A randomized trial shows dose-frequency and genotype may determine the therapeutic efficacy of intranasal oxytocin.

Kou J, Zhang Y, Zhou F, Sindermann C, Montag C, Becker B, Kendrick KM

Psychological medicine4 Dec 2020Cited by 45 (Europe PMC)

PMID33272333DOI10.1017/s0033291720003803PepBankPUB-33272333

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

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 study7

7 results from studies that gave the peptide. 7 results from people.

01HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men, oxytocin reduced amygdala responses to face emotions only in AA homozygotes of rs53576.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin reduced amygdala responses to emotional faces only in those with the AA version of the rs53576 gene variant.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableGenotype dependence, rs53576 AA homozygotes
Study
n = 150
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 international units · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin effects on reducing amygdala responses to face emotions only occurred in AA homozygotes of rs53576 and A carriers of rs2254298.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmaco-functional magnetic resonance imaging trial (150 male subjects), we investigated acute and different chronic (every day or on alternate days for 5 days) intranasal oxytocin (24 international units) effects and oxytocin receptor genotype-medi…
Report a problemFND-3327233305
02HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In men, oxytocin reduced amygdala responses to face emotions only in A carriers of rs2254298.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin reduced amygdala responses to emotional faces only in carriers of the A version of the rs2254298 gene variant.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
Not applicableGenotype dependence, rs2254298 A carriers
Study
n = 150
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 international units · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Oxytocin effects on reducing amygdala responses to face emotions only occurred in AA homozygotes of rs53576 and A carriers of rs2254298
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmaco-functional magnetic resonance imaging trial (150 male subjects), we investigated acute and different chronic (every day or on alternate days for 5 days) intranasal oxytocin (24 international units) effects and oxytocin receptor genotype-medi…
Report a problemFND-3327233306
03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In men, the effects of oxytocin on resting-state functional connectivity were not influenced by dose frequency or receptor genotype.
In plain wordsIn men, the effect of nasal oxytocin on resting brain connectivity did not depend on dose frequency or gene variant.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAmygdala-prefrontal resting-state functional connectivity
Study
n = 150
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 international units · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The effects of oxytocin on resting-state functional connectivity were not influenced by either dose-frequency or receptor genotype.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmaco-functional magnetic resonance imaging trial (150 male subjects), we investigated acute and different chronic (every day or on alternate days for 5 days) intranasal oxytocin (24 international units) effects and oxytocin receptor genotype-medi…
Report a problemFND-3327233307
04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In men, a single dose of intranasal oxytocin reduced amygdala responses to face emotions versus placebo.
In plain wordsIn men, one dose of nasal oxytocin reduced amygdala responses to emotional faces compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseAmygdala responses to face emotions after a single dose
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 international units · intranasal · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
A single dose of oxytocin-reduced amygdala responses to all face emotions but for threatening (fear and anger) and happy faces, this effect was abolished after daily doses for 5 days but maintained by doses given every other day.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmaco-functional magnetic resonance imaging trial (150 male subjects), we investigated acute and different chronic (every day or on alternate days for 5 days) intranasal oxytocin (24 international units) effects and oxytocin receptor genotype-medi…
Report a problemFND-3327233301
05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In men, the oxytocin-induced reduction in amygdala responses to threatening and happy faces was abolished after daily doses for 5 days.
In plain wordsIn men, daily nasal oxytocin for 5 days did not keep the reduced amygdala response to threatening and happy faces.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
No significant changeAmygdala responses to threatening and happy faces after daily doses for 5 days
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 international units · intranasal · 5 days, every dayAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
A single dose of oxytocin-reduced amygdala responses to all face emotions but for threatening (fear and anger) and happy faces, this effect was abolished after daily doses for 5 days but maintained by doses given every other day.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmaco-functional magnetic resonance imaging trial (150 male subjects), we investigated acute and different chronic (every day or on alternate days for 5 days) intranasal oxytocin (24 international units) effects and oxytocin receptor genotype-medi…
Report a problemFND-3327233302
06HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In men, the oxytocin-induced reduction in amygdala responses to threatening and happy faces was maintained by doses given every other day.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin given every other day kept the reduced amygdala response to threatening and happy faces.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseAmygdala responses to threatening and happy faces with doses every other day
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 international units · intranasal · 5 days, alternate daysAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
A single dose of oxytocin-reduced amygdala responses to all face emotions but for threatening (fear and anger) and happy faces, this effect was abolished after daily doses for 5 days but maintained by doses given every other day.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmaco-functional magnetic resonance imaging trial (150 male subjects), we investigated acute and different chronic (every day or on alternate days for 5 days) intranasal oxytocin (24 international units) effects and oxytocin receptor genotype-medi…
Report a problemFND-3327233303
07HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome
In men, the alternate-day oxytocin regime also enhanced the attenuation of anxious arousal for fear faces.
In plain wordsIn men, nasal oxytocin every other day also reduced anxious arousal to fearful faces more.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseAnxious-arousal attenuation for fear faces with alternate-day doses
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Anxiety and mood · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
24 international units · intranasal · 5 days, alternate daysAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
The latter dose regime also enhanced associated anxious-arousal attenuation for fear faces.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pharmaco-functional magnetic resonance imaging trial (150 male subjects), we investigated acute and different chronic (every day or on alternate days for 5 days) intranasal oxytocin (24 international units) effects and oxytocin receptor genotype-medi…
Report a problemFND-3327233304

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, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:48 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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