'Love hormone' nasal spray helps dad bond with children

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Oxytocin -- it's called the 'love hormone' because of its ability to stimulate the bond between moms and their newborns, but now it might be helping dads develop a bond with the kiddos too.

In a study conducted to test the effects of oxytocin, a group of fathers were administered the 'love hormone' through a nasal spray.

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Researchers found the group of fathers who used the spray exhibited higher levels of brain activity tied to empathy and reward when looking at picture of their child, compared to the those fathers who weren't given the hormone.

The increased activity in the men's brains have led researchers to believe that it might help dads to express those feelings of empathy and possibly motivate them to become more involved in caring for their children.