https://medicalxpress.com/ en-us Medical Xpress internet news portal provides the latest news on Health and Medicine. A change in how oxytocin is administered after childbirth may help reduce postpartum hemorrhage, a new study suggests. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-10-high-dose-oxytocin-protocol-linked.html Tue, 27 Oct 2026 11:20:07 EDT news712314416 When mice heard a sound they thought signaled danger, they moved closer to a familiar companion, according to Virginia Tech researchers. They did not do the same when paired with a mouse they didn't know. The study, led by Alexei Morozov of the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and published in Neuropsychopharmacology, begins to reveal how the brain turns a warning signal into a drive to seek familiar company. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-danger-mice-closer-familiar-companions.html Fri, 18 Sep 2026 12:20:06 EDT news708951244 A birth doula is a support person a woman can privately hire during pregnancy. They usually attend the birth and provide nonclinical comfort measures such as massage, assistance getting into different birth positions and emotional reassurance. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-doula-dont-childbirth.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 12:20:03 EDT news705662162 Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological condition characterized by disruptions in the regulation of sleep-wake cycles. People with this condition often experience extreme sleepiness during the day and, in some cases, a sudden but temporary loss of muscle strength while conscious, called cataplexy. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-laughter-trigger-sudden-muscle-weakness.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 08:00:03 EDT news705056244 When people are first diagnosed with a brain condition, they may not consider joining a choir to improve their well-being and regain their voice. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-08-choir-people-brain-conditions.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:40:01 EDT news705129421 Have you ever wondered why it feels so good to sing in the shower? Or why turning up the radio in the middle of a traffic jam and singing out loud can put you in a better mood? https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-good-health.html Tue, 28 Jul 2026 09:20:06 EDT news704443202 Social connections are known to contribute greatly to people's psychological and emotional well-being. In fact, difficulties socializing and bonding with others have been linked to various psychiatric conditions, including depression, social anxiety disorder (SAD), schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-sports-boosts-oxytocin-synchronizes-heartbeats.html Sun, 19 Jul 2026 08:20:01 EDT news703496346 Biohub researchers have performed what they believe is the first genome-wide CRISPR study of primary human adult skin cells, then used an AI model to mine the results for overlooked drug targets for psoriasis. They found an unlikely candidate: the receptor for oxytocin, a hormone involved in childbirth and sometimes called the "love hormone" for its additional role in social bonding. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-ai-crispr-uncovers-oxytocin-receptor.html Wed, 08 Jul 2026 17:40:01 EDT news702741456 About 1 in 5 women will experience depression and anxiety during pregnancy or in the year after giving birth. If untreated, a mother who has these conditions has a higher risk of birth complications, poorer overall health, impaired bonding and nurturing of her infant, and a higher risk of death by suicide. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-moms-anxiety-depression-psychedelic-treatment.html Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:20:03 EDT news702650282 Across cultures, the way we soothe an unsettled baby tends to look much the same: hold them close and gently rub their back. The act is so familiar that it's easy to forget how little is actually understood about why it works. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-07-calms-infants-mouse-pups.html Mon, 06 Jul 2026 11:05:04 EDT news702554676 Making children laugh can build deep emotional connections and soothe their nervous systems, making them more resilient and open to new ideas, says a leading child development expert. Dr. Jacqueline Harding, director of Tomorrow's Child and an early childhood expert at Middlesex University, has carried out extensive research into how laughter and play contribute to healthy brain growth, emotional well-being and social bonding. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-children-brains-resilient-struggle.html Sun, 24 May 2026 19:10:01 EDT news698598662 Giving tranexamic acid to women with placenta previa (when the placenta covers the cervical opening) undergoing cesarean birth leads to a significant yet modest reduction in severe bleeding after delivery with no evidence of an increase in serious adverse events, finds a trial from China published by The BMJ . https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-05-drug-dangerous-high-cesarean-births.html Wed, 13 May 2026 18:30:02 EDT news697886227 Cuddle therapy is having a moment. The idea for this emerging therapy is for you to book in a specified time with a "professional cuddler." https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-04-cuddle-therapy.html Thu, 09 Apr 2026 16:20:04 EDT news694950797 Over one billion people worldwide are over 60, and the population is projected to more than double by 2050. But as more people live into their 60s, 70s, and 80s, health care systems across the globe may face new challenges as they attempt to manage associated increases in age-related disease. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-chip-technology-replicates-decades-human.html Mon, 30 Mar 2026 18:40:04 EDT news694104481 They say love conquers all, but it doesn't always conquer snoring. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-divorce-beds-health.html Tue, 17 Mar 2026 13:30:02 EDT news692971802 The neuropeptide oxytocin is a special messenger substance that nerve cells use to communicate with each other. It is acting as both a neurotransmitter and a hormone and is best known for promoting social behavior. However, it remains largely unclear exactly which brain structures and cell types oxytocin affects during social behavior. