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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 100 · 2021

2 results

A randomized placebo-controlled intranasal oxytocin study on first impressions and reactions to social rejection.

Henningsson S, Leknes S, Asperholm M, Eikemo M, Westberg L

Biological psychology28 Jul 2021Cited by 4 (Europe PMC)

PMID34331996 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.biopsycho.2021.108164 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-34331996
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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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 study2

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

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In pairs of opposite-sex strangers, intranasal oxytocin did not improve first impressions of the co-participant versus placebo, with some Bayesian support against improvement.

    In plain wordsIn pairs of strangers, oxytocin did not improve first impressions more than placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFirst impressions of an opposite-sex stranger
    Study

    n = 100

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    We found no evidence that intranasal oxytocin can improve first impressions of an opposite-sex stranger, and some Bayesian support against this hypothesis.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 50 pairs of one man and one woman received oxytocin or placebo spray intranasally.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In a cyberball rejection task, oxytocin had a sex-and-context-dependent effect on post-ostracism mood ratings versus placebo.

    In plain wordsAfter a rejection game, oxytocin changed mood ratings differently depending on sex and context, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    MixedPost-ostracism mood ratings
    Study

    n = 100

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Social behavior and cognition · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    For rejection sensitivity, we observed a sex-and-context-dependent drug effect on post-ostracism mood ratings, consistent with recent studies indicating that interindividual variation and social context can interact with intranasal oxytocin effects.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    In a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 50 pairs of one man and one woman received oxytocin or placebo spray intranasally.

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, 00:50 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.

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