biological explanation for polyamory?

Link from aleatoria!

Scientists have found a genetic link to monogamy in voles (which are prairie dogs, I think).

Previous research with captive male prairie voles, which form lifelong bonds with a single partner, indicated that the animals had high levels of vasopressin receptors in the ventral pallidum, a brain region closely associated with the reward system. In contrast, captive male meadow voles, which often take multiple partners throughout their lives, lacked vasopressin receptors. In the new work, Miranda M. Lim of Emory University and her colleagues inserted a gene that encodes for the vasopressin receptor protein directly into the brains of male meadow voles. The researchers then observed the animals' behavior as they were introduced to a variety of potential partners. They found that meadow voles treated with gene therapy acted more like their prairie vole counterparts--they spent more time huddling near their original companion.

londo has high levels of vasopressin receptors. ;)

biological explanation for polyamory?

Link from aleatoria!

Scientists have found a genetic link to monogamy in voles (which are prairie dogs, I think).

Previous research with captive male prairie voles, which form lifelong bonds with a single partner, indicated that the animals had high levels of vasopressin receptors in the ventral pallidum, a brain region closely associated with the reward system. In contrast, captive male meadow voles, which often take multiple partners throughout their lives, lacked vasopressin receptors. In the new work, Miranda M. Lim of Emory University and her colleagues inserted a gene that encodes for the vasopressin receptor protein directly into the brains of male meadow voles. The researchers then observed the animals' behavior as they were introduced to a variety of potential partners. They found that meadow voles treated with gene therapy acted more like their prairie vole counterparts--they spent more time huddling near their original companion.

londo has high levels of vasopressin receptors. ;)

more articles on the chemistry of love

If you were interested in that last article, shogunhb just posted a link to some others about the chemistry of love - and they're really interesting. Check 'em out.

From http://www.oxytocin.org/oxytoc/love-science.html :

Parts of the brain that are love-bitten include the one responsible for gut feelings, and the ones which generate the euphoria induced by drugs such as cocaine. So the brains of people deeply in love do not look like those of people experiencing strong emotions, but instead like those of people snorting coke.

From http://www.oxytocin.org/cuddle-hormone/ :

In addition, studies show that oxytocin in females, as well as the closely related vasopressin in males, is key to pair bonding. / The hormone is naturally released in response to a variety of environmental stimuli including...uterine or cervical stimulation during sex. / Since the release of oxytocin can be classically conditioned, after repeatedly having sex with the same partner, just seeing that partner could release more oxytocin, making you want to be with that person all the more, and you bond, she said.

more articles on the chemistry of love

If you were interested in that last article, shogunhb just posted a link to some others about the chemistry of love - and they're really interesting. Check 'em out.

From http://www.oxytocin.org/oxytoc/love-science.html :

Parts of the brain that are love-bitten include the one responsible for gut feelings, and the ones which generate the euphoria induced by drugs such as cocaine. So the brains of people deeply in love do not look like those of people experiencing strong emotions, but instead like those of people snorting coke.

From http://www.oxytocin.org/cuddle-hormone/ :

In addition, studies show that oxytocin in females, as well as the closely related vasopressin in males, is key to pair bonding. / The hormone is naturally released in response to a variety of environmental stimuli including...uterine or cervical stimulation during sex. / Since the release of oxytocin can be classically conditioned, after repeatedly having sex with the same partner, just seeing that partner could release more oxytocin, making you want to be with that person all the more, and you bond, she said.

Better Living Through Chemistry?

I kept getting pulled deeper and deeper into the last website whose links I posted, so I figured I'd just say, start here:

http://www.bltc.com/

Better Living Through Chemistry?

I kept getting pulled deeper and deeper into the last website whose links I posted, so I figured I'd just say, start here:

http://www.bltc.com/

Cookie dough, sex, and human sacrifice.

This is a poll. Please answer before checking what my answer is.

[Poll #310206]
Had a fun night with alexx_kay, his beautiful wife, rufinia, and two others whose online privacy status I am unaware of, so I won't name them. We watched Buffy. The two-part intro to season 6 as well as OMWF (the musical episode). And, of course, the last 15 minutes of "Smashed", where Buffy and Spike tear down the house. Mmm yeah.

Now I will sleep for an extended period of time, and when I wake up I will begin to clean up my room. *gasp*

Cookie dough, sex, and human sacrifice.

This is a poll. Please answer before checking what my answer is.

[Poll #310206]
Had a fun night with alexx_kay, his beautiful wife, rufinia, and two others whose online privacy status I am unaware of, so I won't name them. We watched Buffy. The two-part intro to season 6 as well as OMWF (the musical episode). And, of course, the last 15 minutes of "Smashed", where Buffy and Spike tear down the house. Mmm yeah.

Now I will sleep for an extended period of time, and when I wake up I will begin to clean up my room. *gasp*