STAT Medical News: Sniffing a Hormone to Make Marital Spats Easier?

June 21, 2006 <p> -- MAKING ARGUMENTS LESS STRESSFUL New research on 50 heterosexual couples suggests that using a nasal spray to inject the "bonding hormone" oxytocin may reduce stress during arguments. The study was presented Tuesday at the International Congress of Neuroendocrinology in Pittsburgh. Couples in the study who received oxytocin had lower levels of the stress hormones after the argument compared to couples using a placebo nasal spray. This is part of a growing body of research on the role of oxytocin in social interaction -- it fosters trust, lowers stress, and promotes bonding in humans and animals.

NAP POWER Napping to fight sleepiness was the most effective way to improve memory and coordination, finds a study that compares napping to coffee and the drug Provigil. While coffee and Provigil each improved certain aspects of performance, they didn't compare to the power of a nap, which improved performance across the board. Researchers presented these findings at the annual Associated Professional Sleep Societies meeting in Salt Lake City.

THOSE LYING PEDOMETERS Step counters, also known as pedometers, have become very popular in recent years as the U.S. government urges Americans to get to "10,000 steps per day." A new study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, however, finds that your pedometer may very well be lying to you. The findings are based on almost 1,000 pedometers tested -- only 25 percent of them had an acceptable level of accuracy. In some pedometers tested, the count was off by as much as half.

HOME-FIELD ADVANTAGE Sports players competing on their home turf may have more than the noise of the crowd in their favor -- they may have an ounce of biology on their side, too. A new study tracking an ice hockey team over the course of a season found that testosterone levels in the players were highest on their home turf. Extra testosterone may give the hometown team a competitive edge, making it slightly stronger and less tired. These findings were presented Tuesday at the International Congress of Neuroendocrinology in Pittsburgh. Another study presented at the same time showed that female sports players got a testosterone boost, too -- women soccer players had increases in testosterone levels before they played a match. Testosterone levels remained high in the winners, but declined again in the losers.

STAT is a brief look at the latest medical research and is compiled by Joanna Schaffhausen, who holds a doctorate in behavioral neuroscience. She works in the ABC News Medical Unit, evaluating medical studies, abstracts and news releases.