In a study by the University of Zurich and NYU, participants who had one dose of an oxytocin nasal spray showed improved recognition memory for faces, but not for inanimate objects. Lead author was Ulrike Rimmele of NYU.
The University of Zurich hosted the very first human oxytocin experiments. The results are similar to earlier experiments on mice; therefore, it gives weight to the idea that we can extrapolate from mice to humans. This is a good thing, since it's much easier to dose mice than human subjects.
Society for Neuroscience (2009, January 6). Hormone Improves Human Ability To Recognize Faces But Not Places. ScienceDaily
UPDATE: I thought this was on the ho-hum side as human oxytocin research goes, but the press did not agree:
Good memory for a face? Thank the love hormone
New Scientist, UK -6 hours ago
Oxytocin - a hormone dubbed the "cuddle chemical" for its role in long-term love and maternal care - might also help us distinguish acquaintances from total ...
New Scientist, UK -
Oxytocin - a hormone dubbed the "cuddle chemical" for its role in long-term love and maternal care - might also help us distinguish acquaintances from total ...
Unmasked: the elixir of human bonding Independent, UK - By Steve Connor, Science Editor It is said to be a love hormone that helps breastfeeding mothers to bond with their babies, as well as a "trust serum" ... |
Hormone Improves Human Ability To Recognize Faces But Not Places Science Daily (press release) - ScienceDaily (Jan. 6, 2009) — Oxytocin, a hormone involved in child-birth and breast-feeding, helps people recognize familiar faces, according to new ... |
Hormone may help men recognize familiar faces CBC.ca, Canada - A hormone normally released during childbirth and linked to sexual pleasure and bonding also seems to help men to recognize faces, researchers have found. ... |
The memory hormone? Los Angeles Times, CA - It’s the hormone that makes people bond with their mates and helps mothers fall in love with their babies. Now researchers have shown that oxytocin plays an ... |
Scientists discover why some people are better with faces than names Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - The reason why some people are better with faces than names has been identified by scientists and it appears to be due to their higher levels of a special ... |
 | "Love" hormone may aide memory WELT ONLINE, Germany - The "love" hormone linked to feelings of sexual pleasure, bonding and maternal care also appears to help us recognise familiar faces, Swiss researchers said ... |
 | Love hormone helps remember faces PRESS TV, Iran - Researchers have found that the hormone responsible for bonding and maternal care might also help people recognize familiar faces. ... |
Haven't I Seen You Before? Science Magazine (subscription) - By Constance Holden The next time you spot an old friend from across the room, thank oxytocin. Researchers have shown that the brain hormone helps us sense ... |
Love Hormone May Improve Face Recognition Ability WiredPRNews.com (press release), TX - A new study suggests that the hormone linked to “love” related feelings plays key role in face recognition. Wired PR News.com – The hormone associated with ... |
Hormone improves memory WFIE-TV, IN - (NBC) - A hormone that plays a critical role in childbirth and breastfeeding also helps you recognize old friends. Researchers put the hormone, ... |
Recognition of Faces Dredged Up by Birth Hormone MedPage Today, NJ - By John Gever, Senior Editor, MedPage Today ZURICH, Switzerland, Jan. 6 -- A whiff of oxytocin can help spur the recognition of faces as familiar but can't ... |
 | How 'love-drug' hormone released in childbirth can help you ... Daily Mail, UK - By Daily Mail Reporter Many of us have the daily struggle of putting a name to a familiar face. Now scientists have discovered that a natural 'love drug' in ... |
