A new study from UCSF shows that males whose sexual advances are rejected by the fairer sex were "driven to excessive alcohol consumption, drinking far more than comparable, sexually satisfied" males. Of course, the UCSF study was referring to male and female fruit flies, but apparently human drinkers are pretty similar to the alcoholic fruit flies, just with more brain cells to kill.

You see, in fruit flies a tiny molecule called neuropeptide F controls such dangerous behavior. UCSF researchers studying human addiction and the brain mechanisms behind social interaction believe a similar molecule in humans called neuropeptide Y is responsible for triggering such a perfectly natural response to sexual frustration.

As UCSF's Jason Bardi explains in probably the only Raymond Carver-referencing medical research report ever:

The human version of neuropeptide F, called neuropeptide Y, may work similarly, connecting socially rewarding experiences to behaviors like binge drinking. Already, scientists know that levels of neuropeptide Y are reduced in people who suffer from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder—conditions that are also known to predispose people toward excessive alcohol and drug abuse.

Of course, the eventual goal here is to get you to curb your drinking habit by tweaking the levels of neuropeptide Y, but that sort of treatment is still a ways off. For now, jilted lovers who find their drinking and/or sex life to be a problem will still have to take that up with their AA group and/or therapist.

Those of you interested in just how, exactly, you can drive a tiny fruit fly to drink would do well to read the whole thing here.

Hat tip: [NBCBayArea]