John Hamilton

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.

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.

All of that. But there is a new study out that suggests love can prevail even without oxytocin, at least in prairie voles.

All of that. But there is a new study out that suggests love can prevail even without oxytocin, at least in prairie voles.

All of that. But there is a new study out that suggests love can prevail even without oxytocin, at least in prairie voles.

Pretty sure you just did.

Pretty sure you just did.

Pretty sure you just did.

OK, so here's the reason. Humans and prairie voles are both sort of anomalies in terms of pair bonding and parenting. Of course, we know that lots of birds mate for life, but mammals tend to be, how shall I say this, pretty promiscuous. And that includes most rodents and including most voles. Prairie voles are the exception. And they actually choose the partner they're going to be with.