RJA #5c: Periodical Articles

Using MagPortal.com,
Keywords: Oxytocin, Oxytocin AND Reproduction, "Oxytocin"+Labor(44 hits):
 
Periodical Title: AARP, American Academy of Family Physicians
Article Title: Methods for Cervical Ripening and Induction of Labor
Author: JOSIE L. TENORE, M.D., S.M., Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois
Date Published: May 15, 2003
Volume/Pages: 67(10):2123-2128.

Periodical Title: Fast Company
Article Title: Social Networking Affects the Brain, Like Falling in Love
Author: Adam L. Penenberg
Date Published: July 1, 2010

Volume/Pages: 

Periodical Title:
Article Title:
Author:
Date Published:

Volume/Pages:

RJA #5b: Books

•    Oxytocin - A Medical Dictionary, Bibliography, and Annotated Research Guide to Internet References

• ICON Health Publications (Dec 6, 2004)

  • Publisher: ICON Health Publications (December 6, 2004) 

• Advances in Vasopressin and Oxytocin - From Genes to Behaviour to Disease, Volume 170 

• Rainer Landgraf (Author), Inga D. Neumann (Editor) 

  • Publisher: Elsevier Science; 1 edition (September 24, 2008)

• The Oxytocin Factor: Tapping The Hormone Of Calm, Love, And Healing 

• Kerstin Uvnas Moberg (Author) ; Roberta Francis (Translator)

  • Publisher: Da Capo Press; export ed edition (September 16, 2003)

• The Neuroscience of Human Relationships: Attachment And the Developing Social Brain

•  Louis Cozolino (Author) 

  • Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1 edition (November 17, 2006)

RJA #5a: Reference Articles

"Oxytocin (Greek: "quick birth") is a mammalian hormone that is secreted into the bloodstream from the posterior pituitary gland, and that is also released into the brain, where it has effects on social behaviors."

Definition provided by Citizendium.org (http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Oxytocin) accessed on September 25, 2011.

• Caldwell HK, Young WS III (2006)
• Oxytocin
• Handbook of Neurochemistry and Molecular Neurobioligy 3rd edition, Springer, New York
• pp. 573-607
• 2007-2009
• Online reference - http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Oxytocin

This reference provided vital information from another perspective compared to many other resources.
Keywords: Oxytocin (3 hits), Pitocin (1 hit)


"Oxytocin (OT) is traditionally thought of as a 'female' neurohypophysis hormone due to its role in parturition and milk ejection. However, OT is recognized as having endocrine and paracrine roles in male reproduction."

Article found on Oxytocin.org (http://www.oxytocin.org/oxy/male-reproduction.html) accessed on September 26, 2011

• Thackare H, Nicholson HD, Whittington K

  Clinical Science at South Bristol (Obstetrics & Gynaecology),
  University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
  Hum Reprod Update. 2006 Jan 25;

  Online Reference -  http://www.oxytocin.org/oxy/male-reproduction.html

  Great study performed on the role oxytocin plays in both male and female reproduction focusing on the male reproductive process.

  Keywords: "Oxytocin Reproduction" (4 hits)

RJA #4c: Field Research Options

Field Research:

1) I will conduct several interviews with household members and family from across the country and the world, including randomly picked students at the Red Rocks Campus. These interviews will take place over the phone, through Skype, face-to-face, and will be recorded on paper.

2) I am planning on creating a survey based on my topic on the website surveymonkey.com. I will be posting the URL on many social networking sites to maximize a wide audience participation.

3) I will be going to Washington State in the next month, where my parents are going to have a litter of Boxer's puppies soon, giving me the opportunity to witness the true effects of oxytocin in animal instincts first hand and up close.

4) I plan on visiting the Denver Zoo to observe how animals (mainly mature mothers) take care of their young, while trying to figure out the correlation between instinct and this hormone.

5) I am going to create a poll which will allow me to determine how many people realize we have a hormone which possibly without could lead to a halt in evolution and reproduction.

