Episode 16: Oxytocin & the Power of Love (Hormones)
“Tending, blending, and befriending” – that’s the power of oxytocin. Explore how this love hormone shows up for YOU…and how to get more of it in your life.
“My Chemical Romance”…it’s the name of a New Jersey-based punk band, yet it’s so much more than that.
Because chemicals, specifically hormones and neurotransmitters, work together in an elaborate dance as we – across the gender spectrum – pursue and enjoy connection, and nurture the long-term bonds that love can bring.
Oxytocin, vasopressin, and a host of other neurochemicals help drive and shape our experience of love, friendship, and other bonds. Yet in today’s world, there’s interference: stress chemicals and even dopamine, a reward transmitter strongly associated with our use of tech, change the way the brain produces, releases, and receives hormonal messages. In ways that may surprise you.
Listen in for what may be happening behind the chemical scenes – and what you can do to bring more of the good stuff, neurochemically speaking, to your brain.
“Male love circuitry gets an extra kick when stress levels are high. After an intense physical challenge, for example, males will bond quickly and sexually with the first willing female they lay eyes on.
”Women, by contrast, will rebuff advances or expressions of affection and desire when under stress. It may be that the stress hormone cortisol blocks oxytocin’s action in the female brain, abruptly shutting off a woman’s desire for sex and physical touch.”
—Dr. Louanne Brizendine
Highly HIGHLY recommended. Watch the whole thing – you’ll learn much about how the female brain – and experience – evolves over time – and get a stellar example of 70-something female badassery. These women are awesome!
Learn more about Louann and her work at www.louannbrizendine.com. Definitely worth a visit! Also, It’s All In Your Head: a worthwhile (and short) review of her book “The Female Brain.”
Explore more in this excellent article by Harvard article, “Love Actually: The Science Behind Lust, Attraction, and Companionship.”
Had to do it – here’s the “hug” scene from the beautiful documentary “My Octopus Teacher.” See if it activates your leucine encephalin the way it did mine.
Have six minutes? Sure you do! Stand up and enjoy this smile (and oxytocin) boosting dance break, courtesy of Nia On Demand.
Dr. Shelley Taylor on stress and health across the lifespan. Follow this link to learn more.
I also highly recommend this short talk by Elizabeth Lesser, cofounder of The Omega Institute, on the power of Tend and Befriend.
Big thanks to The Commonwealth Club of San Francisco for their fantastic content and for always being awesome.
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You’ll also find info on our beautiful theme song, used with permission from the artist, below.
Best, Ellen
ellen@thebrainandbeyond.com
I hope you enjoy the music I’ve arranged with artist Lucia Lilikoi to share on my podcast.
Here’s her website, lilikoimusic.com … and you can listen to the full version here, and follow her on Apple Music and Spotify. Her website links to a range listening platforms. Enjoy.
