John Hamilton

Hi, Emily, and way too casually dropped that AP vocabulary word. Respect. Thank you, thank you, thank you. But Valentine's Day, you know, it does give us a brilliant excuse to talk about a very special rodent, one that gives love a good name.

Hi, Emily, and way too casually dropped that AP vocabulary word. Respect. Thank you, thank you, thank you. But Valentine's Day, you know, it does give us a brilliant excuse to talk about a very special rodent, one that gives love a good name.

Hi, Emily, and way too casually dropped that AP vocabulary word. Respect. Thank you, thank you, thank you. But Valentine's Day, you know, it does give us a brilliant excuse to talk about a very special rodent, one that gives love a good name.

Well, of course, we are talking about the humble prairie vole. You've probably seen one, but you might not have realized it because you thought it was a mouse. Prairie voles, you can tell the difference, I am told, because they tend to be a little thicker, smaller ears, bigger eyes. But really, for today's purposes, looks are not important.

Well, of course, we are talking about the humble prairie vole. You've probably seen one, but you might not have realized it because you thought it was a mouse. Prairie voles, you can tell the difference, I am told, because they tend to be a little thicker, smaller ears, bigger eyes. But really, for today's purposes, looks are not important.

Well, of course, we are talking about the humble prairie vole. You've probably seen one, but you might not have realized it because you thought it was a mouse. Prairie voles, you can tell the difference, I am told, because they tend to be a little thicker, smaller ears, bigger eyes. But really, for today's purposes, looks are not important.

What counts about prairie voles is their social behavior, especially when it comes to love.

What counts about prairie voles is their social behavior, especially when it comes to love.

What counts about prairie voles is their social behavior, especially when it comes to love.

Well, you don't. I mean, obviously, there is no way to know exactly what some little furry creature is feeling in their heart of hearts. But scientists do know that prairie voles tend to mate for life. And once they do, these little vole couples also co-parent. They share a nest. And they spend lots of quality time snuggled up with their life partner.

Well, you don't. I mean, obviously, there is no way to know exactly what some little furry creature is feeling in their heart of hearts. But scientists do know that prairie voles tend to mate for life. And once they do, these little vole couples also co-parent. They share a nest. And they spend lots of quality time snuggled up with their life partner.

Well, you don't. I mean, obviously, there is no way to know exactly what some little furry creature is feeling in their heart of hearts. But scientists do know that prairie voles tend to mate for life. And once they do, these little vole couples also co-parent. They share a nest. And they spend lots of quality time snuggled up with their life partner.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Here is Dr. Dev Manoli. He's a psychiatrist at the University of California, San Francisco. And he has spent a lot of time studying prairie voles.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Here is Dr. Dev Manoli. He's a psychiatrist at the University of California, San Francisco. And he has spent a lot of time studying prairie voles.

But you don't have to take my word for it. Here is Dr. Dev Manoli. He's a psychiatrist at the University of California, San Francisco. And he has spent a lot of time studying prairie voles.

It's very sweet. And I got to say, it's a little bit like some human couples I have known. Yes. And that is probably why prairie voles get a lot of attention from researchers like Dave. You know, it turns out these rodents are really good models of certain human social behaviors, especially what scientists call pair bonding, which brings us to the brain science stuff.

It's very sweet. And I got to say, it's a little bit like some human couples I have known. Yes. And that is probably why prairie voles get a lot of attention from researchers like Dave. You know, it turns out these rodents are really good models of certain human social behaviors, especially what scientists call pair bonding, which brings us to the brain science stuff.

It's very sweet. And I got to say, it's a little bit like some human couples I have known. Yes. And that is probably why prairie voles get a lot of attention from researchers like Dave. You know, it turns out these rodents are really good models of certain human social behaviors, especially what scientists call pair bonding, which brings us to the brain science stuff.

Exactly. So decades ago, Prairie Vols helped scientists show the importance of this protein in the brain called oxytocin. Yes, it plays a big role in pair bonding in both Prairie Vols and humans. And we've all heard about oxytocin because it is the... love hormone.

Exactly. So decades ago, Prairie Vols helped scientists show the importance of this protein in the brain called oxytocin. Yes, it plays a big role in pair bonding in both Prairie Vols and humans. And we've all heard about oxytocin because it is the... love hormone.