Oxytocin enhances the encoding of positive social memories in humans.

Guastella, Adam J.; Mitchell, Philip B.; Mathews, Frosso

doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.02.008

Cited by 354Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorFace Recognition and PerceptionOlfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Oxytocin enhances the encoding of positive social memories in humans.

Guastella, Adam J., Mitchell, Philip B., Mathews, Frosso·2008·Biological Psychiatry

DOI 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.02.008

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

Abstract

Background In nonhuman mammals, oxytocin has a critical role in social recognition and the development of long-term bonds. There has been limited research evaluating effects of oxytocin on the encoding and recognition of faces in humans.Methods In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, between-subject design, we administered oxytocin (24 IU) or a placebo to 69 healthy human male volunteers and then presented 36 happy, angry, or neutral human faces. Participants returned the following day to make "remember," "know," or "new" judgments for a mix of 72 new and previously seen faces.Results Oxytocin-administered participants were more likely to make remember and know judgments for previously seen happy faces compared with angry and neutral human faces. In contrast, oxytocin did not influence judgments for faces that had not been presented previously.Conclusions This study shows that the administration of oxytocin to male humans enhances the encoding of positive social information to make it more memorable. Results suggest that oxytocin could enhance social approach, intimacy, and bonding in male humans by strengthening encoding to make the recall of positive social information more likely.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.02.008

Cites

32 of 32 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

In autism, oxytocin administration increases eye-contact, emotion understanding, and the effectiveness of decision-making in social contexts.
“For example, in the case of autism—a disorder known for its symptomatic social deficits—oxytocin administration increases eye-contact [49], emotion understanding [50], and the effectiveness of decision-making in social contexts [49].”
From Could intranasal oxytocin be used to enhance relationships? Research imperatives, clinical policy, and ethical considerations (2013) · cites this paper as [50]
In humans, exogenously administered oxytocin enhances the encoding of social memory, both of positive and negative events, suggesting that higher oxytocin levels improve memorization of social interactions.
“Additionally, in humans, exogenously administered oxytocin enhances the encoding of social memory, both of positive [30] and negative [31] events, suggesting that higher oxytocin levels improve memorization of social interactions.”
From Food sharing is linked to urinary oxytocin levels and bonding in related and unrelated wild chimpanzees (2014) · cites this paper as [30]
OT increases the accuracy of people's perceptual judgments of others' emotions and intentions, improves recognition memory, and stimulates eye contact.
“It increases the accuracy of people's perceptual judgments of others' emotions and intentions (Domes et al., 2007), improves recognition memory (Savaskan et al., 2008) and stimulates eye contact (Guastella et al., 2008).”
From The effect of oxytocin on cooperation in a prisoner's dilemma depends on the social context and a person's social value orientation (2014) · cites this paper as Guastella et al., 2008
Emotion discrimination abilities in mice are dependent on the OXT system.
“we have demonstrated that emotion discrimination abilities in mice are dependent on the OXT system”
From Oxytocin Signaling in the Central Amygdala Modulates Emotion Discrimination in Mice (2019) · cites this paper as [9]
OXT has been associated with social cognitive functions, such as emotion recognition in humans.
“OXT has been associated with social cognitive functions, such as emotion recognition [8-10, 33-36, 38, 39].”
From Oxytocin Signaling in the Central Amygdala Modulates Emotion Discrimination in Mice (2019) · cites this paper as [9]

Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: The PANAS scales.
Watson, D., Clark, L. A., & Tellegen, A. (1988) · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology · doi:10.1037/0022-3514.54.6.1063 · Cited by 32,433 · see citing works
Social support and health: a review of physiological processes potentially underlying links to disease outcomes.
Uchino, B. N. (2006) · Journal of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/s10865-006-9056-5 · Cited by 2,507 · see citing works
The neurobiology of pair bonding.
Young, L. J., & Wang, Z. (2004) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn1327 · Cited by 1,523 · see citing works
The Role of the Dorsal Striatum in Reward and Decision-Making: Figure 1.
Balleine, B. W., Delgado, M. R., & Hikosaka, O. (2007) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1554-07.2007 · Cited by 1,390 · see citing works
Oxytocin improves “mind-reading” in humans
Domes, G., Heinrichs, M., Michel, A., Berger, C., & Herpertz, S. C. (2007) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.07.015 · Cited by 1,298 · see citing works
Oxytocin in the Medial Amygdala is Essential for Social Recognition in the Mouse
Ferguson, J. N., Aldag, J. M., Insel, T. R., & Young, L. J. (2001) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.21-20-08278.2001 · Cited by 1,043 · see citing works
OXYTOCIN MAY MEDIATE THE BENEFITS OF POSITIVE SOCIAL INTERACTION AND EMOTIONS1The purpose of this paper is to describe the neuroendocrine mechanisms of positive social interactions.1
Uvnäs-Moberg, K. (1998) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/s0306-4530(98)00056-0 · Cited by 966 · see citing works
Reward, Motivation, and Emotion Systems Associated With Early-Stage Intense Romantic Love
Aron, A., Fisher, H., Mashek, D. J., Strong, G., Li, H., & Brown, L. L. (2005) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.00838.2004 · Cited by 963 · see citing works
a neurobehavioral model of affiliative bonding: implications for conceptualizing a human trait of affiliation
depue, R. A., & morrone-strupinsky, J. V. (2005) · Behavioral and Brain Sciences · doi:10.1017/s0140525x05000063 · Cited by 958 · see citing works
Facial Expressions of Emotion: Are Angry Faces Detected More Efficiently?
Fox, E., Lester, V., Russo, R., Bowles, R. J., Pichler, A., & Dutton, K. (2000) · Cognition & Emotion · doi:10.1080/026999300378996 · Cited by 950 · see citing works
Remembering and knowing: Two means of access to the personal past
Rajaram, S. (1993) · Memory & Cognition · doi:10.3758/bf03211168 · Cited by 870 · see citing works
Vasopressin and Oxytocin Excite Distinct Neuronal Populations in the Central Amygdala
Huber, D., Veinante, P., & Stoop, R. (2005) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1105636 · Cited by 804 · see citing works
Oxytocin increases gaze to the eye region of human faces
Guastella, A. J., Mitchell, P. B., & Dadds, M. R. (2008) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.06.026 · Cited by 798 · see citing works
Self-citation
Neuropeptidergic regulation of affiliative behavior and social bonding in animals
Lim, M. M., & Young, L. J. (2006) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2006.06.028 · Cited by 624 · see citing works
The Relation between Remembering and Knowing as Bases for Recognition: Effects of Size Congruency
Yonelinas, A., & Jacoby, L. (1995) · Journal of Memory and Language · doi:10.1006/jmla.1995.1028 · Cited by 500 · see citing works
Reward value of attractiveness and gaze
Kampe, K. K. W., Frith, C. D., Dolan, R. J., & Frith, U. (2001) · Nature · doi:10.1038/35098149 · Cited by 475 · see citing works
How emotion enhances the feeling of remembering
Sharot, T., Delgado, M., & Phelps, E. (2004) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn1353 · Cited by 470 · see citing works
