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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 82 · 2019

4 results

Oxytocin increases eye-gaze towards novel social and non-social stimuli.

Eckstein M, Bamert V, Stephens S, Wallen K, Young LJ, Ehlert U, Ditzen B

Social neuroscience4 Nov 2018Cited by 33 (Europe PMC)

PMID30378456 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC6494727 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1080/17470919.2018.1542341 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-30378456
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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 study4

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In 82 participants, intranasal oxytocin increased pupil dilation towards all categories of pictures during the initial presentation.

    In plain wordsIn the study participants, oxytocin made pupils widen more when they first viewed social and non-social pictures.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreasePupil dilation during initial presentation of stimuli
    Study

    n = 82

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    during the initial presentation, OT increased pupil dilation towards all categories of stimuli
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In a randomized double-blind repeated-measures cross-over design, N = 82 participants were investigated twice and received either intranasal OT or placebo at the first assessment followed by placebo or OT at second assessment.
    Summary · context
    Participants were presented with standardized pictures of parent-child dyads, romantic couples engaging in non-erotic or explicit sexual activities, and non-social pictures while we assessed pupil dilation and eye focus on specific pre-defined areas of interest.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In 82 participants, intranasal oxytocin led the eye focus towards the eyes and body regions of the pictures during the initial presentation.

    In plain wordsIn the study participants, oxytocin shifted where they looked towards the eyes and bodies in pictures at first viewing.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseEye focus on eyes and body regions during initial presentation
    Study

    n = 82

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    during the initial presentation, OT increased pupil dilation towards all categories of stimuli and led the eye focus towards the eyes and body regions
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In a randomized double-blind repeated-measures cross-over design, N = 82 participants were investigated twice and received either intranasal OT or placebo at the first assessment followed by placebo or OT at second assessment.
    Summary · context
    Participants were presented with standardized pictures of parent-child dyads, romantic couples engaging in non-erotic or explicit sexual activities, and non-social pictures while we assessed pupil dilation and eye focus on specific pre-defined areas of interest.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In 82 participants, the initial oxytocin effect on pupil dilation was followed by a strong decrease in pupil dilation at the second session (carry-over effect).

    In plain wordsIn the study participants, after oxytocin at the first session, pupil widening fell strongly at the second session.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreasePupil dilation at second session after first-session oxytocin
    Study

    n = 82

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    followed by a strong decrease in pupil dilation and fixations at the second session.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In a randomized double-blind repeated-measures cross-over design, N = 82 participants were investigated twice and received either intranasal OT or placebo at the first assessment followed by placebo or OT at second assessment.
    Summary · context
    Participants were presented with standardized pictures of parent-child dyads, romantic couples engaging in non-erotic or explicit sexual activities, and non-social pictures while we assessed pupil dilation and eye focus on specific pre-defined areas of interest.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In 82 participants, the initial oxytocin effect on eye fixations was followed by a strong decrease in fixations at the second session (carry-over effect).

    In plain wordsIn the study participants, after oxytocin at the first session, eye fixations fell strongly at the second session.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseFixations at second session after first-session oxytocin
    Study

    n = 82

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    followed by a strong decrease in pupil dilation and fixations at the second session.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In a randomized double-blind repeated-measures cross-over design, N = 82 participants were investigated twice and received either intranasal OT or placebo at the first assessment followed by placebo or OT at second assessment.
    Summary · context
    Participants were presented with standardized pictures of parent-child dyads, romantic couples engaging in non-erotic or explicit sexual activities, and non-social pictures while we assessed pupil dilation and eye focus on specific pre-defined areas of interest.

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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