Oxytocin, called the "love hormone," has been shown to make human beings more generous, confident, and social. Now, a team of researchers from Emory University in Atlanta (USA) has discovered that this hormone also has the same effect in many species of mammals, such as dogs.
To find out, they had the participation of 16 dogs over 1 year of age , with their corresponding owners. Scientists sprayed the muzzles of some dogs with oxytocin and others with saline. The canines were later taken to a room where their owners were. Previously, experts had asked their owners to ignore any touches or greetings from their dog.
The researchers found that dogs that had been doused with oxytocin were more likely to sniff, lick or paw their owners than those who received the saline solution . In the same way, they also spent much more time looking into their eyes than the dogs that had not received the oxytocin spray.
The study, which has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , reveals that oxytocin is not only produced between mammals during reproduction, but can help form and maintain social relationships between different species , as in this case between humans and dogs.
