Oxytocin modulates the temporal dynamics of resting EEG networks.

Schiller B, Koenig T, Heinrichs M

Scientific reports26 Sept 2019Cited by 36 (Europe PMC)

PMID31558733PMCIDPMC6763457DOI10.1038/s41598-019-49636-6PepBankPUB-31558733

Summary

Oxytocin is a key modulator of social interaction, but we possess little knowledge of its underlying effects on neuropsychological processes. We used a spatio-temporal EEG microstates analysis to reveal oxytocin's effects on the temporal dynamics of intrinsically generated activity in neural networks. Given oxytocin's known anxiolytic effects, we hypothesized that it increases the temporal stability of the four archetypal EEG resting networks. Eighty-six male participants had received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before we recorded their resting EEG. As hypothesized, oxytocin globally increased the average duration of the four archetypal resting networks and specifically decreased the occurrence and coverage of an autonomic processing-related network to benefit greater coverage of an attention-related network. Moreover, these neurophysiological changes were more pronounced in participants with high anxiety levels and strong subjectively experienced effects of the oxytocin administration. In sum, our study shows that oxytocin reduces rapid switching among neural resting networks by increasing their temporal stability. Specifically, it seems to reduce the brain's need for preparing the internally-oriented processing of autonomic information, thus enabling the externally-oriented processing of social information. Changes in the temporal dynamics of resting networks might underlie oxytocin's anxiolytic effects - potentially informing innovative psychobiological treatment strategies.

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.

01HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism
In male participants, intranasal oxytocin globally increased the average duration of the four archetypal resting EEG networks compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin made the brain's resting activity patterns last longer than placebo did.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseAverage duration of the four archetypal resting EEG networks
Study
n = 86
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
As hypothesized, oxytocin globally increased the average duration of the four archetypal resting networks and specifically decreased the occurrence and coverage of an autonomic processing-related network to benefit greater coverage of an attention-related network.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eighty-six male participants had received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before we recorded their resting EEG.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3155873301
02HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism
In male participants, intranasal oxytocin decreased the occurrence of an autonomic processing-related resting network compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin made one resting brain pattern, linked to automatic body processing, appear less often than placebo did.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseOccurrence of an autonomic processing-related network
Study
n = 86
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
As hypothesized, oxytocin globally increased the average duration of the four archetypal resting networks and specifically decreased the occurrence and coverage of an autonomic processing-related network to benefit greater coverage of an attention-related network.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eighty-six male participants had received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before we recorded their resting EEG.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3155873302
03HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism
In male participants, intranasal oxytocin decreased the coverage of an autonomic processing-related resting network compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin made one resting brain pattern, linked to automatic body processing, cover less time than placebo did.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseCoverage of an autonomic processing-related network
Study
n = 86
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
As hypothesized, oxytocin globally increased the average duration of the four archetypal resting networks and specifically decreased the occurrence and coverage of an autonomic processing-related network to benefit greater coverage of an attention-related network.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eighty-six male participants had received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before we recorded their resting EEG.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3155873303
04HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism
In male participants, intranasal oxytocin led to greater coverage of an attention-related resting network compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin made a resting brain pattern linked to attention cover more time than placebo did.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseCoverage of an attention-related network
Study
n = 86
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
As hypothesized, oxytocin globally increased the average duration of the four archetypal resting networks and specifically decreased the occurrence and coverage of an autonomic processing-related network to benefit greater coverage of an attention-related network.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eighty-six male participants had received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before we recorded their resting EEG.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3155873304
05HumanNon-randomized trialMechanism
In male participants, the oxytocin-related EEG network changes were more pronounced in those with high anxiety and strong subjectively experienced effects of oxytocin.
In plain wordsIn men, the brain activity changes with oxytocin were larger in those with high anxiety and strong felt effects of oxytocin.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableModeration of EEG changes by anxiety and subjective oxytocin effects
Study
n: not reported in source
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
Moreover, these neurophysiological changes were more pronounced in participants with high anxiety levels and strong subjectively experienced effects of the oxytocin administration.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eighty-six male participants had received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before we recorded their resting EEG.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3155873305

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.

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

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