Oxytocin Is a Hormone Produced by the Posterior Pituitary Gland

question 19

Multiple Choice

Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the posterior pituitary gland that causes female uterine muscles to contract during childbirth and female mammary glands to eject milk during nursing. Oxytocin also occurs naturally in males and is involved in movement of sperm and production of testosterone. It has been given the common name of "the love hormone" because oxytocin is linked to human behaviors including sexual arousal and trust.
In 2012, The Atlantic (a popular news source) published a brief online news summary that explained that when scientists in Germany gave men who were in a monogamous relationship with a woman a nasal spray containing oxytocin, the men were less attracted to an attractive female stranger than men who were given a nasal spray with no oxytocin. While The Atlantic provided a link to the original scientific study, the summary drew conclusions and stated implications that included the following:
1. In men, oxytocin promotes monogamous relationships because it keeps them from communicating with women who are attractive to them.
2. If a man is unable to obtain a nasal spray with oxytocin, there are other means by which oxytocin release can be stimulated during a monogamous relationship: sexual intercourse, hand-holding, and touching.
-Biologically, why might oxytocin have the nickname "the love hormone"?

• A) because it has a role in reproductive behavior of males only
• B) because it has a role in reproductive behavior of females only
• C) because it has a role in reproductive behavior of both males and females
• D) because it has a role in androgen development

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Definitions:

Marginal Utility

The additional satisfaction or benefit gained from consuming one more unit of a good or service.

Indifference Curve

A graphical representation showing combinations of goods among which a consumer is indifferent, indicating the same level of utility or satisfaction.

Budget Line

The graphical depiction of the trade-off between two goods, demonstrating the combinations that a consumer can afford based on their income and the goods' prices.

Marginal Utility

The change in total satisfaction received from consuming one additional unit of a good or service.