News Animals

Prairie voles can find partners just fine without the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin

The hormone was thought to be essential to how social bonds form between the animals

A close up photo of two prairie voles sitting next to each other on a white background.

Prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) form male-female pair-bonds and stick with their partner for life. The molecule oxytocin has long been thought to be important in this process.

Nastacia Goodwin

By Darren Incorvaia

Prairie voles have long been heralded as models of monogamy. Now, a study suggests that the “love hormone” once thought essential for their bonding — oxytocin — might not be so necessary after all.