My favorite hormone is back in the news! And this time it might cure some mental illnesses. Oxytocin stimulates pair bonding, affection, and breast milk. It helps you associate good feelings with social interactions and to be able to empathize with others. Mothers who have their oxytocin production interfered with stop nursing and caring for their young; children who are neglected in their youth grow up with stunted oxytocin receptors. Researchers now think that oxytocin could help those with mental illnesses that affect sociability or empathy (like autism).

It's coincidental that I just read Above the Thunder and was thinking that I must have a lack of oxytocin in my system -- my mothering and nurturing instincts are low.

It's also coincidental that I was just talking to a friend of mine about how some really intelligent tech geeks are sort of autistic in that they aren't very good socially -- they can't read signals, they don't know how to interract with people, or sometimes even don't know why they should bother.

Perhaps we could all use a little extra oxytocin: I love you, you love me; let's take care of our family.