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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 13 · 2016

6 results

The Analgesic Effect of Oxytocin in Humans: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Study Using Laser-Evoked Potentials.

Paloyelis Y, Krahé C, Maltezos S, Williams SC, Howard MA, Fotopoulou A

Journal of neuroendocrinology1 Apr 2016Cited by 42 (Europe PMC)

PMID26660859 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC5103211 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1111/jne.12347 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-26660859
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Summary

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide regulating social-affiliative and reproductive behaviour in mammals. Despite robust preclinical evidence for the antinociceptive effects and mechanisms of action of exogenous oxytocin, human studies have produced mixed results regarding the analgesic role of oxytocin and are yet to show a specific modulation of neural processes involved in pain perception. In the present study, we investigated the analgesic effects of 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin in 13 healthy male volunteers using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design and brief radiant heat pulses generated by an infrared laser that selectively activate Aδ- and C-fibre nerve endings in the epidermis, at the same time as recording the ensuing laser-evoked potentials (LEPs). We predicted that oxytocin would reduce subjective pain ratings and attenuate the amplitude of the N1, N2 and P2 components. We observed that oxytocin attenuated perceived pain intensity and the local peak amplitude of the N1 and N2 (but not of P2) LEPs, and increased the latency of the N2 component. Importantly, for the first time, the present study reports an association between the analgesic effect of oxytocin (reduction in subjective pain ratings) and the oxytocin-induced modulation of cortical activity after noxious stimulation (attenuation of the N2 LEP). These effects indicate that oxytocin modulates neural processes contributing to pain perception. The present study reports preliminary evidence that is consistent with electrophysiological studies in rodents showing that oxytocin specifically modulates Aδ/C-fibre nociceptive afferent signalling at the spinal level and provides further specificity to evidence obtained in humans indicating that oxytocin may be modulating pain experience by modulating activity in the cortical areas involved in pain processing.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

6 results from studies that gave the peptide. 6 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy men, intranasal oxytocin attenuated perceived pain intensity from laser heat pulses compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin reduced how intense laser heat pain felt compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreasePerceived pain intensity
    Study

    n = 13

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We observed that oxytocin attenuated perceived pain intensity and the local peak amplitude of the N1 and N2 (but not of P2) LEPs, and increased the latency of the N2 component.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In the present study, we investigated the analgesic effects of 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin in 13 healthy male volunteers using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design and brief radiant heat pulses generated by an infrared laser that selectively activate Aδ- and C-fibre nerve endings in the epidermis, at the same time as recording the ensuing laser-evoked potentials (LEPs).
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In healthy men, intranasal oxytocin attenuated the local peak amplitude of the N1 laser-evoked potential compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin reduced an early brain electrical response to heat pain compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseN1 laser-evoked potential amplitude
    Study

    n = 13

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We observed that oxytocin attenuated perceived pain intensity and the local peak amplitude of the N1 and N2 (but not of P2) LEPs, and increased the latency of the N2 component.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In the present study, we investigated the analgesic effects of 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin in 13 healthy male volunteers using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design and brief radiant heat pulses generated by an infrared laser that selectively activate Aδ- and C-fibre nerve endings in the epidermis, at the same time as recording the ensuing laser-evoked potentials (LEPs).
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In healthy men, intranasal oxytocin attenuated the local peak amplitude of the N2 laser-evoked potential compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin reduced a brain electrical response to heat pain compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseN2 laser-evoked potential amplitude
    Study

    n = 13

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We observed that oxytocin attenuated perceived pain intensity and the local peak amplitude of the N1 and N2 (but not of P2) LEPs, and increased the latency of the N2 component.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In the present study, we investigated the analgesic effects of 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin in 13 healthy male volunteers using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design and brief radiant heat pulses generated by an infrared laser that selectively activate Aδ- and C-fibre nerve endings in the epidermis, at the same time as recording the ensuing laser-evoked potentials (LEPs).
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In healthy men, intranasal oxytocin did not attenuate the amplitude of the P2 laser-evoked potential.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin did not change one brain electrical response to heat pain compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeP2 laser-evoked potential amplitude
    Study

    n = 13

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We observed that oxytocin attenuated perceived pain intensity and the local peak amplitude of the N1 and N2 (but not of P2) LEPs, and increased the latency of the N2 component.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In the present study, we investigated the analgesic effects of 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin in 13 healthy male volunteers using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design and brief radiant heat pulses generated by an infrared laser that selectively activate Aδ- and C-fibre nerve endings in the epidermis, at the same time as recording the ensuing laser-evoked potentials (LEPs).
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In healthy men, intranasal oxytocin increased the latency of the N2 laser-evoked potential compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin slowed a brain electrical response to heat pain compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseN2 laser-evoked potential latency
    Study

    n = 13

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We observed that oxytocin attenuated perceived pain intensity and the local peak amplitude of the N1 and N2 (but not of P2) LEPs, and increased the latency of the N2 component.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In the present study, we investigated the analgesic effects of 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin in 13 healthy male volunteers using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design and brief radiant heat pulses generated by an infrared laser that selectively activate Aδ- and C-fibre nerve endings in the epidermis, at the same time as recording the ensuing laser-evoked potentials (LEPs).
  6. 06HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    In healthy men, the oxytocin-induced reduction in subjective pain ratings was associated with attenuation of the N2 laser-evoked potential.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, the drop in pain ratings after oxytocin was linked to a smaller brain electrical response to heat pain.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableAssociation between pain rating reduction and N2 attenuation
    Study

    n = 13

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Importantly, for the first time, the present study reports an association between the analgesic effect of oxytocin (reduction in subjective pain ratings) and the oxytocin-induced modulation of cortical activity after noxious stimulation (attenuation of the N2 LEP).
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In the present study, we investigated the analgesic effects of 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin in 13 healthy male volunteers using a double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over design and brief radiant heat pulses generated by an infrared laser that selectively activate Aδ- and C-fibre nerve endings in the epidermis, at the same time as recording the ensuing laser-evoked potentials (LEPs).

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

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