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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 186 · 2023

5 results

Null results of oxytocin and vasopressin administration on mentalizing in a large fMRI sample: evidence from a randomized controlled trial.

Straccia MA, Teed AR, Katzman PL, Tan KM, Parrish MH, Irwin MR, Eisenberger NI, Lieberman MD, Tabak BA

Psychological medicine15 Oct 2021Cited by 17 (Europe PMC)

PMID37310308 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC10123837 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1017/s0033291721004104 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-37310308
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Summary

BackgroundAlthough potential links between oxytocin (OT), vasopressin (AVP), and social cognition are well-grounded theoretically, most studies have included all male samples, and few have demonstrated consistent effects of either neuropeptide on mentalizing (i.e. understanding the mental states of others). To understand the potential of either neuropeptide as a pharmacological treatment for individuals with impairments in social cognition, it is important to demonstrate the beneficial effects of OT and AVP on mentalizing in healthy individuals.MethodsIn the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n = 186) of healthy individuals, we examined the effects of OT and AVP administration on behavioral responses and neural activity in response to a mentalizing task.ResultsRelative to placebo, neither drug showed an effect on task reaction time or accuracy, nor on whole-brain neural activation or functional connectivity observed within brain networks associated with mentalizing. Exploratory analyses included several variables previously shown to moderate OT's effects on social processes (e.g., self-reported empathy, alexithymia) but resulted in no significant interaction effects.ConclusionsResults add to a growing literature demonstrating that intranasal administration of OT and AVP may have a more limited effect on social cognition, at both the behavioral and neural level, than initially assumed. Randomized controlled trial registrations: ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02393443; NCT02393456; NCT02394054.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. 5 results from people.

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy adults, exploratory analyses of moderators such as self-reported empathy and alexithymia found no significant interaction effects with oxytocin.

    In plain wordsIn healthy adults, traits such as empathy and alexithymia did not change how oxytocin affected the results.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeModerators of oxytocin effects (empathy, alexithymia) in exploratory analyses
    Study

    n = 186

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Analysis
    Exploratory
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Exploratory analyses included several variables previously shown to moderate OT's effects on social processes (e.g., self-reported empathy, alexithymia) but resulted in no significant interaction effects.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n = 186) of healthy individuals, we examined the effects of OT and AVP administration on behavioral responses and neural activity in response to a mentalizing task.
    Summary · context
    Results add to a growing literature demonstrating that intranasal administration of OT and AVP may have a more limited effect on social cognition, at both the behavioral and neural level, than initially assumed.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy adults, oxytocin did not change reaction time on a mentalizing task compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy adults, oxytocin did not change reaction time on a task about understanding others' minds, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeMentalizing task reaction time
    Study

    n = 186

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Relative to placebo, neither drug showed an effect on task reaction time or accuracy
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n = 186) of healthy individuals, we examined the effects of OT and AVP administration on behavioral responses and neural activity in response to a mentalizing task.
    Summary · context
    Results add to a growing literature demonstrating that intranasal administration of OT and AVP may have a more limited effect on social cognition, at both the behavioral and neural level, than initially assumed.
  3. 03HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy adults, oxytocin did not change accuracy on a mentalizing task compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy adults, oxytocin did not change accuracy on a task about understanding others' minds, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeMentalizing task accuracy
    Study

    n = 186

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Relative to placebo, neither drug showed an effect on task reaction time or accuracy
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n = 186) of healthy individuals, we examined the effects of OT and AVP administration on behavioral responses and neural activity in response to a mentalizing task.
    Summary · context
    Results add to a growing literature demonstrating that intranasal administration of OT and AVP may have a more limited effect on social cognition, at both the behavioral and neural level, than initially assumed.
  4. 04HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy adults, oxytocin did not change whole-brain neural activation during a mentalizing task compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy adults, oxytocin did not change brain activity during a task about understanding others' minds, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeWhole-brain neural activation during mentalizing
    Study

    n = 186

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Relative to placebo, neither drug showed an effect on task reaction time or accuracy, nor on whole-brain neural activation or functional connectivity observed within brain networks associated with mentalizing
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n = 186) of healthy individuals, we examined the effects of OT and AVP administration on behavioral responses and neural activity in response to a mentalizing task.
    Summary · context
    Results add to a growing literature demonstrating that intranasal administration of OT and AVP may have a more limited effect on social cognition, at both the behavioral and neural level, than initially assumed.
  5. 05HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy adults, oxytocin did not change functional connectivity within mentalizing-related brain networks compared with placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy adults, oxytocin did not change how brain areas linked up during a task about understanding others' minds, compared with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeFunctional connectivity within mentalizing networks
    Study

    n = 186

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Relative to placebo, neither drug showed an effect on task reaction time or accuracy, nor on whole-brain neural activation or functional connectivity observed within brain networks associated with mentalizing
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    In the present randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study (n = 186) of healthy individuals, we examined the effects of OT and AVP administration on behavioral responses and neural activity in response to a mentalizing task.
    Summary · context
    Results add to a growing literature demonstrating that intranasal administration of OT and AVP may have a more limited effect on social cognition, at both the behavioral and neural level, than initially assumed.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Registered trials2

Trials this study reports on, or that list this study as a reference. Registry data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

2 trials · 2 completed · source ClinicalTrials.gov (opens in a new tab)

CompletedEarly phase 1NCT02393443

Oxytocin and Learning for Teaching

University of California, Los Angelesn = 161Jan 2015 to Jul 2016

Social Psychology

Trial pageClinicalTrials.govUpdated 10 Aug 2017
CompletedEarly phase 1NCT02393456

Oxytocin and the Social Brain

University of California, Los Angelesn = 161Jan 2015 to Jul 2016

Social Psychology

Trial pageClinicalTrials.govUpdated 10 Aug 2017

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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