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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 54 · 2013

2 results

Does intranasal oxytocin promote prosocial behavior to an excluded fellow player? A randomized-controlled trial with Cyberball.

Riem MM, Bakermans-Kranenburg MJ, Huffmeijer R, van Ijzendoorn MH

Psychoneuroendocrinology23 Jan 2013Cited by 66 (Europe PMC)

PMID23352229 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.12.023 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-23352229
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 women, oxytocin increased the number of ball throws toward the excluded player compared with placebo, but only in those with low maternal love withdrawal.

    In plain wordsIn women, oxytocin increased helping of an excluded player compared with placebo, but only in women whose mothers rarely withdrew love.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseBall throws toward the excluded player in Cyberball
    Study

    n = 54

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    16 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin administration further increased the number of ball throws toward the excluded person, but only in individuals who experienced low levels of maternal love withdrawal.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In this double blind randomized-controlled trial we investigated the effects of oxytocin on prosocial behavior during a virtual ball-tossing game called Cyberball.
    Summary · context
    Participants were 54 women who received a nasal spray containing either 16IU of oxytocin or a placebo and had reported how often their mother used love withdrawal as a disciplinary strategy involving withholding love and affection after a failure or misbehavior.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In women, the facial expression of the excluded player did not affect helping behavior and did not moderate the effects of oxytocin.

    In plain wordsIn women, the excluded player's facial expression did not change helping behavior or the effect of oxytocin.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeModeration of the oxytocin effect by the facial expression of the excluded person
    Study

    n = 54

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    16 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The facial expression of the excluded person did not affect prosocial helping behavior and did not moderate the effects of oxytocin.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In this double blind randomized-controlled trial we investigated the effects of oxytocin on prosocial behavior during a virtual ball-tossing game called Cyberball.
    Summary · context
    Participants were 54 women who received a nasal spray containing either 16IU of oxytocin or a placebo and had reported how often their mother used love withdrawal as a disciplinary strategy involving withholding love and affection after a failure or misbehavior.

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, 02:49 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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