The neuroscience of affiliation: forging links between basic and clinical research on neuropeptides and social behavior
A. Bartz, J., & Hollander, E. (2006) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2006.06.018 · Cited by 311 · see citing works
Dopaminergic Mechanisms in Actions and Habits: Figure 1.
Wickens, J. R., Horvitz, J. C., Costa, R. M., & Killcross, S. (2007) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.1671-07.2007 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Models of recognition: A review of arguments in favor of a dual-process account
Diana, R. A., Reder, L. M., Arndt, J., & Park, H. (2006) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/bf03193807 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
Attachment, aggression and affiliation: the role of oxytocin in female social behavior
Campbell, A. (2008) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2007.09.001 · Cited by 269 · see citing works
Selective amnesic effects of oxytocin on human memory
Heinrichs, M., Meinlschmidt, G., Wippich, W., Ehlert, U., & Hellhammer, D. H. (2004) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2004.07.020 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Selective amnesic effects of oxytocin on human memory.
HEINRICHS, M., MEINLSCHMIDT, G., WIPPICH, W., EHLERT, U., & HELLHAMMER, D. (2004) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/s0031-9384(04)00346-4 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
The neurobiology of social recognition, approach, and avoidance
Young, L. J. (2002) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/s0006-3223(01)01268-9 · Cited by 172 · see citing works
Neural Coding of Reward-Prediction Error Signals During Classical Conditioning With Attractive Faces
Bray, S., & O’Doherty, J. P. (2007) · Journal of Neurophysiology · doi:10.1152/jn.01211.2006 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
Effects of intranasal vasopressin and oxytocin on physiologic responding during personal combat imagery in Vietnam veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder
Pitman, R. K., Orr, S. P., & Lasko, N. B. (1993) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/0165-1781(93)90035-f · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Beauty in the Brain of the Beholder
Senior, C. (2003) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/s0896-6273(03)00293-9 · Cited by 115 · see citing works
Learning to Like: A Role for Human Orbitofrontal Cortex in Conditioned Reward
Cox, S. M. L., Andrade, A., & Johnsrude, I. S. (2005) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3360-04.2005 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Neuroendocrine mechanisms of stress and social interaction: Implications for mental disorders
Heinrichs, M., & Gaab, J. (2007) · Current Opinion in Psychiatry · doi:10.1097/yco.0b013e3280146a13 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Effect of a single dose of des-glycinamide-[Arg8]vasopressin or oxytocin on cognitive processes in young healthy subjects
Bruins, J., Hijman, R., & van Ree, J. M. (1992) · Peptides · doi:10.1016/0196-9781(92)90075-e · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Glucocorticoid-mediated effects of systemic oxytocin upon memory retrieval
de Oliveira, L. F., Camboim, C., Diehl, F., Consiglio, A. R., & Quillfeldt, J. A. (2007) · Neurobiology of Learning and Memory · doi:10.1016/j.nlm.2006.05.006 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
NimStim Set of Facial Expressions
Tottenham, N., Tanaka, J. W., Leon, A. C., McCarry, T., Nurse, M., Hare, T. A., Marcus, D. J., Westerlund, A., Casey, B. J., & Nelson, C. A. (2009) · PsycTESTS Dataset · doi:10.1037/t28258-000 · Cited by 5 · see citing works

