After being placed at the bottom of list of dangerous substances, we're finding more and more bits on the drug Ecstasy, otherwise known as the "party pill."

Researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia found out from a study conducted on rats that Ecstasy actually increases the oxytocin level, thus making a person more sociable. "It's very characteristic behaviour. They lie next to each other and chill out," Iain McGregor, researcher, notes of the rates on E.

Oxytocin is a hormone that supposedly is responsible for helping couples bond, and even mothers to their babies. The rats were given amounts of Ecstasy equivalent to two to three tablets for a human adult's intake. That much drug, and you're sure to get high. Apparently, the drug switched on neurons in the hypothalamus, which contained oxytocin.

This would then probably explain and affirm the reports from those who have taken Ecstasy that they feel more sensual rather than sexual after taking it in. Particularly, the rat study ties in with the fact that there is a massive surge of oxytocin in males after experiencing an orgasm. "It could be that raising oxytocin levels put them in that sort of post-orgasmic state where they're actually not very good at performing sexually but they feel really good about the person they're with."

The team would now want to find out what are the effects of drug abuse on the oxytocin in the brain. You just can't be too happy. You'll be doped up.