Attentional control and interpretation of facial expression after oxytocin administration to typically developed male adults.

Hirosawa T, Kikuchi M, Okumura E, Yoshimura Y, Hiraishi H, Munesue T, Takesaki N, Furutani N, Ono Y, Higashida H, Minabe Y

PloS one6 Feb 2015Cited by 6 (Europe PMC)

PMID25659131PMCIDPMC4319775DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0116918PepBankPUB-25659131

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Summary

Deficits in attentional-inhibitory control have been reported to correlate to anger, hostility, and aggressive behavior; therefore, inhibitory control appears to play an important role in prosocial behavior. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated that oxytocin (OT) exerts a prosocial effect (e.g., decreasing negative behaviors, such as aggression) on humans. However, it is unknown whether the positively valenced effect of OT on sociality is associated with enhanced attentional-inhibitory control. In the present study, we hypothesized that OT enhances attentional-inhibitory control and that the positively valenced effect of OT on social cognition is associated with enhanced attentional-inhibitory control. In a single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, we tested this hypothesis using 20 healthy male volunteers. We considered a decrease in the hostility detection ratio, which reflects the positively valenced interpretation of other individuals' facial expressions, to be an index of the positively valenced effects of OT (we reused the results of our previously published study). As a measure of attentional-inhibitory control, we employed a modified version of the flanker task (i.e., a shorter conflict duration indicated higher inhibitory control). These results failed to demonstrate any significant behavioral effects of OT (i.e., neither a positively valenced effect on facial cognition nor an effect on attentional-inhibitory control). However, the enhancement of attentional-inhibitory control after OT administration significantly correlated to the positively valenced effects on the interpretation of uncertain facial cognition (i.e., neutral and ambiguous facial expressions).

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

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

01HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy men, oxytocin had no significant behavioral effect on the positively valenced interpretation of facial expressions versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin did not significantly change how positively they read faces, compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeHostility detection ratio (interpretation of facial expressions)
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
These results failed to demonstrate any significant behavioral effects of OT (i.e., neither a positively valenced effect on facial cognition
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, we tested this hypothesis using 20 healthy male volunteers.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2565913101
02HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy men, oxytocin had no significant behavioral effect on attentional-inhibitory control versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin did not significantly change attention control on a flanker task, compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAttentional-inhibitory control (flanker task)
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
These results failed to demonstrate any significant behavioral effects of OT (i.e., neither a positively valenced effect on facial cognition nor an effect on attentional-inhibitory control)
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
As a measure of attentional-inhibitory control, we employed a modified version of the flanker task (i.e., a shorter conflict duration indicated higher inhibitory control).
Summary · context
In a single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, we tested this hypothesis using 20 healthy male volunteers.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2565913102
03HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism
In healthy men, the oxytocin-related enhancement of attentional-inhibitory control correlated significantly with the positively valenced interpretation of neutral and ambiguous facial expressions.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, better attention control after oxytocin matched more positive reading of neutral and ambiguous faces.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableCorrelation between oxytocin-related change in inhibitory control and change in interpretation of uncertain faces
Study
n = 20
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
However, the enhancement of attentional-inhibitory control after OT administration significantly correlated to the positively valenced effects on the interpretation of uncertain facial cognition (i.e., neutral and ambiguous facial expressions).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, we tested this hypothesis using 20 healthy male volunteers.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2565913103

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Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 01:30 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:50 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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