Storytelling allows us to make sense of the world. Research from a multitude of fields suggests that story structures match human neural maps. What do a mother breastfeeding, a hug from a friend, and a story all have in common? They all release oxytocin, also known as the love drug. And it’s powerful: In a study by neuroscientist Paul Zak, participants who were given synthetic oxytocin donated 57 percent more to charity than participants given a placebo. Similarly, hearing information in narrative form results in a higher likelihood of pro-social behavior.

I also recall how thrilling it felt at first to see “you’ve got mail” notifications pop up on my computer screen—mail more than once a day!—and how I learned to interrupt my writing work to see who awaited in my mail queue

you become more generous, you trust me more, and you bond to me.

smooching on the first date could be improving the mental health of Aussie singles