Scientists have finally worked out what women really want

Now, a spray to make men cuddle more

Scientists have finally worked out what women really want

What women want: The spray makes men more sensitive. Representation pic

The spray is based on oxytocin -- a hormone naturally made in the body and involved in sex, sexual attraction, trust and confidence. It is released into the blood during labour -- triggering the production of breast milk -- and floods the brain during breastfeeding, helping mother and baby bond.

In a spray form, it seems that the so-called 'cuddle chemical' can make a man feel like a woman.

The Cambridge and German scientists sprayed oxytocin in the noses of 24 healthy men, while 24 others received a placebo. Afterwards they were shown photographs including a little girl in tears, a child embracing a cat and a man in mourning, and asked them to describe the level of empathy they felt with the people in the pictures.

"The oxytocin group showed significantly higher emotional empathy levels than those men who had taken the placebo," said Dr Ren ufffd Hurlemann, of the Friedrich-Wilhelms University of Bonn.

No more macho

In fact, they reached the 'levels of sensitivity usually found in females'. The finding raises the tantalising possibility that women could use the sprays to help macho boyfriends and husbands get in touch with their feminine side. But it is unclear how long the effects of the spray last -- meaning men might no longer be relied on to remove spiders and change fuses in times of need.

Dr Kendrick, of the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, said, "It is a big effect.u00a0 It gets men up to the levels shown by women -- it could be a good thing or bad thing, depending on which way you look at it."

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels