Age-dependent effects of oxytocin in brain regions enriched with oxytocin receptors.

Xiao S, Ebner NC, Manzouri A, Li TQ, Cortes DS, Månsson KNT, Fischer H

Psychoneuroendocrinology3 Nov 2023Cited by 10 (Europe PMC)

PMID37951085PMCIDPMC10841644DOI10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106666PepBankPUB-37951085

Summary

Although intranasal oxytocin administration to tap into central functions is the most commonly used non-invasive means for exploring oxytocin's role in human cognition and behavior, the way by which intranasal oxytocin acts on the brain is not yet fully understood. Recent research suggests that brain regions densely populated with oxytocin receptors may play a central role in intranasal oxytocin's action mechanisms in the brain. In particular, intranasal oxytocin may act directly on (subcortical) regions rich in oxytocin receptors via binding to these receptors while only indirectly affecting other (cortical) regions via their neural connections to oxytocin receptor-enriched regions. Aligned with this notion, the current study adopted a novel approach to test 1) whether the connections between oxytocin receptor-enriched regions (i.e., the thalamus, pallidum, caudate nucleus, putamen, and olfactory bulbs) and other regions in the brain were responsive to intranasal oxytocin administration, and 2) whether oxytocin-induced effects varied as a function of age. Forty-six young (24.96 ± 3.06 years) and 44 older (69.89 ± 2.99 years) participants were randomized, in a double-blind procedure, to self-administer either intranasal oxytocin or placebo before resting-state fMRI. Results supported age-dependency in the effects of intranasal oxytocin administration on connectivity between oxytocin receptor-enriched regions and other regions in the brain. Specifically, compared to placebo, oxytocin decreased both connectivity density and connectivity strength of the thalamus for young participants while it increased connectivity density and connectivity strength of the caudate for older participants. These findings inform the mechanisms underlying the effects of exogenous oxytocin on brain function and highlight the importance of age in these processes.

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 young adults, intranasal oxytocin decreased the connectivity density of the thalamus compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn young adults, nasal oxytocin lowered a measure of thalamus brain connectivity compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseThalamus connectivity density in young participants
Study
n = 46
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Specifically, compared to placebo, oxytocin decreased both connectivity density and connectivity strength of the thalamus for young participants while it increased connectivity density and connectivity strength of the caudate for older participants.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six young (24.96 ± 3.06 years) and 44 older (69.89 ± 2.99 years) participants were randomized, in a double-blind procedure, to self-administer either intranasal oxytocin or placebo before resting-state fMRI.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3795108501
02HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In young adults, intranasal oxytocin decreased the connectivity strength of the thalamus compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn young adults, nasal oxytocin lowered a second measure of thalamus brain connectivity compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
DecreaseThalamus connectivity strength in young participants
Study
n = 46
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Specifically, compared to placebo, oxytocin decreased both connectivity density and connectivity strength of the thalamus for young participants while it increased connectivity density and connectivity strength of the caudate for older participants.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six young (24.96 ± 3.06 years) and 44 older (69.89 ± 2.99 years) participants were randomized, in a double-blind procedure, to self-administer either intranasal oxytocin or placebo before resting-state fMRI.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3795108502
03HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In older adults, intranasal oxytocin increased the connectivity density of the caudate compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn older adults, nasal oxytocin raised a measure of caudate brain connectivity compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseCaudate connectivity density in older participants
Study
n = 44
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Specifically, compared to placebo, oxytocin decreased both connectivity density and connectivity strength of the thalamus for young participants while it increased connectivity density and connectivity strength of the caudate for older participants.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six young (24.96 ± 3.06 years) and 44 older (69.89 ± 2.99 years) participants were randomized, in a double-blind procedure, to self-administer either intranasal oxytocin or placebo before resting-state fMRI.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3795108503
04HumanRandomized controlled trialMechanism
In older adults, intranasal oxytocin increased the connectivity strength of the caudate compared with placebo.
In plain wordsIn older adults, nasal oxytocin raised a second measure of caudate brain connectivity compared with placebo.
Peptide
Oxytocin
Outcome
IncreaseCaudate connectivity strength in older participants
Study
n = 44
Comparator
Placebo
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
Specifically, compared to placebo, oxytocin decreased both connectivity density and connectivity strength of the thalamus for young participants while it increased connectivity density and connectivity strength of the caudate for older participants.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Forty-six young (24.96 ± 3.06 years) and 44 older (69.89 ± 2.99 years) participants were randomized, in a double-blind procedure, to self-administer either intranasal oxytocin or placebo before resting-state fMRI.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3795108504

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

Version history

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Version 2Current
11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 02:47 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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