The results of the German study suggest that it does so in part through the action of oxytocin. A variety of sensory stimuli cause oxytocin release in the brain: gentle touch, nursing a child, or certain gut sensations caused by nutrients. The hormone is released in the brains of both the nursing mother (where it stimulates the flow of milk) and her infant. Oxytocin promotes affiliation and bonding, suggesting that oxytocin release during nursing enhances mother-child bonding.
