Dr. Tara Swart

If they live in the prairie, but not if they live in a farm.

If they live in the prairie, but not if they live in a farm.

If they have all the food and abundance, they're just... And lots of female voles that they can go and visit.

If they have all the food and abundance, they're just... And lots of female voles that they can go and visit.

Because they know that if they get one vole pregnant and she's left on her own to look after her young, they're going to survive because they're well sheltered. There's plenty of food for her to nip out and bring it back to the babies. Yeah. But in the prairie, if he was promiscuous, then the chances of his offspring dying are quite high because she can't defend the nest herself.

Because they know that if they get one vole pregnant and she's left on her own to look after her young, they're going to survive because they're well sheltered. There's plenty of food for her to nip out and bring it back to the babies. Yeah. But in the prairie, if he was promiscuous, then the chances of his offspring dying are quite high because she can't defend the nest herself.

She can't find enough food for herself and then without help. And so let's extrapolate this. How does this help humans?

She can't find enough food for herself and then without help. And so let's extrapolate this. How does this help humans?

I think it depends on the vole.

I think it depends on the vole.

Hang on, there is an answer to that. Okay. We test it through levels of oxytocin and vasopressin.

Hang on, there is an answer to that. Okay. We test it through levels of oxytocin and vasopressin.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And actually, just to be serious, the research has done more to help with loneliness, grief, and heartbreak, but obviously it's got implications for dating.

And actually, just to be serious, the research has done more to help with loneliness, grief, and heartbreak, but obviously it's got implications for dating.

So, because one of the things that we saw with the receptors in the brain is that if If I'm in, no, it's got to be the other way around. If you're in love with me, you've got more vasopressin receptors in your nucleus accumbens, which is on the reward circuitry. And then every time you see me, you get a reward.

So, because one of the things that we saw with the receptors in the brain is that if If I'm in, no, it's got to be the other way around. If you're in love with me, you've got more vasopressin receptors in your nucleus accumbens, which is on the reward circuitry. And then every time you see me, you get a reward.

And the longer that we've been dating and stay together and become closer, that reward becomes more intense every time you see me. However, if we then had a prolonged separation, time can down-regulate the effect of those receptors. So obviously there are implications for that in a breakup or grief, right? Right.

And the longer that we've been dating and stay together and become closer, that reward becomes more intense every time you see me. However, if we then had a prolonged separation, time can down-regulate the effect of those receptors. So obviously there are implications for that in a breakup or grief, right? Right.