Oxytocin specifically enhances valence-dependent parasympathetic responses.

Gamer M, Büchel C

Psychoneuroendocrinology8 Jun 2011Cited by 61 (Europe PMC)

PMID21641726DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.05.007PepBankPUB-21641726

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

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 study3

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

01HumanOther designEfficacy outcome
In men, intranasal oxytocin enhanced differential heart rate responses to facial expressions as a function of emotional valence versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, oxytocin increased how heart rate differed between emotional faces, compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseHeart rate response to facial expressions by emotional valence
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Autonomic function · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin enhanced differential heart rate responses to facial expressions as a function of the emotional valence
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This hypothesis was tested in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 38 men either receiving 24 IU oxytocin intranasally or a placebo spray.
Report a problemFND-2164172601
02HumanOther designEfficacy outcome
In men, intranasal oxytocin had no effect on electrodermal activity versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, oxytocin did not change skin electrical activity compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeElectrodermal activity
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Autonomic function · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
but had no effect on electrodermal activity
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This hypothesis was tested in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 38 men either receiving 24 IU oxytocin intranasally or a placebo spray.
Report a problemFND-2164172602
03HumanOther designEfficacy outcome
In men, intranasal oxytocin had no effect on tonic measures of physiological arousal versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, oxytocin did not change baseline body arousal measures compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeTonic measures of physiological arousal
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Autonomic function · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
but had no effect on electrodermal activity or tonic measures of physiological arousal
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This hypothesis was tested in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 38 men either receiving 24 IU oxytocin intranasally or a placebo spray.
Report a problemFND-2164172603

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.

Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:49 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.