Intranasal oxytocin modulates brain responses to voice-identity recognition in typically developing individuals, but not in ASD.

Borowiak K, von Kriegstein K

Translational psychiatry7 Jul 2020Cited by 8 (Europe PMC)

PMID32636360PMCIDPMC7341857DOI10.1038/s41398-020-00903-5PepBankPUB-32636360

Summary

Faces and voices are prominent cues for person-identity recognition. Face recognition behavior and associated brain responses can be enhanced by intranasal administration of oxytocin. It is unknown whether oxytocin can also augment voice-identity recognition mechanisms. To find it out is particularly relevant for individuals who have difficulties recognizing voice identity such as individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We conducted a combined behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to investigate voice-identity recognition following intranasal administration of oxytocin or placebo in a group of adults diagnosed with ASD (full-scale intelligence quotient > 85) and pairwise-matched typically developing (TD) controls. A single dose of 24 IU oxytocin was administered in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and cross-over design. In the control group, but not in the ASD group, administration of oxytocin compared to placebo increased responses to recognition of voice identity in contrast to speech in the right posterior superior temporal sulcus/gyrus (pSTS/G) - a region implicated in the perceptual analysis of voice-identity information. In the ASD group, the right pSTS/G responses were positively correlated with voice-identity recognition accuracy in the oxytocin condition, but not in the placebo condition. Oxytocin did not improve voice-identity recognition performance at the group level. The ASD compared to the control group had lower right pSTS/G responses to voice-identity recognition. Since ASD is known to have atypical pSTS/G, the results indicate that the potential of intranasal oxytocin to enhance mechanisms for voice-identity recognition might be variable and dependent on the functional integrity of this brain region.

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

Results from this study4

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

01HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In typically developing adults, intranasal oxytocin increased right pSTS/G responses to voice-identity recognition compared with speech, versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn typically developing adults, oxytocin increased activity in a brain region used for voice identity more than placebo did.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseRight pSTS/G response to voice-identity recognition (typically developing controls)
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In the control group, but not in the ASD group, administration of oxytocin compared to placebo increased responses to recognition of voice identity in contrast to speech in the right posterior superior temporal sulcus/gyrus (pSTS/G) - a region implicated in the perceptual analysis of voice-identity information.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a combined behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to investigate voice-identity recognition following intranasal administration of oxytocin or placebo in a group of adults diagnosed with ASD (full-scale intelligence quotient > 85) and pairwise-matched typically developing (TD) controls.
Summary · context
A single dose of 24 IU oxytocin was administered in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and cross-over design.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3263636001
02HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In adults with autism spectrum disorder, intranasal oxytocin did not increase right pSTS/G responses to voice-identity recognition versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with autism, oxytocin did not raise activity in a brain region used for voice identity compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeRight pSTS/G response to voice-identity recognition (ASD group)
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In the control group, but not in the ASD group, administration of oxytocin compared to placebo increased responses to recognition of voice identity in contrast to speech in the right posterior superior temporal sulcus/gyrus (pSTS/G) - a region implicated in the perceptual analysis of voice-identity information.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a combined behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to investigate voice-identity recognition following intranasal administration of oxytocin or placebo in a group of adults diagnosed with ASD (full-scale intelligence quotient > 85) and pairwise-matched typically developing (TD) controls.
Summary · context
A single dose of 24 IU oxytocin was administered in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and cross-over design.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3263636002
03HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In adults with autism spectrum disorder, right pSTS/G responses correlated positively with voice-identity recognition accuracy after oxytocin but not after placebo.
In plain wordsIn adults with autism, brain activity and voice recognition accuracy were linked after oxytocin but not after placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableCorrelation of right pSTS/G response with voice-identity recognition accuracy (ASD group)
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In the ASD group, the right pSTS/G responses were positively correlated with voice-identity recognition accuracy in the oxytocin condition, but not in the placebo condition.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a combined behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to investigate voice-identity recognition following intranasal administration of oxytocin or placebo in a group of adults diagnosed with ASD (full-scale intelligence quotient > 85) and pairwise-matched typically developing (TD) controls.
Summary · context
A single dose of 24 IU oxytocin was administered in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and cross-over design.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3263636003
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
Intranasal oxytocin did not improve voice-identity recognition performance at the group level versus placebo.
In plain wordsOxytocin did not improve how well people recognised voices compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeVoice-identity recognition performance
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin did not improve voice-identity recognition performance at the group level.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We conducted a combined behavioral and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study to investigate voice-identity recognition following intranasal administration of oxytocin or placebo in a group of adults diagnosed with ASD (full-scale intelligence quotient > 85) and pairwise-matched typically developing (TD) controls.
Summary · context
A single dose of 24 IU oxytocin was administered in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled and cross-over design.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3263636004

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

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.