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AND the fun... with Eskimo Jacks made-to-order ice cream sandwiches 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