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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 36 · 2008

4 results

Post-learning intranasal oxytocin modulates human memory for facial identity.

Savaskan E, Ehrhardt R, Schulz A, Walter M, Schächinger H

Psychoneuroendocrinology24 Jan 2008Cited by 178 (Europe PMC)

PMID18221838 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.12.004 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-18221838
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy young adults, a single post-learning dose of intranasal oxytocin improved identity recognition memory for neutral and angry faces.

    In plain wordsIn healthy young adults, oxytocin spray after learning improved memory for the identity of neutral and angry faces compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseIdentity recognition memory for neutral and angry faces
    Study

    n = 36

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    20 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin improved identity recognition memory independently of participant's gender, for neutral and angry faces, whereas this effect was not present for happy faces.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the present single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study we have investigated the short- and long-term effects of a single post-learning dose (20 IU) of intranasal oxytocin on memory for facial identity and expression in 36 healthy young females and males using a face portrait recognition test.
    Summary · context
    Thirty minutes and 24h after oxytocin administration, recognition memory tests were performed using portraits with neutral facial expressions, only.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy young adults, intranasal oxytocin did not improve identity recognition memory for happy faces.

    In plain wordsIn healthy young adults, oxytocin spray did not improve memory for the identity of happy faces.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeIdentity recognition memory for happy faces
    Study

    n = 36

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    20 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin improved identity recognition memory independently of participant's gender, for neutral and angry faces, whereas this effect was not present for happy faces.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the present single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study we have investigated the short- and long-term effects of a single post-learning dose (20 IU) of intranasal oxytocin on memory for facial identity and expression in 36 healthy young females and males using a face portrait recognition test.
    Summary · context
    Thirty minutes and 24h after oxytocin administration, recognition memory tests were performed using portraits with neutral facial expressions, only.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy young adults, oxytocin-treated subjects had a lower bias to judge new faces as previously seen.

    In plain wordsIn healthy young adults, oxytocin-treated people were less likely to wrongly judge new faces as seen before.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseBias to judge unseen faces as seen
    Study

    n = 36

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    20 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin-treated subjects had a lower bias to judge not previously seen faces as being previously seen.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the present single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study we have investigated the short- and long-term effects of a single post-learning dose (20 IU) of intranasal oxytocin on memory for facial identity and expression in 36 healthy young females and males using a face portrait recognition test.
    Summary · context
    Thirty minutes and 24h after oxytocin administration, recognition memory tests were performed using portraits with neutral facial expressions, only.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy young adults, intranasal oxytocin had no effect on facial expression memory.

    In plain wordsIn healthy young adults, oxytocin spray did not change memory for facial expressions.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFacial expression memory
    Study

    n = 36

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    20 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin had no effect on facial expression memory.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the present single-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study we have investigated the short- and long-term effects of a single post-learning dose (20 IU) of intranasal oxytocin on memory for facial identity and expression in 36 healthy young females and males using a face portrait recognition test.
    Summary · context
    Thirty minutes and 24h after oxytocin administration, recognition memory tests were performed using portraits with neutral facial expressions, only.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:50 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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