"Larry Young found that the brains of the voles are such that the pleasure reward of sexual activity becomes linked to a specific partner. This mechanism involves oxytocin and vasopressin, and the voles become, in effect, addicted to each other."
"Young tested this by dropping voles into beakers of water to determine the degree of struggle offered by the voles. He found that prairie voles who had just lost a partner struggled to a lesser degree than those who were not so bereft."
"This research suggests that human depression of this sort has a chemical basis and could be cured. This is what is often attempted with therapy and medication."
Prairie voles are unique among mammals for their lifelong pair bonding, driven by brain chemistry involving oxytocin and vasopressin. Researchers found that these voles become addicted to their partners, similar to addiction in humans. Genetic modifications in meadow voles demonstrated that bonding behavior can be induced through chemical changes. Prairie voles also experience depression upon losing a partner, with their struggle in water tests indicating emotional distress. This suggests that human emotional responses to loss may have a chemical basis, potentially treatable through therapy and medication.
Read at A Philosopher's Blog
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