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54
April 26 • 2012
Israeli researcher studying
applications for oxytocin.
Ronelle Grier
PHILIP TR{I., food & Beverage Director A8-6614050 Farmington gills
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Love Hormone
Contributing Writer
W bile the idea of studying
the mysteries of love in
a research lab may seem
unromantic, the results of such studies
could prove beneficial for a variety of
people, including new parents, roman-
tic couples and children with autism.
Dr. Ilanit Gordon, who earned a
PhD in experimental psychology from
Bar-Ilan University in Ramat Gan,
Israel, is one of a group of scientists at
Yale University in New Haven who are
studying the neurobiology of love. She
was in Metro Detroit late last month
for the American Friends of Bar-Ilan
University.
Gordon's research
focuses on a chemi-
cal called oxytocin,
often referred to as
the "love hormone:'
and its effects on
parental bonding,
romantic relation-
Dr. Ilanit
ships, social skills
Gordon
and other personal
interactions.
"Some very dramatic chemical
changes occur during bonding, and
oxytocin is a key player;' she said.
Some of the results have surprised
Gordon and her colleagues, such as
the discovery that men and women
have very similar levels of oxytocin.
"We previously assumed the levels
would be higher in women:' Gordon
said. "We now consider it a human
hormone instead of a female hor-
mone. This has been a learning expe-
rience."
The studies also found that the
hormone levels tend to synchronize
when two people bond. For example, a
couple in a romantic relationship will
often have matching oxytocin levels.
Gordon added that further research is
needed to determine which came first:
Whether the hormonal similarity pre-
cipitated the initial attraction or if one
or both partners' levels changed as a
result of being together.
"Regular sex can act as a synchroniz-
ing mechanism; so can sharing a life.
Context is everything," said Gordon,
adding that oxytocin levels gener-
ally decline after a relationship ends,
although the decrease is usually more
pronounced in women than in men.
"Simply giving someone a hug can
raise levels (of oxytocin)," she said.
"Our preliminary results show that
there is a lot of promising potential."
Previous studies on oxytocin had
been done primarily on the bonding
process experienced by new moth-
ers, but Gordon hopes to expand the
research to include various kinds
of personal relationships and social
interactions. Some of these include
becoming a grandparent as well as the
bereavement process.
Prior to attending Bar-Ilan, where
she worked with world-renowned
scientist Prof. Ruth Feldman, Gordon
received her undergraduate degree in
psychology and communication from
Tel Aviv University
"Dr. Gordon gave a tremendous
presentation that enhances our knowl-
edge of the physio-psychological influ-
ences that hormones have on our per-
sonalities, our lives': said Dr. Stanley
Levy, a Bloomfield Township internist
who attended the Friends of Bar-Ilan
University event.
Gordon is also breaking new ground
in the field of autism; specifically, how
oxytocin can be used to improve some
of the social deficits commonly found
in children with autism spectrum dis-
order (ASD).
Part of her research in the Yale Child
Neuroscience Laboratory involves a
double-blind study where synthetic
oxytocin is administered to children
with autism. One group receives the
hormone, while the other group is
given a placebo. Gordon said that
although the changes have been sub-
tle, many of the children who received
the synthetic hormone showed
improved eye contact and were more
engaged in their personal interactions.
"Most of the parents could tell the
difference,' said Gordon.
When her post-doctoral work at
Yale concludes next year, Gordon
wants to return to her native Israel to
continue her research at Bar-Ilan to
do more specific behavioral analyses
on how oxytocin impacts the brain.
The hope is to improve social skills
by using the hormone in combination
with behavioral treatment to enhance
the effectiveness of the therapy.
"We brought in Dr. Gordon to
demonstrate Bar-Ilan's excellence
to donors and friends:' said Les
Goldstein, Midwest director of
the American Friends of Bar-Ilan
University. Given the uniqueness of
her work, I think that goal was accom-
plished." El