Vasopressin's Sexier Side

Compared with the trust-inducing oxytocin or the fight-or-flight power of adrenaline, vasopressin may seem rather dull. The hormone is known mostly for its ability to control blood pressure and water absorption in the kidneys.In the past few years, though, studies have revealed vasopressin's flashier side. It turns out that the hormone controls emotions including anxiety, fear and aggression. A new study in the Journal of Neuroscience for the first time pinpoints the brain circuits that underlie these abilities.Inhaled vasopressin has been shown to provoke aggressive responses to faces, and to cause people to judge others' faces as less friendly, than they would otherwise.Read more at...SFARI, July 2010.