He doesn't tell us what other effects on behaviour oxytocin has.
There have been scientific studies which found that oxytocin has a negative effect on certain learning and memory processes, and that it increases cultural and racial bias.
Check out these: http://physrev.physiology.org/content/81/2/629.long and here: http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2011/01/11/no-love-for-out... Many comments here:
http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_zak_trust_morality_and_oxytocin.html
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When Karma Lodru was here at Sanger for our last retreat, she told us about her work at Claremont School of Theology and Paul Zak's research with oxytocin. I was fascinated and have been doing what research I could on the subject. It seems to mirror from a chemical-physical world perspective what the Buddha found 2,500 years ago to be true. Consider what we know about the four immeasureables, the six paramitas, etc. I wondered how we can use this to help us with our practice and what we can do at Xuanfa to help people develop loving-kindness, compassion, and empathy (sympathetic joy), and apply this equally to all (equanimity)? How can we develop our morality and be more generous? I wondered if diet can help as it didn't seem right to spray the molecules around or have people sniffing something, and touch has some limitations for some people. The only two foods that I could find that seem to increase one's level of oxytocin are cocoa and capsaicin (chocolate and peppers), so as some of you who have visited recently know, I am now really into Indian curries and all the variations. I have even found that, the big Wimp, me, when it comes to peppers, could enjoy some of the hotter peppers, when they are skillfully combined in certain complex curries. Reba Jinbo Rinpoche reminded me, after tasting a couple of said curried, that the perfect food that combines these ingredients is a wonderful Mexican chocolate-pepper sauce that I have loved ever since I first tasted it years ago, so do not be surprised if you find vegan mole on the menu the next time you are here. This morning Zak made CNN and includes the link to the TED presentation he gave on the "love molecule." Enjoy, along with your peppers and some good chocolate. Happy New Year!
http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/27/opinion/zak-moral-molecule/index.html Many blessings, Zhaxi Zhuoma
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