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Study · Randomized controlled trial · n = 18 · 2026

2 results

The impact of intranasal oxytocin administration and social observation on time perception and task execution in a simple motor task.

Kiss O, Topál J, Berkes D, Török-Suri K, Horváth J

Psychological research7 Apr 2026

PMID41944895 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC13056776 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.1007/s00426-026-02290-w (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-41944895
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Summary

Most everyday tasks allow for considerable freedom in task performance. Besides taking physical constraints into account, we also rely on social cues to ascertain that our performance is acceptable. The presence of an observer influences performance, and oxytocin, a neuropeptide, enhances social sensitivity. This study examined the modulatory effects of intranasal oxytocin administration and the audience effect on motor adaptation and time estimation performance in a simple timing task. 18 adult male participants performed a time-interval production task using a force-sensitive device under oxytocin versus placebo, with or without an observer. The results showed that participants produced longer time intervals when oxytocin was administered, while the presence of an observer led to a shortening of the time intervals and a decrease in applied force indicating altered motor planning. Notably, under observation, the effects of oxytocin were enhanced, manifested as a further reduction of planned force application. Motor adaptation (the reduction of applied force) was more marked with successive repetitions, and with the presence of an auditory action-effect. Anxiety levels were positively correlated with the prolongation of timing intervals and force increase, aligning with the literature on anxiety’s impact on motor performance. This shows that oxytocin and social observation independently and interactively affect time perception and motor performance, thus demonstrating oxytocin’s influence on cognitive processes beyond purely social behaviors. The present study also demonstrates how force application patterns may serve as readouts of social cue utilization behavior in simple everyday tasks.
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 healthy men, intranasal oxytocin lengthened the time intervals produced in a timing task versus placebo.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin made people produce longer time intervals in a timing task than placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseProduced time interval length
    Study

    n = 18

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    participants produced longer time intervals when oxytocin was administered
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    18 adult male participants performed a time-interval production task using a force-sensitive device under oxytocin versus placebo, with or without an observer.
  2. 02HumanRandomized controlled trialEfficacy outcome

    In healthy men observed by another person, the effects of intranasal oxytocin were enhanced, with a further reduction of planned force application.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, oxytocin reduced planned force even more when another person was watching.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    DecreasePlanned force application under observation
    Study

    n = 18

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

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Notably, under observation, the effects of oxytocin were enhanced, manifested as a further reduction of planned force application.
    1 context sentence
    Summary · context
    18 adult male participants performed a time-interval production task using a force-sensitive device under oxytocin versus placebo, with or without an observer.

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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