Following moderate stress, male rats are less anxious when they bond with each other. Male friendships would therefore be beneficial.
The strong friendly relations between two men – which the Americans called bromances, contraction of “bro” for brother and “romance” – would have a favorable impact on resistance to stress, and therefore health. A study on rats carried out at the University of Berkeley (California) and published in Neuropsychopharmacology has shown that rats cooperate better as a result of the establishment of strong bonds.
For their experiment, the researchers exposed two rats to moderate stress, isolating them and locking them up for a few hours. When reunited, they tended to socialize strongly, share food and water, and give rat hugs. With all due honor, of course!
The pleasure hormone
Their oxytocin levels were noted during the experiment. This chemical compound, commonly known as the “pleasure hormone”, is associated with many social behaviors such as empathy and social recognition. When the rats got together after their detention, its rate increased. A virtuous circle seemed to set in: social interactions lowered their stress levels, which, in turn, favored social interactions.
This is the kind of behavior that can be found in humans after a national tragedy, the researchers say. A feeling that many people may have felt after the terrorist attacks Charlie hebdo or November 13. They had then been subjected to significant stress without necessarily having the worry of being affected directly. Following these events, many connections could be observed between strangers.
“We believe that oxytocin, released in the body after the stressful event, allows people to come together in difficult times,” interprets Sandra Muroy of the University of Berkeley, who participated in the study. “This rapprochement promotes the creation of strong links, sharing, and appeasement of fear”.
The end of the “bros” friends
In contrast, exposing rats to too much stress – urine from a predator in the experiment – has the opposite effect. People find themselves in a life-threatening situation, their oxytocin levels drop and social interactions disappear. They suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, the scientists write in their article. Rats are prostrate, aggressive, and fight for access to water and food.
This result suggests that in traumatic situations, a friendship between men could degenerate. But for everyday events, platonic love acts as a refuge.
” A bromance can be a good thing, ”says lead author Elizabeth Kirby. “In animal models, social interactions between males are not really friendly. But even rats can give each other big hugs to get over a rough day. “
“Having friends is not anti-manly,” she continues. If rats can do it, so can people. “
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