Testosterone can make males cuddly and sociable, study shows - Daily Mail

In experiments, researchers injected testosterone into male gerbils to see how they'd behave with their partners. .

Testosterone influences activity of oxytocin – the so-called 'cuddle' or 'love' hormone that's linked with social bonding, say the researchers, although they don't know how.

The researchers then gave the male subjects an injection of testosterone, thinking the boost would lessen his cuddling behaviours

In a follow-up experiment, the researchers removed females from the cages so that each male gerbil that had previously received a testosterone injection was alone. 

'Instead, the resident males that had previously been injected with testosterone were more friendly to the intruder.'

Having high levels of testosterone can make men less generous and more likely to exhibit selfish behaviours, a study found. 

The friendly behaviour abruptly changed, however, when the original male subjects were given another injection of testosterone. 

Due to the extra injection, the male began chasing the rival male intruder or avoiding it completely. 

The researchers found males receiving injections of testosterone showed more oxytocin activity in their brains during interactions with a partner compared to males that did not receive the injections. 

3D illustration of a testosterone molecule. Testosterone is the male sex hormone and is mostly made in the testicles, but also in adrenal glands, which are near the kidneys

The Bristol experts suggested high testosterone could be a result of success, rather than the other way around, which could explain previous studies that linked high levels of the hormone with a successful life. 

Another 2021 study found having high levels of testosterone can make men less generous and more likely to exhibit selfish behaviours.