RJA #4b: Search Strings

Search Strings:

 Pitocin OR Oxytocin

Oxytocin NOT Vassopressin

+Oxytocin -Vassopressin AND "Animal Instinct"

Reproduct* AND Oxytocin

Oxytocin AND Hormone AND Function

RJA #4a: Keywords

I found two LOG's which will work for my topic, both donate sufficient results:

Science>Health>Pharmacy>Drugs and Medications>Specific Drugs and Medications>Oxytocin
Science>Chemistry>Biological>Anatomy>Brain>Hormones>Oxytocin


Keywords:

Pitocin, Vasopressin, Hormone
Inducing Labor, Instincts, Function, Reproduction,
Pituitary Gland, Hormone Abuse,

RJA #3c: Research Question

1. Does Oxytocin induce the primal instincts required for successful reproduction?
2. What would be the effect of removing the Oxytocin hormone from the mammalian system?
3. Why does Oxytocin create a strong bond between mother and daughter?
4. Would higher concentrations of Oxytocin increase chances of a successful and safe upbringing?
5. Could Oxytocin prove that chemical equilibrium is the source of all emotions?
6. Why do all mammals have the need to reproduce?
7. How does Oxytocin progress through the human system over a lifetime?
8. Could this hormone be used to enforce a certain mood in the future?
9. What function does Oxytocin have in social bonding?
10. Could Oxytocin have the ability to cure diseases?
11. How does the human body react to depleted vs sufficient Oxytocin levels?
12. Is there a way to chemically induce the release of Oxytocin in the pituitary gland?
13. What different effects does Oxytocin produce in males vs females?
14. Why is Oxytocin also known as the love hormone?

RJA #3b: Research Topic Focus

1. Reproductive instincts in the mammalia species
2. Possible cure for autism
3. Human social bonding
4. Effects of Oxytocin on present emotions in the human system
5. Oxytocin hormone addiction and abuse
6. Peaks and troughs of Oxytocin levels

RJA #3a: Research Topic Exploration

Furthermore researching my topic concerning Oxytocin in the human system brought out quite a few interesting bits of information. First and foremost, there are many purposes/functions this mammalian hormone (also known as the love hormone) contributes, but the most notable of all is the hormones ability to prepare a female for labor, stimulating the "milk let down" in the mother allowing the baby to feed, creating a very strong bong between mother and child. Once the child is born, the oxytocin hormone is released encouraging the mother to take care of its child and stimulating the maternal instincts. The hormone also plays a role in sexual arousal and orgasms in non-pregnant/lactating females and in males as well. There has been research proving that the release of oxytocin in the pituitary gland plays a big part in our social life, including the bonds we chose to make with our loved ones. Oxytocin is a chemical which most of all humans are addicted to unconsciously. Lower levels of oxytocin in the human system may lead to depression and even suicide. But spikes in oxytocin have been found in people who seem confident with their lives and loved ones. These spikes can occur during sexual peaks or even during the encounter of two people who have had intimate relationships. Oxytocin evokes feelings of contentment, reductions in anxiety, and feelings of calmness and security around the mate. This hormone increases trust between human beings and decreases in fear have also been noted. One study confirmed that there was a positive correlation between oxytocin levels and an anxiety scale measuring the adult romantic attachment. Oxytocin seems to be one of the few possible short-term cures for autism. Surprisingly when oxytocin is administered nasally to an autistic child, the child shows signs of normal social behavior and comprehension of their surroundings. Very interesting I thought, something I will have to look up more about. There is a lot more research to conduct, but as for now my flu-like sickness is catching up to me!

Diigo contains my references.

RJA #2: Research Topic

My argumentative paper will be focusing on the effects of oxytocin in the human system. Is oxytocin the only driving factor to creating the emotion of love?  I decided to choose this topic over the others due to the wide audience it may affect and mostly because I find Chemistry very intriguing. I found it fascinating to learn that a chemical, such as oxytocin, is released in your body to create a feeling of trust and even a sensation of love. I know so little about the subject that I feel the need to expand my knowledge to grasp a stronger comprehension of the mysterious emotion of love and to find out whether it is a force by it self or just a chemical breaking equilibrium.

What, where, when, and how? Oxytocin, a chemical I know to release in the bodies of human beings to create a sense of trust and an emotion of love. I have also learned perusing through the web that oxytocin is not only found in humans, but in animals as well. Giving them the instincts they need to survive labor and the early ages of life. That is quite all I know on the subject. What I would find interesting in my further research is what oxytocin is made of, where exactly does it release and where does it go, when if at all do our oxytocin levels rise or decline, and how does this one chemical hold the power to creating one of the worlds strongest driving factors, love? In addition to my initial questions, are there any dangers in having too much or too little oxytocin in your body? Does it decrease with age and the dulling of emotions? Are emotions directly correlated to oxytocin and other chemicals?