Cuddles and Sex Make Men More Zen, Study Says

Now, a study claims to have found that men can reach this state biologically, and that the sex-n-cuddle hormone oxytocin may be the holy grail. In fact, it appears a single spritz may help facilitate the largest of life's lays: spiritual enlightenment.

The research was lead by Dr Patty Van Cappellen, a social psychologist from Duke University who wanted to see if it was possible to biologically manufacture spirituality. "We found that men who received oxytocin, compared to men who received a placebo, reported feeling more spiritual," she told Broadly. "They reported feeling more positive emotions, such as gratitude and awe."

Variously dubbed 'the bonding drug' and the 'love drug', oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone created in the hypothalamus portion of the brain, and released during sex and moments of elated intimacy. In Van Cappellen's study, half of the 83 male subjects were administered a chemically produced version of the hormone. Following a spray up the nose, they completed a 20-minute guided meditation session and answered a survey measuring their sense of spirituality.

The results showed they responded to the test questions positively, and endorsed statements like All Life Is Interconnected and There Is A Larger Meaning In Life. Even after a week's reflection, they remained firmly committed to the new-found mantras.

Furthermore, when the men were tested on whether or not they believed they were With A Higher Power, Other Living Beings, and in the dogma that Life Is Meaningful, they scored off the charts. To ensure no one was preaching false piety, the researchers planted placebos. "But importantly," Van Cappellen explains, "neither participants nor experimenters knew what the spray contained."

The key takeaway from the study is that "it seems that some of our biology is supporting experiences of spirituality. Oxytocin appeared to create a mindset which actually fosters spirituality". Meaning that the hormone itself doesn't reveal the meaning to life; rather, it cultivates pathways in the brain for ideas around the topic to take root.

Ultimately, Van Cappellen says, spirituality is also about interaction. "[That] is something worth thinking about, when spirituality is often practiced alone, like meditation."

Practicing mindfulness has proven to be mentally and physically beneficial: Yoga is known for reducing anxiety, stress and cardiovascular disease, while careful breathing can improve bodily awareness. Dr Van Cappellen doesn't undermine these these activities, but suggests social interaction may be a step forward in a different direction.

"For those seeking out sources of spirituality, mine and others' research suggests that certain positive experiences can promote spirituality. These experiences may include awe, admiration, or realizing that the world around you can be a good and meaningful place."

But what about those who never ascend? Van Cappellen says that while that her research is hopeful, "it does not mean that everyone will become spiritual after oxytocin". Her studies revealed particular individuals, such as those with the CD83 genotype (a variation of heritable genetic identity) are less receptive to the hormone than others.

But the night is still young: "This is the first research showing that oxytocin increases spirituality and it awaits replication," she says. "Much more research is needed because we don't have a good understanding of its side effects, or potential negative psychological effects. However, such research is underway."