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-oxytocin-sensitive-brain-circuit-social.html Mon, 23 Feb 2026 18:20:01 EST news691087141 Periods of prolonged social isolation have long been associated with difficult emotions and, in some cases, with the emergence of psychiatric symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and difficulties connecting with others. Some past psychology studies have suggested that chronic isolation during adolescence, the critical stage between childhood and adulthood, can disrupt the structure and functioning of a brain region known as the prefrontal cortex (PFC). https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-oxytocin-reverses-anxiety-behavior-months.html Sat, 21 Feb 2026 09:00:07 EST news690728385 The brain not only communicates through fast electrical impulses, it also relies on slower, more diffuse chemical signals that modulate our emotional and social states over time. A study led by the Institute for Neurosciences (IN), a joint center of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Miguel Hernández University of Elche (UMH), has identified a key molecular mechanism that regulates the release of oxytocin within the brain. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-snap-protein-play-key-role.html Thu, 19 Feb 2026 16:00:02 EST news690647282 Whether you practice ballet or prefer the tango, the benefits of dancing are self-evident. It's good exercise both physically and mentally due to the complexity of the movements, and it's also a fun social activity. But the benefits of dancing may extend beyond this: the mental activity and social interaction involved in dancing may also help prevent cognitive decline. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-twelve-weeks-oxytocin-shifts-resting.html Wed, 18 Feb 2026 17:40:06 EST news690646032 The feeling starts in your nervous system. Your pupils dilate, you become short of breath, sweat collects on your palms, and suddenly you can't eat a bite. You're in love—or in lust, at the very least. It's what psychologist Kristina Feeser, a professor at the University of Virginia's College at Wise, calls "activation." The rest of us call it a crush. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-crazy.html Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:09:25 EST news690120541 Researchers at São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Brazil have demonstrated in rats that a synthetic version of oxytocin can prevent anxiety-related behaviors caused by social stress. The study was published in the journal Progress in Neurobiology and reinforces the role of oxytocin and the neural circuits associated with it in modulating anxiety. It also paves the way for new therapeutic approaches. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-hormone-drug-stress-anxiety-rat.html Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:20:01 EST news689952086 When people talk about autism, they often think about a child who is different and may be distressed by their surroundings. Or if the conversation moves beyond childhood, the focus might be about an autistic adult with analytical superpowers, such as The Good Doctor or Patience, who still has difficulty with their surroundings and fitting in with colleagues. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-autistic-people-joy-differently-neurodivergence.html Mon, 09 Feb 2026 13:42:28 EST news689866916 A research team from the Department of Psychiatry at Tohoku University, led by Dr. Zhiqian Yu and Professor Hiroaki Tomita, has uncovered compelling evidence that maternal perinatal depression—psychological distress occurring during pregnancy or postpartum—elevates the risk of autistic-related traits in toddlers, with a particularly strong impact on girls. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-maternal-perinatal-depression-autistic-traits.html Fri, 06 Feb 2026 12:55:53 EST news689604902 A new study by Ben-Gurion University of the Negev suggests that oxytocin measured in hair samples may provide insight into the emotional connection between parents and young children. The study examined whether chronic oxytocin levels—reflecting hormone secretion over several months—are associated with the quality of parent–child interaction. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-02-hair-oxytocin-parentchild-emotional-bond.html Wed, 04 Feb 2026 17:00:04 EST news689437849 A new review including over 100 clinical trials has found that 13 common methods for medically inducing labor are similarly effective, but their safety profiles differ according to clinical context. The review has been published in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-common-methods-labor-similarly-effective.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 20:00:01 EST news688309442 A machine learning analysis identified certain behavior profiles that predict a preference for alcohol in adolescent mice, which may provide insights into potential drivers of alcohol use disorder in human adolescents. The artificial intelligence model found that behaviors of natural reward-seeking behavior and lower sociability in adolescent mice were each predictive of a likelihood to seek out alcohol. The study, published in Alcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, suggests that certain neurochemical pathways in the adolescent brain may be associated with susceptibility to alcohol consumption and misuse, and may be potential targets for therapeutic intervention in teens at risk for alcohol use disorder. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-behavioral-traits-adolescence-alcohol-ai.html Mon, 26 Jan 2026 10:37:40 EST news688646222 Women who use water immersion during labor and birth experience better maternal and neonatal outcomes compared to those who receive epidural anesthesia, according to a study led by midwife Soledad Carreguí, in collaboration with researchers from the La Plana Health Department (Castelló) and the Departments of Computer Languages and Systems and Nursing at the Universitat Jaume I. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-demystifying-dangers-birth.html Thu, 22 Jan 2026 11:10:35 EST news688302601 While investigating the FGF21-oxytocin-dopamine system, a mechanism that regulates sugar appetite, a team of researchers at Kyoto University noticed reports suggesting that the protein FGF21 may regulate alcohol ingestion. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-rare-sugars-alcoholism.html Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:00:03 EST news687429601 For years, researchers have documented health differences between babies born vaginally versus by cesarean section—work that revealed the importance of exposure to the vaginal microbiome during birth. But a new Dartmouth-led study of more than 3,500 children in Brazil suggests another critical factor may have been overlooked: labor itself. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-elective-sections-linked-childhood-cortisol.html Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:10:02 EST news686840721 For many people, the run-up to Christmas is filled with excitement and anticipation. For others, it can quietly tip into something more difficult. A drop in mood is particularly common after Christmas, especially in the final week of the year and the first days of the new one. Understanding why this happens can help make that emotional dip easier to manage. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-12-combat-christmas-slump.html Mon, 29 Dec 2025 13:10:01 EST news686226771