What does the "love hormone" do? It's complicated

(Weizmann Institute of Science) Much of what we know about the actions of neuromodulators like oxytocin comes from behavioral studies of lab animals in standard lab conditions. These conditions are strictly controlled and artificial, in part so that researchers can limit the number of variables affecting behavior. A number of recent studies suggest that the actions of a mouse in a semi-natural environment can teach us much more about natural behavior, and maybe apply those findings to humans.