The science behind 'feeling happy' when we help others

The researchers recruited more than 100 people for the study, ranging between the ages of 18 and 99. They were each shown a video about a little boy with cancer, which previous work had confirmed to induce oxytocin release in the brain. Blood was taken before and after the video to measure the change in oxytocin.

"Participants had the option to donate some of their earnings from the study to a childhood cancer charity, and this was used to measure their immediate prosocial behavior. Researchers also collected data on their emotional states, to provide information on their overall satisfaction with life.

People who released the most oxytocin in the experiment were not only more generous to charity, but also performed many other helping behaviors. This is the first time a distinct change in oxytocin has been related to past prosocial behaviours.

Researchers also found that the release of oxytocin increased with age and was positively associated with life satisfaction.Serving others appears to prime the brain to release more oxytocin in a positive feedback loop of increased empathy and gratitude.

 Paul J. Zak et al, Oxytocin Release Increases with Age and is Associated with Life Satisfaction and Prosocial Behaviors, Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (2022). DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.846234, www.frontiersin.org/articles/1 … 2022.846234/abstract