Low-dose intranasal oxytocin delivered with Breath Powered device modulates pupil diameter and amygdala activity: a randomized controlled pupillometry and fMRI study.

Quintana DS, Westlye LT, Alnæs D, Kaufmann T, Mahmoud RA, Smerud KT, Djupesland PG, Andreassen OA

Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology16 Oct 2018Cited by 26 (Europe PMC)

PMID30323359PMCIDPMC6300535DOI10.1038/s41386-018-0241-3PepBankPUB-30323359

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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 study5

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

01HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In healthy men, 8 IU intranasal oxytocin reduced pupil diameter compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, a low oxytocin nasal dose made the pupil smaller than placebo did.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreasePupil diameter, 8 IU intranasal oxytocin versus placebo
Study
n = 16
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
8 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
reduced pupil diameter after 8IU intranasal oxytocin compared to placebo
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The study used a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover design, with 16 healthy male adults administering a single-dose of these four treatments.
Report a problemFND-3032335901
02HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In healthy men, pupil diameter after 8 IU intranasal oxytocin did not differ significantly from that after 24 IU intranasal oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, the low and high oxytocin nasal doses changed pupil size by a similar amount.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changePupil diameter, 8 IU versus 24 IU intranasal oxytocin
Study
n = 16
Comparator
24 IU intranasal oxytocin
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
8 IU and 24 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
no significant difference between 8IU intranasal oxytocin and either 24IU intranasal oxytocin or IV oxytocin treatment conditions.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The study used a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover design, with 16 healthy male adults administering a single-dose of these four treatments.
Report a problemFND-3032335902
03HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In healthy men, pupil diameter after 8 IU intranasal oxytocin did not differ significantly from that after intravenous oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, the low oxytocin nasal dose and oxytocin given into a vein changed pupil size by a similar amount.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changePupil diameter, 8 IU intranasal versus IV oxytocin
Study
n = 16
Comparator
Intravenous oxytocin
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
8 IU intranasal · intranasal and intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
no significant difference between 8IU intranasal oxytocin and either 24IU intranasal oxytocin or IV oxytocin treatment conditions.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The study used a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover design, with 16 healthy male adults administering a single-dose of these four treatments.
Report a problemFND-3032335903
04HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In healthy men, pupil diameter was significantly related to right amygdala activation after 8 IU intranasal oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, pupil size was linked to activity in the right amygdala after a low oxytocin nasal dose.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableAssociation of pupil diameter with right amygdala activation after 8 IU intranasal oxytocin
Study
n = 16
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
8 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Analysis also showed a significant relationship between pupil diameter and right amygdala activation after 8IU intranasal oxytocin.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The study used a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover design, with 16 healthy male adults administering a single-dose of these four treatments.
Report a problemFND-3032335904
05HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In healthy men, right amygdala activity after 8 IU intranasal oxytocin did not differ significantly from that after intravenous oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn healthy men, right amygdala activity was similar after the low oxytocin nasal dose and after oxytocin given into a vein.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeRight amygdala activity, 8 IU intranasal versus IV oxytocin
Study
n = 16
Comparator
Intravenous oxytocin
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
8 IU intranasal · intranasal and intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
there was no significant difference between 8IU intranasal oxytocin and IV oxytocin on right amygdala activity and pupil diameter
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
The study used a randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, crossover design, with 16 healthy male adults administering a single-dose of these four treatments.
Report a problemFND-3032335905

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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, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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