Skip to content

Study · Other design · 2020

2 results

Oxytocin facilitates valence-dependent valuation of social evaluation of the self.

Wang D, Ma Y

Communications biology13 Aug 2020Cited by 13 (Europe PMC)

PMID32792516 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC7426917 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1038/s42003-020-01168-w (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-32792516
Download PDFPubMedAsk about this study
Jump to 2 results

Summary

People are eager to know the self in other's eyes even with personal costs. However, what drives people costly to know evaluations remains unknown. Here we tested the hypothesis of placing subjective value on knowing social evaluations. To quantify the subjective value, we developed a pay-to-know choice task where individuals trade off profits against knowing social evaluations. Individuals computed independent unknown aversion towards positive and negative social evaluations and placed higher values on knowing social evaluation on positive than negative aspects. Such a valence-dependent valuation of social evaluation was facilitated by oxytocin, a neuropeptide linked to feedback learning and valuation processes, by decreasing values of negative social evaluation. Moreover, individuals scoring high in depression undervalued positive social evaluation, which was normalized by oxytocin. We reveal the psychological and computational processes underlying self-image formation/update and suggest a role of oxytocin in normalizing hypo-valuation of positive social evaluation in depression.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

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

  1. 01HumanOther designEfficacy outcome

    In a pay-to-know task, oxytocin facilitated valence-dependent valuation of social evaluation by decreasing the value placed on knowing negative social evaluation.

    In plain wordsIn a decision task, oxytocin lowered the value people placed on learning negative social evaluations of themselves.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseValue placed on knowing negative social evaluation
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Such a valence-dependent valuation of social evaluation was facilitated by oxytocin, a neuropeptide linked to feedback learning and valuation processes, by decreasing values of negative social evaluation.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To quantify the subjective value, we developed a pay-to-know choice task where individuals trade off profits against knowing social evaluations.
  2. 02HumanOther designEfficacy outcome

    In individuals scoring high in depression, who undervalued positive social evaluation, oxytocin normalized this undervaluation.

    In plain wordsIn people scoring high in depression, oxytocin brought back the value they placed on learning positive social evaluations.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseValue placed on knowing positive social evaluation in individuals scoring high in depression
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Moreover, individuals scoring high in depression undervalued positive social evaluation, which was normalized by oxytocin.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    To quantify the subjective value, we developed a pay-to-know choice task where individuals trade off profits against knowing social evaluations.

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, 02:48 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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