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Paul Zak, a renowned neuroscientist based in Claremont has discovered the role of oxytocins, a particular brain chemical that plays in fostering trust between strangers and happiness in individuals.

Zak in partnership with Danish chocolate company, Anthon Berg conducted an experiment showing how the chemical hormone oxytocin significantly increases in men when they gave a gift to their significant other, while also providing affectionate words to go with the gift.

This Valentine’s Day themed experiment was conducted on 32 Danish couples to see the effect of gift-giving on a man’s happiness.

“If I give my wife a box of chocolates, we know the recipient of a gift, her brain will release oxytocin, that’s a signal, the oxytocin is a biological basis for the golden rule,” Zak said. “So the science question is, if your wife makes oxytocin, does that reflect back on the man? Does the man make oxytocin too?”

The experiment showed that the oxytocin levels in the men’s blood rose by 27.5 percent when they gave a gift stating its significance.

“I really think it means you have to give to get,” Zak said. “If you want to connect to that person, giving a gift is a pretty good way to start.”

-Smrutirekha