Flagged first, then by citations

Sorted by citations

Oxytocin and vasopressin in the human brain: social neuropeptides for translational medicine
Meyer-Lindenberg, A., Domes, G., Kirsch, P., & Heinrichs, M. (2011) · Nature Reviews Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nrn3044 · Cited by 1,688 · see citing works
Social effects of oxytocin in humans: context and person matter
Bartz, J. A., Zaki, J., Bolger, N., & Ochsner, K. N. (2011) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2011.05.002 · Cited by 1,572 · see citing works
Oxytocin: The Great Facilitator of Life
Lee, H.-J., Macbeth, A. H., Pagani, J., & Young, W. S. (2009) · Progress in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2009.04.001 · Cited by 1,037 · see citing works
Intranasal oxytocin improves emotion recognition for youth with autism spectrum disorders.
Guastella, A. J., Einfeld, S. L., Gray, K. M., Rinehart, N. J., Tonge, B. J., Lambert, T. J., & Hickie, I. B. (2010) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2009.09.020 · Cited by 962 · see citing works
Self-citation
Promoting social behavior with oxytocin in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders.
Andari, E., Duhamel, J.-R., Zalla, T., Herbrecht, E., Leboyer, M., & Sirigu, A. (2010) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0910249107 · Cited by 941 · see citing works
Oxytocin, vasopressin, and human social behavior
Heinrichs, M., von Dawans, B., & Domes, G. (2009) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.05.005 · Cited by 799 · see citing works
Intranasal Oxytocin Increases Positive Communication and Reduces Cortisol Levels During Couple Conflict
Ditzen, B., Schaer, M., Gabriel, B., Bodenmann, G., Ehlert, U., & Heinrichs, M. (2009) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.10.011 · Cited by 784 · see citing works
Adult attachment predicts maternal brain and oxytocin response to infant cues.
Strathearn, L., Fonagy, P., Amico, J., & Montague, P. R. (2009) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2009.103 · Cited by 773 · see citing works
Oxytocin enhances amygdala-dependent, socially reinforced learning and emotional empathy in humans
Hurlemann, R., Patin, A., Onur, O. A., Cohen, M. X., Baumgartner, T., Metzler, S., Dziobek, I., Gallinat, J., Wagner, M., Maier, W., et al. (2010) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.5538-09.2010 · Cited by 771 · see citing works
The Peptide That Binds: A Systematic Review of Oxytocin and its Prosocial Effects in Humans
MacDonald, K., & MacDonald, T. M. (2010) · Harvard Review of Psychiatry · doi:10.3109/10673220903523615 · Cited by 585 · see citing works
Oxytocin Attenuates Amygdala Reactivity to Fear in Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder
Labuschagne, I., Phan, K. L., Wood, A., Angstadt, M., Chua, P., Heinrichs, M., Stout, J. C., & Nathan, P. J. (2010) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2010.123 · Cited by 549 · see citing works
Effects of intranasal oxytocin on emotional face processing in women
Domes, G., Lischke, A., Berger, C., Grossmann, A., Hauenstein, K., Heinrichs, M., & Herpertz, S. C. (2010) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.06.016 · Cited by 521 · see citing works
Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior
Dumais, K. M., & Veenema, A. H. (2016) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2015.04.003 · Cited by 520 · see citing works
“…studies to report intranasal OT effects in humans were done in males only, showing a role for OT in trust and in the processing of socially relevant information (Kosfeld et al., 2005; Zak et al., 2007; Domes et al., 2007; Guastella et al., 2008a; Guastella et al., 2008b; Di Simplicio et al., 2009).”
Background
Different amygdala subregions mediate valence-related and attentional effects of oxytocin in humans
Gamer, M., Zurowski, B., & Büchel, C. (2010) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1000985107 · Cited by 487 · see citing works
Acute effects of steroid hormones and neuropeptides on human social-emotional behavior: A review of single administration studies
Bos, P. A., Panksepp, J., Bluthé, R.-M., & Honk, J. V. (2012) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2011.01.002 · Cited by 429 · see citing works
Oxytocin Makes a Face in Memory Familiar
Rimmele, U., Hediger, K., Heinrichs, M., & Klaver, P. (2009) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.4260-08.2009 · Cited by 402 · see citing works
A critical review of the influence of oxytocin nasal spray on social cognition in humans: Evidence and future directions
Graustella, A. J., & MacLeod, C. (2012) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.01.002 · Cited by 379 · see citing works
A randomized controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin as an adjunct to exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder
Guastella, A. J., Howard, A. L., Dadds, M. R., Mitchell, P., & Carson, D. S. (2009) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.01.005 · Cited by 366 · see citing works
Self-citation
A review of safety, side-effects and subjective reactions to intranasal oxytocin in human research
MacDonald, E., Dadds, M. R., Brennan, J. L., Williams, K., Levy, F., & Cauchi, A. J. (2011) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.02.015 · Cited by 352 · see citing works
Oxytocin and cooperation under conditions of uncertainty: the modulating role of incentives and social information.
