinal Cord (Lower CNS)
Primitive functions
Oxytocin Effects on Mating
Promotes Male-Female bonding
Neurotransmitters
Released when electrical impulse (negative charge => positive charge) reaches nerve ending
Dangerous Sex
Releases vasopressin, promotes stress reaction: aggression, high blood pressure, tightened muscles, reduced emotional response, desensitization to touch.
Neurons
Send and receive signals
Oxytocin fuels
a coordinating and modulating system that works through the blood stream and through many nerve branches linking to important control areas of the brain.
Oxytocin producing cells
receive and deliver communications through nerve and chemical contact with the environment.
Healthy Activities to Release Oxytocin
Exercise, sex, meditation, socializing
Sex
Increase output of oxytocin. Facilitates healing, digestion and promotes anti-stress.
Touch and Physical Contact
Increase oxytocin secretion, establishes emotional bond, emotional wellbeing, physical health
Testosterone
Increase release of vasopressin. Leads to aggression and defensive mechanisms.
Sympathetic Nervous System
Increased heart rate, elevated blood flow to muscles, adrenal gland secretes stress hormones
Oxytocin Affects on Sex
Influences mating behavior, stimulates release of eggs from ovaries, transports eggs through fallopian tubes, production/transportation of sperm
Lower brain
Limbic system, amygdala and hypothalamus
Spinal Cord
Link between body and higher levels of nervous system. Transports nerve signals from body's periphery to the brain.
Calm and Connection Response
Lowered blood pressure and heart rate, increase circulation in skin and mucous membranes, lowered level of stress hormones; more effective digestion, nutritional uptake and storage.
Oxytocin and Physical Closeness
Maternal behavior, sexual activity, social interaction
Orgasm
Maximum concentration of oxytocin in males and females
Protuberances
Axons in neurons that receive signals through dendrites.
Vasopressin
Balances body's fluid level and helps raise blood pressure. Stimulates defensive actions and useful in fight-or-flight response.
Spinal Anasthetic
Blocks oxytocin release
Central Nervous System
Brain, Lower brain (limbic system), Spinal Cord
Post-Sex Effects
Calm, relaxed, drowsy
Synapse
Connection between two nerves
Estrogen
Oxytocin enhancer. Promotes calm and connection response.
Mother-Offspring Bonding
Oxytocin important to this relationship especially after birth.
Serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline
Oxytocin is influenced/influences these hormones
Effects of Oxytocin (Childbirth + Nursing)
Speeds up birthing process, promoted expulsion of breast milk, produces effects associated with state of calm and connection, increases mother's interaction with her young and creates a bond.
Lower Brain (Limbic System)
Survival and reproduction
High Oxytocin Levels
Tendency to fall asleep
Moderate Oxytocin Levels
Tendency to feel calm, unafraid, social
Brain (Cerebral Cortex)
Thought, memory, planning
Pleasant Stimuli
Trigger the brain's release of oxytocin (calm and connection response)