Oxytocin treatment attenuates amygdala activity in autism: a treatment-mechanism study with long-term follow-up.

Bernaerts S, Boets B, Steyaert J, Wenderoth N, Alaerts K

Translational psychiatry6 Nov 2020Cited by 33 (Europe PMC)

PMID33159033PMCIDPMC7648620DOI10.1038/s41398-020-01069-wPepBankPUB-33159033

Summary

Intranasal administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin (IN-OT) is increasingly considered as a potential treatment for targeting the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the effects of continual use on neural substrates are fairly unexplored and long-term effects are unknown. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effects of single-dose and multiple-dose IN-OT treatment (4 weeks of daily (24 IU) administrations) on brain activity related to processing emotional states. Thirty-eight adult men with ASD (aged between 18 and 35 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTS) and amygdala regions while processing emotional states from point-light biological motion. In line with prior research, a single dose of IN-OT induced a reliable increase in pSTS brain activity during the processing of point-light biological motion, but no consistent long-term changes in pSTS activity were induced after the multiple-dose treatment. In terms of bilateral amygdala, the multiple-dose treatment induced a consistent attenuation in brain activity, which outlasted the period of actual administrations until four weeks and one year post-treatment. Critically, participants with stronger attenuations in amygdala-activity showed greater behavioral improvements, particularly in terms of self-reported feelings of avoidant attachment and social functioning. Together, these observations provide initial insights into the long-lasting neural consequences of chronic IN-OT use on amygdala functioning and provide first indications that the acute versus chronic effects of IN-OT administration may be qualitatively different. Larger studies are however warranted to further elucidate the long-term impact of IN-OT treatment on human neural substrates and its behavioral consequences.

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 adult men with autism spectrum disorder, a single dose of intranasal oxytocin increased posterior superior temporal gyrus activity during processing of point-light biological motion versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men with autism, one dose of oxytocin spray increased activity in a brain area for reading body movement, compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreasepSTS activity after a single dose
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
a single dose of IN-OT induced a reliable increase in pSTS brain activity during the processing of point-light biological motion
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effects of single-dose and multiple-dose IN-OT treatment (4 weeks of daily (24 IU) administrations) on brain activity related to processing emotional states.
Summary · context
Thirty-eight adult men with ASD (aged between 18 and 35 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTS) and amygdala regions while processing emotional states from point-light biological motion.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3315903301
02HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In adult men with autism spectrum disorder, 4 weeks of daily intranasal oxytocin produced no consistent long-term change in posterior superior temporal gyrus activity versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men with autism, 4 weeks of daily oxytocin spray did not lead to lasting change in a brain area for reading body movement.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changepSTS activity after multiple doses
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU daily · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
no consistent long-term changes in pSTS activity were induced after the multiple-dose treatment.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effects of single-dose and multiple-dose IN-OT treatment (4 weeks of daily (24 IU) administrations) on brain activity related to processing emotional states.
Summary · context
Thirty-eight adult men with ASD (aged between 18 and 35 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTS) and amygdala regions while processing emotional states from point-light biological motion.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3315903302
03HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In adult men with autism spectrum disorder, 4 weeks of daily intranasal oxytocin consistently attenuated bilateral amygdala activity, and the effect lasted until four weeks and one year after treatment.
In plain wordsIn men with autism, 4 weeks of daily oxytocin spray lowered amygdala brain activity, and the lowering lasted for a year.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseBilateral amygdala activity after multiple doses
Study
n = 38
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU daily · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
In terms of bilateral amygdala, the multiple-dose treatment induced a consistent attenuation in brain activity, which outlasted the period of actual administrations until four weeks and one year post-treatment.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effects of single-dose and multiple-dose IN-OT treatment (4 weeks of daily (24 IU) administrations) on brain activity related to processing emotional states.
Summary · context
Thirty-eight adult men with ASD (aged between 18 and 35 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTS) and amygdala regions while processing emotional states from point-light biological motion.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3315903303
04HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In adult men with autism spectrum disorder treated with intranasal oxytocin, stronger attenuation of amygdala activity was linked to greater improvement in self-reported avoidant attachment and social functioning.
In plain wordsIn men with autism given oxytocin spray, a bigger drop in amygdala activity was linked to bigger gains in attachment and social functioning.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableAmygdala attenuation and behavioral improvement
Study
n = 38
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 IU daily · intranasal · 4 weeksAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Critically, participants with stronger attenuations in amygdala-activity showed greater behavioral improvements, particularly in terms of self-reported feelings of avoidant attachment and social functioning.
2 context sentences(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we investigated the effects of single-dose and multiple-dose IN-OT treatment (4 weeks of daily (24 IU) administrations) on brain activity related to processing emotional states.
Summary · context
Thirty-eight adult men with ASD (aged between 18 and 35 years) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging of the posterior superior temporal gyrus (pSTS) and amygdala regions while processing emotional states from point-light biological motion.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3315903304

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, 02:49 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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