# @science on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DWsHOI8jsse
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/62624376-science-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/364823ab9b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-04-04T00:15:17.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Science 🧬 (@science) — https://gondola.cc/science

## Caption

The lead author of the study, Madeline Sprajcer, explained that, to have the highest quality and most restorative sleep possible, an individual must be in a very certain state of calm. This means that if you have even a lingering trace of anxiety or stress leftover from the day, you’ll still find falling (and staying) asleep to be much more difficult than it should be.⁠
To this end, being in a relationship with someone who consistently makes you feel safe and cared for can be a great way to quiet the cognitive noise that would otherwise keep you awake at night. Sprajcer explains that there are two biological factors at play in this process, in tandem with perceived partner responsiveness: the hormones cortisol and oxytocin.⁠
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You could consider cortisol your body’s built-in alarm system: When its levels are high, you’ll feel both restless and on guard. It’s the same hormone that spikes when you’re in a stressful situation of any kind, from being stuck in traffic to being caught in a heated argument. Specifically, elevation of your cortisol levels will keep your heart rate and blood pressure higher than they should be.⁠
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Of course, this is helpful if you’re running from danger, but awful when you’re trying to drift off to sleep. However, with a loving and attentive partner nearby, your body will immediately start to sense that there aren’t any immediate threats nearby. That is to say, their presence alone can directly contribute to a decrease in your cortisol levels.⁠
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As a result, you’ll soon start to feel your shoulders starting to unclench and your thoughts slowing down. This is, essentially, your body giving you physical permission to rest. And as this cortisol decrease occurs, your oxytocin will likely elevate, too. As its colloquial name (the “love hormone”) aptly suggests, oxytocin is one of the primary neurotransmitters released during intimate moments with others to facilitate bonding.⁠
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#psychology #psychological #biology #science

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## Tags

science, psychology, biology, psychological

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