Intranasal oxytocin enhances intrinsic corticostriatal functional connectivity in women.

Bethlehem RAI, Lombardo MV, Lai MC, Auyeung B, Crockford SK, Deakin J, Soubramanian S, Sule A, Kundu P, Voon V, Baron-Cohen S

Translational psychiatry18 Apr 2017Cited by 76 (Europe PMC)

PMID28418398PMCIDPMC5416709DOI10.1038/tp.2017.72PepBankPUB-28418398

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Summary

Oxytocin may influence various human behaviors and the connectivity across subcortical and cortical networks. Previous oxytocin studies are male biased and often constrained by task-based inferences. Here, we investigate the impact of oxytocin on resting-state connectivity between subcortical and cortical networks in women. We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data on 26 typically developing women 40 min following intranasal oxytocin administration using a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design. Independent components analysis (ICA) was applied to examine connectivity between networks. An independent analysis of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene expression in human subcortical and cortical areas was carried out to determine plausibility of direct oxytocin effects on OXTR. In women, OXTR was highly expressed in striatal and other subcortical regions, but showed modest expression in cortical areas. Oxytocin increased connectivity between corticostriatal circuitry typically involved in reward, emotion, social communication, language and pain processing. This effect was 1.39 standard deviations above the null effect of no difference between oxytocin and placebo. This oxytocin-related effect on corticostriatal connectivity covaried with autistic traits, such that oxytocin-related increase in connectivity was stronger in individuals with higher autistic traits. In sum, oxytocin strengthened corticostriatal connectivity in women, particularly with cortical networks that are involved in social-communicative, motivational and affective processes. This effect may be important for future work on neurological and psychiatric conditions (for example, autism), particularly through highlighting how oxytocin may operate differently for subsets of individuals.

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

Results from this study3

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

01HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In typically developing women, intranasal oxytocin increased resting-state connectivity of corticostriatal circuitry versus placebo, with a large effect.
In plain wordsIn women, oxytocin increased connectivity between reward-related brain regions and the cortex compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseResting-state corticostriatal functional connectivity
Study
n = 26
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
effect size
1.39 SD
oxytocin vs placebo
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin increased connectivity between corticostriatal circuitry typically involved in reward, emotion, social communication, language and pain processing.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
This effect was 1.39 standard deviations above the null effect of no difference between oxytocin and placebo.
Summary · context
We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data on 26 typically developing women 40 min following intranasal oxytocin administration using a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2841839801
02HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In women, the oxytocin-related increase in corticostriatal connectivity was stronger in individuals with higher autistic traits.
In plain wordsIn women, oxytocin raised brain connectivity more in those with higher autistic traits.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseCorticostriatal connectivity change by autistic traits
Study
n = 26
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
This oxytocin-related effect on corticostriatal connectivity covaried with autistic traits, such that oxytocin-related increase in connectivity was stronger in individuals with higher autistic traits.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We collected resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data on 26 typically developing women 40 min following intranasal oxytocin administration using a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2841839802

Studies that did not test the peptide alone1

In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Oxytocin.

03HumanNot a test of Oxytocin aloneObservational studyMechanism
In an independent analysis of human brain gene expression data, oxytocin receptor (OXTR) expression was high in striatal and other subcortical regions and modest in cortical areas.
In plain wordsIn women, the oxytocin receptor gene was highly active in deep brain regions and less active in the cortex.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableOXTR gene expression in subcortical and cortical areas
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
An independent analysis of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene expression in human subcortical and cortical areas was carried out to determine plausibility of direct oxytocin effects on OXTR.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In women, OXTR was highly expressed in striatal and other subcortical regions, but showed modest expression in cortical areas.
In this study, Oxytocin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Oxytocin.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2841839803

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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, 02:49 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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