Oxytocin is a hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, a pea-sized structure at the base of the brain.

According to Texas Medical Center, it is sometimes known as the “cuddle hormone” or the “love hormone” because it is released when people snuggle up or bond socially. Even playing with your dog can cause an oxytocin surge, according to research published in 2017 in Frontiers in Psychology. But these monikers may be misleading.

In women, Oxytocin is a vital hormone for women. “Oxytocin is a peptide produced in the brain that was first recognized for its role in the birth process, and also in nursing,” said Larry Young, a behavioral neuroscientist at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

In men, oxytocin also facilitates bonding. In previous research, dads who got a boost of oxytocin via a nasal spray played more closely with their 5-month-old babies than dads who didn’t get the hormone zap, Live Science reported. (There is another hormone, called vasopressin, which plays a stronger role in bonding for men.)