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Study · Randomized controlled trial · 2011

2 results

Oxytocin infusion increases charitable donations regardless of monetary resources.

Barraza JA, McCullough ME, Ahmadi S, Zak PJ

Hormones and behavior8 May 2011Cited by 47 (Europe PMC)

PMID21596046 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.04.008 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-21596046
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 study2

2 results from studies that gave the peptide. 2 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In adults playing economic games, oxytocin infusion did not significantly increase the decision to donate to charity versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn adults in an economic game, oxytocin did not significantly raise the choice to give to charity compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeDecision to donate to charity
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · infusionAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    OT did not significantly increase the decision to donate
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Participants played a series of economic games to earn money and were presented with an opportunity to donate a portion of their earnings to charity.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    Among the 36% of adults who donated, those infused with oxytocin donated 48% more to charity than those given placebo.

    In plain wordsAmong adults who gave to charity, those given oxytocin gave more than those given placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseSize of charitable donation among donors
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · infusionAs given in this study (human).

    Measurements

    Donation increase
    48%
    donors given OT versus placebo
    Share of participants who donated
    36%
    all participants

    Source sentences

    Summary
    but among the 36% of participants who did donate, people infused with OT were found to donate 48% more to charity than those given a placebo.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Participants played a series of economic games to earn money and were presented with an opportunity to donate a portion of their earnings to charity.

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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