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Some call it the “hormone¹ of love.” It’s oxytocin and it helps moms bond with and breast-feed their babies, and even keeps romantic couples content. Now a study suggests that this same hormone might also help people with autism—by improving their social awareness². The work is in the Proceedings³ of the National Academy of Sciences.

People with autism or with high-functioning autism spectrum⁴ disorders⁵ like Asperger’s syndrome⁶ have difficulty engaging in social situations. They rarely initiate⁷ social encounters, and often have trouble even meeting someone’s eye. They also have low levels of oxytocin. Now, given this hormone’s reputation as a cuddle-inducing chemical, scientists got to wondering whether people with autism might benefit by taking it.

To find out, the researchers gave oxytocin to 13 patients with high-functioning autism and then monitored their attentiveness⁸ to social cues. They found that the subjects on oxytocin were more likely to make eye contact when viewing pictures of faces, and they reported feeling connected to players who were nice to them in a virtual ball toss game. These results suggest that people with autism do have hidden social skills. They just need a little hormonal⁹ help expressing them.

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1 hormone
n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌
参考例句：
Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。 This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

2 awareness
n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智
参考例句：
There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。 Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

3 proceedings
n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报
参考例句：
He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。 to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

4 spectrum
n.谱，光谱，频谱；范围，幅度，系列
参考例句：
This is a kind of atomic spectrum.这是一种原子光谱。 We have known much of the constitution of the solar spectrum.关于太阳光谱的构成，我们已了解不少。

5 disorders
n.混乱( disorder的名词复数 )；凌乱；骚乱；（身心、机能）失调
参考例句：
Reports of anorexia and other eating disorders are on the increase. 据报告，厌食症和其他饮食方面的功能紊乱发生率正在不断增长。来自《简明英汉词典》 The announcement led to violent civil disorders. 这项宣布引起剧烈的骚乱。来自《简明英汉词典》

6 syndrome
n.综合病症；并存特性
参考例句：
The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。 Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

7 initiate
vt.开始，创始，发动；启蒙，使入门；引入
参考例句：
A language teacher should initiate pupils into the elements of grammar.语言老师应该把基本语法教给学生。 They wanted to initiate a discussion on economics.他们想启动一次经济学讨论。

8 attentiveness
[医]注意
参考例句：
They all helped one another with humourous attentiveness. 他们带着近于滑稽的殷勤互相周旋。来自辞典例句 Is not attentiveness the nature of, even the function of, Conscious? 专注不正是大我意识的本质甚或活动吗？来自互联网

9 hormonal
adj.激素的
参考例句：
Some viral diseases are more severe during pregnancy, probably tecause of hormonal changes. 有些病毒病在妊娠期间比较严重，可能是由于激素变化引起的。 She underwent surgical intervention and a subsequent short period of hormonal therapy. 他接受外科手术及随后短暂荷尔蒙治疗。