Mix Up LOVE, And You Get V-O-L-E

Short Wave

NPR

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4.7 • 6.6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 February 2023

⏱️ 11 minutes

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Summary

You may have heard of the "love hormone," or oxytocin. But you may not know that scientists have relied on cuddly rodents like the prairie vole to help us understand how this protein works in our brains.

Voles are stocky, mouse-like little mammals that range over most of North America. One species in particular, the prairie vole, is known for its fidelity: Prairie voles pair-bond and mate for life.

And so, for years, scientists have known that oxytocin is important in facilitating the feeling of love in both humans and voles. However, a new study suggests love can prevail even without the "love hormone" – at least among prairie voles.

On today's episode, NPR's science correspondent Jon Hamilton tells Short Wave co-host Emily Kwong how prairie voles, once again, are helping us understand and appreciate something as abstract as love.

Struck by cupid's arrow and wondering what's love got to do, go to do with it? Email us at shortwave@npr.org. You can follow Short Wave on Twitter @NPRShortWave.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.
0:04.8	Hey Shortwaveers, Emily Kwong here.
0:07.0	It's Valentine's Day.
0:08.4	So, seems like the perfect time to take a deep dive into the neuroscience of Lurve.
0:15.1	Specifically, Rodent Love.
0:17.2	I'm here with John Hamilton NPR's own expert on Murin Romance.
0:22.6	Hello, John.
0:23.8	Hi, Emily, and way to casually drop that AP vocabulary word.
0:28.1	Oh, thank you.
0:30.1	But Valentine's Day, you know, it does give us a brilliant excuse to talk about a very special
0:35.8	Rodent one that gives love a good name.
0:38.9	Which Rodent, are we talking about?
0:40.5	Well, of course, we are talking about the humble Prairie Vol.
0:44.9	You probably seen one, but you might not have realized it because you thought it was a mouse.
0:49.9	Prairie Vols, you can tell the difference.
0:52.1	I am told because they tend to be a little thicker, smaller ears, bigger eyes.
0:56.5	But really, for today's purposes, looks are not important.
1:00.6	What counts about Prairie Vols is their social behavior, especially when it comes to love.
1:06.2	But how do you even know a Prairie Vol is in love?
1:10.3	Well, you don't.
1:11.3	I mean, obviously there is no way to know exactly what some little furry creature is feeling
1:16.1	in their heart of hearts.
	...

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