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Study · Systematic review · n = 2,247 · 2026

5 results

Effects of exogenous oxytocin on human brain function are regulated by oxytocin gene expression: A meta-analysis of 20 years of oxytocin neuroimaging and transcriptomic analyses.

Wang J, Gan X, Han M, Dong W, He J, Fu K, Bore MC, Xu T, Klugah-Brown B, Ferraro S, Becker B

Neuroscience and biobehavioral reviews17 Nov 2025Cited by 2 (Europe PMC)

PMID41260504 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1016/j.neubiorev.2025.106478 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41260504
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 study5

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. 4 results from people.

  1. 01HumanSystematic reviewMechanism

    In a meta-analysis of 75 task-fMRI experiments, exogenous oxytocin had consistent effects in the left thalamus, pallidum, caudate and insula.

    In plain wordsAcross 75 brain imaging experiments, giving oxytocin changed activity in the left thalamus, pallidum, caudate and insula.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedBrain regions affected by exogenous oxytocin in task fMRI
    Study

    n = 2,247

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Across 75 task-fMRI experiments (n = 2247), consistent, domain-general effects of OT administration emerged in the left thalamus, pallidum, caudate, and insula, but not in the amygdala.
  2. 02HumanSystematic reviewMechanism

    In a meta-analysis of 75 task-fMRI experiments, no consistent effect of exogenous oxytocin emerged in the amygdala.

    In plain wordsAcross 75 brain imaging experiments, giving oxytocin did not change amygdala activity in a consistent way.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeAmygdala effect of exogenous oxytocin in task fMRI
    Study

    n = 2,247

    Comparator
    Placebo
    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Across 75 task-fMRI experiments (n = 2247), consistent, domain-general effects of OT administration emerged in the left thalamus, pallidum, caudate, and insula, but not in the amygdala.
  3. 03HumanSystematic reviewMechanism

    Connectivity modeling showed that the regions affected by exogenous oxytocin form an integrated thalamus-striatum-insula circuit.

    In plain wordsBrain network analysis showed that the regions changed by given oxytocin work together as one circuit.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Direction not reportedThalamus-striatum-insula circuit modulated by exogenous oxytocin
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Connectivity modeling showed these regions form an integrated thalamus-striatum-insula circuit directly modulated by exogenous OT.
  4. 04HumanSystematic reviewMechanism

    Neural effects of exogenous OT were strongly linked with acetylcholinergic, dopaminergic and opioidergic gene distributions.

    In plain wordsThe brain effects of given oxytocin matched where acetylcholine, dopamine and opioid genes are active.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableLink of oxytocin neural effects to other neurotransmitter gene distributions
    Study

    n: not reported in source

    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition
    Studied dose
    Dose not stated

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Exogenous OT's neural effects were also strongly linked with acetylcholinergic, dopaminergic, and opioidergic gene distributions, potentially reflecting functional interactions with these systems.

Natural levels measured1

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

  1. 05Computer modelEndogenous levelIn silicoMechanism

    Transcriptomic analysis found that the expression of the OT pathway genes CD38, OXT and OXTR is enriched in the subcortical regions affected by exogenous OT.

    In plain wordsA gene analysis found the body's own oxytocin-related genes are more active in the brain regions that changed after oxytocin was given.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    Not applicableExpression of OT pathway genes in the affected brain regions
    Study

    humann: not reported in source

    transcriptomic analysis
    Outcome group
    Brain and neuronal activity · Nervous system and cognition

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Transcriptomic analyses revealed that the expression of three OT pathway genes (CD38, OXT, and OXTR) is enriched in these subcortical regions and associated with the observed neural effects.

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

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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