Oxytocin is a hormone that has received a lot of attention for its effect on social behaviours, in particular bonding. Oxytocin has been shown to be necessary for the formation of pair bonds in prairie voles, however, its effect on affiliative behaviours in rats is not well-understood. Conall Mac Cionnaith is a Ph.D student in the lab. His thesis research focuses on the role oxytocin plays in forming sexual preferences for learned cues when paired with sexual reward.