Once bitten, twice shy, unless your brain is flooded with
oxytocin.
Swiss researchers have shown that the hormone first
discovered for its role in labor and lactation also helps people learn to trust
again after betrayal. The hormone has been linked to trust before, but the new
study, published in the May 22 Neuron,
is the first to demonstrate that oxytocin works on a brain region involved with
fear processing and areas involved in anticipating reward and resolving conflict.
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