December 12, 2011
Oxytocin is Greek for “swift birth,” but this hormone — which helps induce labor and promote lactation — has garnered many other names in the media, from the “cuddle chemical” to the “morality molecule.” The “pro-social” effects of oxytocin on humans has become the subject of innumerable [...]
September 20, 2011
By Bethann Hromatka The human brain is hardwired to receive chemical signals from our environment. It primarily does this through receptors—proteins on the surfaces of cells that catch specific molecules when they pass by. An interesting class of receptors is the mu-opioid receptors, so named because [...]
