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RE: MystiFACT-or-FICTION response #1 – Orgasmic oxytocin
Oxytocin is affected by the galvanic skin response and other stressor responses. Even to sodium. Oxytocin is usually only known for its positive bonding action however it should be seen more as a learning hormone as it controls the fear response as well. The love hormone(peptide) is B-PEA
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4748433/
I agree that PEA may be involved in love as well as oxytocin and it is not as simple as just saying that one single chemical is entirely responsible for the single and very complex emotion that is love. Historically oxytocin is known as the 'love hormone' whether it is actually directly involved in love is another matter. Additionally I was under the impression that PEA acts more as a neurotransmitter in the brain rather than a hormone in the bloodstream like oxytocin. Of course oxytocin has many effects not just in sex and relationships. But as one of its effects is to increase phenethylamines like you suggest then it can be seen as being involved in love.
I would love to hear your response to this and thank you for informing me more about the effects of PEA.
True that PEA is not generally classified as a hormone. It is a neuropeptide. Oxytocin is better classified as the connection hormone as it increases associations from both desireable and indesireable stimulation. Its classification as the love hormone ignores its role in fear conditioning. Without PEA's involvement, oxytocin would not effectively elicit a "love" deep rewarding association, more that of meh-like at best
Thank you for clarifying, as I touched upon in my article, oxytocin has a wide array of effects. I personally did not give the name 'love hormone' to oxytocin, it is simply what the hormone has become known as to many people as a sort of nickname. I agree that labelling if the love hormone does overlook the other aspects of the hormone and without PEA oxytocin would not elicit a feeling of love. That being said, oxytocin does cause some feeling associated with love which is how it got its nickname. Perhaps it is known as the 'love hormone' becasue it activates PEA.
Forgive me, I believe I was mistaken, oxytocin does not seem to influence phenethylamine levels as I had thought I remembered. Oxytocin is coinervated with dopamine however phenethylamine allows for the buildup of said dopamine. Which in turn I would think enhance oxytocin as well. For a moment I had thought oxytocin to similarly modulate dopamine reuptake.