Department of Psychology and Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 10;9(1):12980. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-49620-0.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that oxytocin (OT), a peptide hormone, plays an important role in regulating mammalian social behaviors, linking it to social affiliation in parent-infant attachment, romantic and filial relationships, and other prosocial behaviors, such as trust and cooperation. Not surprisingly, research efforts have been made to increase endogenous levels of OT. In the present study, we investigated whether traditional martial arts training, which integrates the natural benefits of physical exercise with dyadic prosocial interaction, would result in OT response. To this end, 68 beginner and advanced participants were recruited from several schools practicing Jujitsu ("soft art"), a form of traditional martial arts originating in Japan. Salivary OT levels were assessed at baseline, immediately following high-intensity training, and following a cool-down period. Analyses revealed a significant increase in OT immediately after a high-intensity training, returning to baseline levels following a cool-down period. Additionally, although no significant difference between beginner and advanced martial artists was found, a significantly higher increase in salivary OT followed ground grappling, as compared to "punch-kick" sparring, indicating an added benefit of close contact tactile interaction. These results suggest that the reportedly socially beneficial effects of traditional martial arts may be in part mediated by OT release and underscore the potentially therapeutic applications of these methods for disorders involving social dysfunction, such as autism, conduct problems, or schizophrenia.
许多研究表明，催产素（OT）是一种肽类激素，在调节哺乳动物的社会行为方面发挥着重要作用，它与母婴依恋、浪漫和孝顺关系以及其他亲社会行为（如信任和合作）有关。毫不奇怪，人们已经在努力提高内源性 OT 水平。在本研究中，我们调查了传统武术训练（一种将身体锻炼的自然益处与二元亲社会互动相结合的武术形式）是否会导致 OT 反应。为此，我们从几所练习柔术（一种起源于日本的传统武术）的学校招募了 68 名初级和高级参与者。在基线、高强度训练后立即以及冷却期后评估唾液 OT 水平。分析显示，高强度训练后 OT 水平显著升高，冷却期后恢复基线水平。此外，尽管初级和高级武术家之间没有发现显著差异，但与“拳打脚踢”对打相比，地面缠斗后唾液 OT 显著升高，表明近距离接触触觉互动的额外益处。这些结果表明，传统武术据称具有的社交益处可能部分是通过 OT 释放介导的，并强调了这些方法在涉及社交功能障碍的疾病（如自闭症、行为问题或精神分裂症）中的潜在治疗应用。
