Oxytocin differentially alters resting state functional connectivity between amygdala subregions and emotional control networks: Inverse correlation with depressive traits.

Eckstein M, Markett S, Kendrick KM, Ditzen B, Liu F, Hurlemann R, Becker B

NeuroImage1 Feb 2017Cited by 62 (Europe PMC)

PMID28161309DOI10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.01.078PepBankPUB-28161309

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

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 study6

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

01HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men, preliminary findings showed that oxytocin effects on the superficial amygdala-prefrontal pathway were inversely associated with levels of subclinical depression.
In plain wordsIn men, the oxytocin effect on one amygdala-prefrontal link was weaker in those with more depressive traits. The finding is preliminary.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableAssociation of superficial amygdala-prefrontal effect with subclinical depression
Study
n = 79
Comparator
Placebo
Analysis
Exploratory
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Preliminary findings suggest that effects on the superficial amygdala-prefrontal pathway were inversely associated with levels of subclinical depression, possibly indicating that OT modulation may be blunted in the context of increased pathological load.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To determine potential differential effects of OT on functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions, 79 male participants underwent resting-state fMRI following randomized intranasal-OT or placebo administration.
Report a problemFND-2816130906
02HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men, intranasal oxytocin increased resting-state connectivity of the total amygdala with dorso-medial prefrontal regions engaged in emotion regulation, versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin raised communication between the amygdala and brain areas that help control emotion, compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseTotal amygdala connectivity with dorso-medial prefrontal regions
Study
n = 79
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In line with previous studies OT increased the connectivity of the total amygdala with dorso-medial prefrontal regions engaged in emotion regulation.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To determine potential differential effects of OT on functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions, 79 male participants underwent resting-state fMRI following randomized intranasal-OT or placebo administration.
Report a problemFND-2816130901
03HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men, intranasal oxytocin enhanced coupling of the total amygdala with cerebellar regions, versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin increased the link between the amygdala and cerebellar regions, compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseTotal amygdala connectivity with cerebellar regions
Study
n = 79
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In addition, OT enhanced coupling of the total amygdala with cerebellar regions.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To determine potential differential effects of OT on functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions, 79 male participants underwent resting-state fMRI following randomized intranasal-OT or placebo administration.
Report a problemFND-2816130902
04HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men, the oxytocin-induced increase in cerebellar connectivity was largely driven by the centromedial and basolateral amygdala subregions.
In plain wordsIn men, the oxytocin rise in amygdala-cerebellum links came mostly from two amygdala parts.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseCentromedial and basolateral amygdala connectivity with cerebellar regions
Study
n = 79
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
OT-induced increased connectivity with cerebellar regions were largely driven by effects on the centromedial and basolateral subregions
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To determine potential differential effects of OT on functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions, 79 male participants underwent resting-state fMRI following randomized intranasal-OT or placebo administration.
Report a problemFND-2816130903
05HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men, the oxytocin-induced increase in prefrontal connectivity was largely mediated by the right superficial and basolateral amygdala subregions.
In plain wordsIn men, the oxytocin rise in amygdala-prefrontal links came mostly from two right-side amygdala parts.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseSuperficial and basolateral amygdala connectivity with prefrontal regions
Study
n = 79
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
increased connectivity with prefrontal regions were largely mediated by right superficial and basolateral subregions.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To determine potential differential effects of OT on functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions, 79 male participants underwent resting-state fMRI following randomized intranasal-OT or placebo administration.
Report a problemFND-2816130904
06HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men, intranasal oxytocin decreased connectivity of the centromedial amygdala subregions with core hubs of the emotional face processing network in temporal, occipital and parietal regions.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin lowered links between one amygdala part and brain areas that process emotional faces, compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseCentromedial amygdala connectivity with emotional face processing network
Study
n = 79
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
OT decreased connectivity of the centromedial subregions with core hubs of the emotional face processing network in temporal, occipital and parietal regions.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
To determine potential differential effects of OT on functional connectivity of the amygdala subregions, 79 male participants underwent resting-state fMRI following randomized intranasal-OT or placebo administration.
Report a problemFND-2816130905

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials1

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

1 trial · 1 stopped early · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

TerminatedPhase 1/2NCT03863288

Dose Response Relationship of Oxytocin on Irritability in Youths

University of Nebraskan = 6018 Feb 2022 to 27 Feb 2024

Irritable Mood

Trial page ClinicalTrials.govUpdated 14 Mar 2025

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.

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

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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