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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 44 · 2025

2 results

Nasal dominance potentiates intranasal oxytocin's anxiolytic effects.

Julius NC, Nicholls D, Nowell J, Burmester V

Scientific reports27 May 2025Cited by 3 (Europe PMC)

PMID40425808 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC12117073 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1038/s41598-025-95148-x (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-40425808
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Summary

The nasal cycle is a phenomenon whereby alterations in airflow alternate between left and right nostrils. During a nostril's decongested - or dominant - state, the contralateral nostril is congested, or non-dominant. Intranasal oxytocin may elicit anxiolytic effects. To date, no study has investigated whether there is an optimal nasal pathway for oxytocin's effects. Forty-four female adolescents aged 16 to 17 years were included in this exploratory study investigating effects of nasal dominance on intranasal oxytocin delivery. We show that intranasal oxytocin significantly reduces stress relative to placebo (p = 0.012, ηp2 = 0.145) and greater stress reduction occurs when oxytocin is delivered to the dominant, rather than non-dominant, nostril (p = 0.034, ηp2 = 0.113). We postulate that oxytocin administration may reduce stress and be most effective in the context of anxiolysis when administered to the dominant nostril. Further research investigating whether other intranasal psychotropic drugs have nostril-specific effects might benefit clinical practice.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study2

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

  1. 01HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In female adolescents, intranasal oxytocin significantly reduced stress relative to placebo.

    In plain wordsIn female adolescents, nasal oxytocin reduced stress more than placebo did.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseStress reduction
    Study

    n = 44

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Analysis
    Exploratory
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    intranasal oxytocin significantly reduces stress relative to placebo (p = 0.012, ηp2 = 0.145)
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Forty-four female adolescents aged 16 to 17 years were included in this exploratory study investigating effects of nasal dominance on intranasal oxytocin delivery.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In female adolescents, intranasal oxytocin delivered to the dominant nostril reduced stress more than delivery to the non-dominant nostril.

    In plain wordsIn female adolescents, nasal oxytocin reduced stress more when sprayed into the dominant nostril than into the other nostril.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreaseStress reduction, dominant versus non-dominant nostril
    Study

    n = 44

    Comparator
    Non-dominant nostril delivery
    Analysis
    Exploratory
    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Mental health and mood
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated · intranasalAs given in this study (human).

    Source sentences

    Summary
    greater stress reduction occurs when oxytocin is delivered to the dominant, rather than non-dominant, nostril (p = 0.034, ηp2 = 0.113)
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    Forty-four female adolescents aged 16 to 17 years were included in this exploratory study investigating effects of nasal dominance on intranasal oxytocin delivery.

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, 02:47 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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