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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 77 · 2017

5 results

Oxytocin biases men but not women to restore social connections with individuals who socially exclude them.

Xu X, Yao S, Xu L, Geng Y, Zhao W, Ma X, Kou J, Luo R, Kendrick KM

Scientific reports12 Jan 2017Cited by 28 (Europe PMC)

PMID28079166 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC5227992 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1038/srep40589 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-28079166
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Summary

We normally react to individuals who exclude us socially by either avoiding them or increasing our attempts to interact with them. The neuropeptide oxytocin can promote social bonds and reduce social conflict and we therefore investigated whether it facilitates more positive social responses towards individuals who exclude or include us. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design 77 healthy Chinese male and female participants received intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) or placebo before playing a modified virtual ball-tossing game with three fictitious partners who either showed exclusion, inclusion or neutral behavioral interactions with them. Results showed that both male and female subjects threw the ball more often to individuals who excluded rather than included them, although oxytocin did not alter this or awareness/feelings of exclusion or inclusion. However, when subjects returned a week later males, but not females, in the oxytocin group exhibited an increased liking for, and preference for playing again with, players who had previously excluded them. This oxytocin effect was positively associated with independent traits. Our findings suggest that in a collectivist culture oxytocin may promote the desire of males, but not females, with a stronger independent orientation to rebuild social connections with individuals who have previously excluded them.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy adults, intranasal oxytocin did not alter the tendency to throw the ball more often to players who excluded them than to those who included them.

    In plain wordsIn healthy adults, nasal oxytocin did not change throwing the ball more to players who had excluded them, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeBall throwing to excluding versus including players
    Study

    n = 77

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Results showed that both male and female subjects threw the ball more often to individuals who excluded rather than included them, although oxytocin did not alter this or awareness/feelings of exclusion or inclusion.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design 77 healthy Chinese male and female participants received intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) or placebo before playing a modified virtual ball-tossing game with three fictitious partners who either showed exclusion, inclusion or neutral behavioral interactions with them.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy adults, intranasal oxytocin did not alter awareness or feelings of exclusion or inclusion.

    In plain wordsIn healthy adults, nasal oxytocin did not change awareness or feelings of being excluded or included, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeAwareness and feelings of exclusion or inclusion
    Study

    n = 77

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Results showed that both male and female subjects threw the ball more often to individuals who excluded rather than included them, although oxytocin did not alter this or awareness/feelings of exclusion or inclusion.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design 77 healthy Chinese male and female participants received intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) or placebo before playing a modified virtual ball-tossing game with three fictitious partners who either showed exclusion, inclusion or neutral behavioral interactions with them.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In male participants, intranasal oxytocin increased liking for, and preference for playing again with, players who had previously excluded them when tested a week later.

    In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin increased liking for players who had excluded them, one week later, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseLiking and preference for replaying with excluders at one week, males
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    However, when subjects returned a week later males, but not females, in the oxytocin group exhibited an increased liking for, and preference for playing again with, players who had previously excluded them.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design 77 healthy Chinese male and female participants received intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) or placebo before playing a modified virtual ball-tossing game with three fictitious partners who either showed exclusion, inclusion or neutral behavioral interactions with them.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In female participants, intranasal oxytocin did not increase liking for, or preference for playing again with, players who had previously excluded them.

    In plain wordsIn women, nasal oxytocin did not increase liking for players who had excluded them, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeLiking and preference for replaying with excluders at one week, females
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    However, when subjects returned a week later males, but not females, in the oxytocin group exhibited an increased liking for, and preference for playing again with, players who had previously excluded them.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design 77 healthy Chinese male and female participants received intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) or placebo before playing a modified virtual ball-tossing game with three fictitious partners who either showed exclusion, inclusion or neutral behavioral interactions with them.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism

    The oxytocin effect on liking excluders was positively associated with independent traits.

    In plain wordsThe effect of nasal oxytocin on liking was linked to how independent the person was.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableAssociation of oxytocin effect with independent traits
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    40 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    This oxytocin effect was positively associated with independent traits.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design 77 healthy Chinese male and female participants received intranasal oxytocin (40 IU) or placebo before playing a modified virtual ball-tossing game with three fictitious partners who either showed exclusion, inclusion or neutral behavioral interactions with them.

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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