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Study · Randomized controlled trial · 2023

4 results

l-DOPA and oxytocin influence the neurocomputational mechanisms of self-benefitting and prosocial reinforcement learning.

Jansen M, Lockwood PL, Cutler J, de Bruijn ERA

NeuroImage26 Feb 2023Cited by 9 (Europe PMC)

PMID36848972 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.neuroimage.2023.119983 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-36848972
Publisher pagePubMedAsk about this study
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Summary

Humans learn through reinforcement, particularly when outcomes are unexpected. Recent research suggests similar mechanisms drive how we learn to benefit other people, that is, how we learn to be prosocial. Yet the neurochemical mechanisms underlying such prosocial computations remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated whether pharmacological manipulation of oxytocin and dopamine influence the neurocomputational mechanisms underlying self-benefitting and prosocial reinforcement learning. Using a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, we administered intranasal oxytocin (24 IU), dopamine precursor l-DOPA (100 mg + 25 mg carbidopa), or placebo over three sessions. Participants performed a probabilistic reinforcement learning task with potential rewards for themselves, another participant, or no one, during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Computational models of reinforcement learning were used to calculate prediction errors (PEs) and learning rates. Participants behavior was best explained by a model with different learning rates for each recipient, but these were unaffected by either drug. On the neural level, however, both drugs blunted PE signaling in the ventral striatum and led to negative signaling of PEs in the anterior mid-cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal gyrus, and precentral gyrus, compared to placebo, and regardless of recipient. Oxytocin (versus placebo) administration was additionally associated with opposing tracking of self-benefitting versus prosocial PEs in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, insula and superior temporal gyrus. These findings suggest that both l-DOPA and oxytocin induce a context-independent shift from positive towards negative tracking of PEs during learning. Moreover, oxytocin may have opposing effects on PE signaling when learning to benefit oneself versus another.
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.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy participants, learning rates for self, other and no recipient were unaffected by oxytocin.

    In plain wordsIn healthy participants, oxytocin did not change how fast people learned rewards for themselves or others.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeLearning rates in reinforcement learning task
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    but these were unaffected by either drug.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Using a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, we administered intranasal oxytocin (24 IU), dopamine precursor l-DOPA (100 mg + 25 mg carbidopa), or placebo over three sessions.
    Summary · context
    Participants performed a probabilistic reinforcement learning task with potential rewards for themselves, another participant, or no one, during functional magnetic resonance imaging.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy participants, oxytocin blunted prediction error signaling in the ventral striatum compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy participants, oxytocin weakened a brain learning signal in the ventral striatum compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreasePrediction error signaling in ventral striatum
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    both drugs blunted PE signaling in the ventral striatum and led to negative signaling of PEs in the anterior mid-cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal gyrus, and precentral gyrus, compared to placebo, and regardless of recipient.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Using a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, we administered intranasal oxytocin (24 IU), dopamine precursor l-DOPA (100 mg + 25 mg carbidopa), or placebo over three sessions.
    Summary · context
    Participants performed a probabilistic reinforcement learning task with potential rewards for themselves, another participant, or no one, during functional magnetic resonance imaging.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy participants, oxytocin led to negative signaling of prediction errors in the anterior mid-cingulate, dorsolateral prefrontal, inferior parietal and precentral cortex versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy participants, oxytocin shifted a brain learning signal to negative in several cortical regions compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseNegative prediction error signaling in cortical regions
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    led to negative signaling of PEs in the anterior mid-cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, inferior parietal gyrus, and precentral gyrus, compared to placebo, and regardless of recipient
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Using a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, we administered intranasal oxytocin (24 IU), dopamine precursor l-DOPA (100 mg + 25 mg carbidopa), or placebo over three sessions.
    Summary · context
    Participants performed a probabilistic reinforcement learning task with potential rewards for themselves, another participant, or no one, during functional magnetic resonance imaging.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy participants, oxytocin versus placebo was associated with opposing tracking of self-benefitting and prosocial prediction errors in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, insula and superior temporal gyrus.

    In plain wordsIn healthy participants, oxytocin changed how brain areas tracked learning signals for self and for others in opposite ways compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    MixedSelf-benefitting versus prosocial prediction error tracking
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    24 IU · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Oxytocin (versus placebo) administration was additionally associated with opposing tracking of self-benefitting versus prosocial PEs in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, insula and superior temporal gyrus.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    Using a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over design, we administered intranasal oxytocin (24 IU), dopamine precursor l-DOPA (100 mg + 25 mg carbidopa), or placebo over three sessions.
    Summary · context
    Participants performed a probabilistic reinforcement learning task with potential rewards for themselves, another participant, or no one, during functional magnetic resonance imaging.

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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