Vassopressin, alcohol and promiscuity

[vinylmesh]

SWIM was reading about the fact that alcohol inhibits the release of vasopressin in the body and this is what causes it's dueretic effect. SWIM also knows that aswell as having an anti-dueretic function, vassopressin doubles up as a neurotransmitter being apparently involved (along with oxytocin) in feelings of love and attatchment (obvioulsy a lot more research needs to be done to narrow it down).

SWIM was also reading about how the current hypothesis is that vassopressin has a specific role in the forming and maintainance of pair-bonds in monogamous species (in males in particular.. although this could just be because the male is the obvious subject to study if you're trying to narrow down the roots of monogamy).

What's more, apparently vasopressin (and possibly even oxytocin) have no role in actual sexual behavior and are purely about social bonding.

Now, back to alcohol. If alcohol inhibits the release of vasopressin in the body, it could also have the same effect in the brain. If true this would mean that when drunk humans would have a decreased capacity for monogamy while at the same time their sexual desires would be unaffected (in fact they'd be increased because of alcohol's main effect).

So not only would alcohol increase sexual desires (which we knew already), it would make us more promiscuous and ultimately (untill it wares off) polygamous.

As a firm believer in monogamy i find this worrying on one level, but also relieving on another (i.e that humans are usually more monogamous and that most promiscuous behaviour occurs under the influence of alcohol when the brain's system for monogamy is impaired).

anyway, what ya think?

I guess the main question i'm asking is the likelyhood that alcohol affects vasopressin in the brain, seeing as it inhibits it in the body.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology_of_monogamy#Neural_Processes_of_Attachm ent

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasopressin

[snapper]

Hmm.. interesting theory but it sounds like a cop out. SWIM thinks those who use being drunk as an excuse to act out are doing just that- using it as an excuse. SWIM thinks anyone in a long term monogamous relationship knows that maintaining it is a conscious decision and is probably only marginally involved with neurotransmitters. However, people's sex drives can override this conscious decision, and being drunk allows people to temporarily forget the guilt or caution which would normally check inappropriate promiscuous behavior. SWIM has never been drunk enough not to know what SWIM is doing and the consequences of SWIM's actions, though SWIM may have cared less while intoxicated. Human pair bonding is way more comprex than just oxytocin and vasopressin. Interesting thought though.
As an aside, when people in the smart drug community were using vasopressin, SWIM did not hear anything about increased drive for monogamy - just a strong clarity of mind. This is however anecdotal so is probably not representative of vasopressin's role in monogamy.

[vinylmesh]

SWIM knows exactly what SWIY means. He is sick of people blaming immoral behaviour on their hormones or on altered states . Ultimately people are fully responsible for their own behaviour.

SWIM is definately not saying alcohol would lead someone to cheat on their partner (if they are lucid enough to accept sex then they are also lucid enough to know it is wrong). And SWIM would never accept an excuse like this. SWIM was more talking about casual sex between two single people.

As there is nothing "wrong" about it, it's not a case of morality. SWIM is just saying that under alcohol people whose natural craving is for a stable partner might find themselves more interested in casual sex.

Also swim doesn't think vasopressin crosses the blood-brain barrier. While it may enact changes swim thinks the placebo effect is stronger than most people give it credit for.