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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 60 · 2014

3 results

Oxytocin facilitates the sensation of social stress.

Eckstein M, Scheele D, Weber K, Stoffel-Wagner B, Maier W, Hurlemann R

Human brain mapping21 Mar 2014Cited by 94 (Europe PMC)

PMID24659430 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC6869318 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1002/hbm.22508 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-24659430
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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 study3

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

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy men exposed to social stress, intranasal oxytocin did not alter salivary cortisol levels versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men under social stress, oxytocin did not change saliva cortisol compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeSalivary cortisol
    Study

    n = 60

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Stress hormones · Endocrine and hormones
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    OXT administration did not alter salivary cortisol levels as a surrogate marker of stress axis activity
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to scan the brains of 60 healthy men while they were exposed to social stress after they received either intranasal OXT (24 IU) or placebo treatment.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy men exposed to social stress, intranasal oxytocin initially increased perceived social stress versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men under social stress, oxytocin raised felt stress at first, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreasePerceived social stress
    Study

    n = 60

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    our participants initially reported an increment in perceived social stress.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to scan the brains of 60 healthy men while they were exposed to social stress after they received either intranasal OXT (24 IU) or placebo treatment.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In healthy men exposed to social stress, intranasal oxytocin increased activity in the precuneus and cingulate cortex versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men under social stress, oxytocin raised activity in two brain areas compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreasePrecuneus and cingulate cortex activity during social stress
    Study

    n = 60

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    This behavioral effect was paralleled on the neural level by increased activity in the precuneus and cingulate cortex.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In the present study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to scan the brains of 60 healthy men while they were exposed to social stress after they received either intranasal OXT (24 IU) or placebo treatment.

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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