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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 95 · 2015

2 results

Failed Replication of Oxytocin Effects on Trust: The Envelope Task Case.

Lane A, Mikolajczak M, Treinen E, Samson D, Corneille O, de Timary P, Luminet O

PloS one14 Sept 2015Cited by 40 (Europe PMC)

PMID26368396 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC4569325 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1371/journal.pone.0137000 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-26368396
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Summary

The neurohormone Oxytocin (OT) has been one of the most studied peptides in behavioral sciences over the past two decades. Many studies have suggested that OT could increase trusting behaviors. A previous study, based on the "Envelope Task" paradigm, where trust is assessed by the degree of openness of an envelope containing participant's confidential information, showed that OT increases trusting behavior and reported one of the most powerful effects of OT on a behavioral variable. In this paper we present two failed replications of this effect, despite sufficient power to replicate the original large effect. The non-significant results of these two failed replications clearly exclude a large effect of OT on trust in this paradigm but are compatible with either a null effect of OT on trust, or a small effect, undetectable with small sample size (N = 95 and 61 in Study 1 and 2, respectively). Taken together, our results question the purported size of OT's effect on trust and emphasize the need for replications.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

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

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In Study 1 of the Envelope Task, oxytocin had no significant effect on trusting behavior; the result excludes a large effect.

    In plain wordsIn the first replication, oxytocin did not significantly change trusting behavior in the envelope task.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeTrusting behavior in the Envelope Task, Study 1
    Study

    n = 95

    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The non-significant results of these two failed replications clearly exclude a large effect of OT on trust in this paradigm but are compatible with either a null effect of OT on trust, or a small effect, undetectable with small sample size (N = 95 and 61 in Study 1 and 2, respectively).
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In Study 2 of the Envelope Task, oxytocin had no significant effect on trusting behavior; the result excludes a large effect.

    In plain wordsIn the second replication, oxytocin did not significantly change trusting behavior in the envelope task.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeTrusting behavior in the Envelope Task, Study 2
    Study

    n = 61

    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    The non-significant results of these two failed replications clearly exclude a large effect of OT on trust in this paradigm but are compatible with either a null effect of OT on trust, or a small effect, undetectable with small sample size (N = 95 and 61 in Study 1 and 2, respectively).

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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