Declerck, C. H., Boone, C., & Kiyonari, T. (2010) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.01.006 · Cited by 331 · see citing works
Oxytocin improves specific recognition of positive facial expressions
Marsh, A. A., Yu, H. H., Pine, D. S., & Blair, R. J. R. (2010) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-010-1780-4 · Cited by 321 · see citing works
Developmental changes in dopamine neurotransmission in adolescence: Behavioral implications and issues in assessment
Wahlstrom, D., Collins, P., White, T., & Luciana, M. (2010) · Brain and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2009.10.013 · Cited by 311 · see citing works
Effects of intranasal oxytocin and vasopressin on cooperative behavior and associated brain activity in men
Rilling, J. K., DeMarco, A. C., Hackett, P. D., Thompson, R., Ditzen, B., Patel, R., & Pagnoni, G. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.07.013 · Cited by 303 · see citing works
The Interpersonal Dimension of Borderline Personality Disorder: Toward a Neuropeptide Model
Stanley, B., & Siever, L. J. (2009) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.09050744 · Cited by 291 · see citing works
Prosocial effects of oxytocin and clinical evidence for its therapeutic potential
Striepens, N., Kendrick, K. M., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R. (2011) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2011.07.001 · Cited by 283 · see citing works
Oxytocin enhances the experience of attachment security
Buchheim, A., Heinrichs, M., George, C., Pokorny, D., Koops, E., Henningsen, P., O’Connor, M.-F., & Gündel, H. (2009) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.04.002 · Cited by 277 · see citing works
Maternal neglect: oxytocin, dopamine and the neurobiology of attachment
Strathearn, L. (2011) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2826.2011.02228.x · Cited by 268 · see citing works
Mentalizing, motivation, and social mentalities: Theoretical considerations and implications for psychotherapy
Liotti, G., & Gilbert, P. (2010) · Psychology and Psychotherapy Theory Research and Practice · doi:10.1348/147608310x520094 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Advances in the field of intranasal oxytocin research: lessons learned and future directions for clinical research
Quintana, D. S., Lischke, A., Grace, S., Scheele, D., Ma, Y., & Becker, B. (2021) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-020-00864-7 · Cited by 263 · see citing works
Nonapeptide mechanisms of social cognition, behavior and species-specific social systems
Goodson, J. L., & Thompson, R. R. (2010) · Current Opinion in Neurobiology · doi:10.1016/j.conb.2010.08.020 · Cited by 261 · see citing works
Effects of intranasal oxytocin on the neural basis of face processing in autism spectrum disorder
Domes, G., Heinrichs, M., Kumbier, E., Grossmann, A., Hauenstein, K., & Herpertz, S. C. (2013) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.02.007 · Cited by 255 · see citing works
Oxytocin facilitates protective responses to aversive social stimuli in males
Striepens, N., Scheele, D., Kendrick, K. M., Becker, B., Schäfer, L., Schwalba, K., Reul, J., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R. (2012) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1208852109 · Cited by 242 · see citing works
Effects of oxytocin on recollections of maternal care and closeness
Bartz, J. A., Zaki, J., Ochsner, K. N., Bolger, N., Kolevzon, A., Ludwig, N., & Lydon, J. E. (2010) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1012669107 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Food sharing is linked to urinary oxytocin levels and bonding in related and unrelated wild chimpanzees
Wittig, R. M., Crockford, C., Deschner, T., Langergraber, K. E., Ziegler, T. E., & Zuberbühler, K. (2014) · Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rspb.2013.3096 · Cited by 235 · see citing works
Oxytocin increases eye contact during a real-time, naturalistic social interaction in males with and without autism
Auyeung, B., Lombardo, M. V., Heinrichs, M., Chakrabarti, B., Sule, A., Deakin, J. B., Bethlehem, R. A. I., Dickens, L., Mooney, N., Sipple, J. A. N., et al. (2015) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2014.146 · Cited by 234 · see citing works
Oxytocin and human social behavior.
Campbell, A. (2010) · Personality and Social Psychology Review · doi:10.1177/1088868310363594 · Cited by 232 · see citing works
The Role of Oxytocin in Human Affect: A Novel Hypothesis
Kemp, A. H., & Guastella, A. J. (2011) · Current Directions in Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0963721411417547 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
Self-citation
Intranasal oxytocin enhances emotion recognition from dynamic facial expressions and leaves eye-gaze unaffected
Lischke, A., Berger, C., Prehn, K., Heinrichs, M., Herpertz, S. C., & Domes, G. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.07.015 · Cited by 221 · see citing works
Oxytocin makes people trusting, not gullible
Mikolajczak, M., Gross, J. J., Lane, A., Corneille, O., de Timary, P., & Luminet, O. (2010) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0956797610377343 · Cited by 216 · see citing works
MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD: Are memory reconsolidation and fear extinction underlying mechanisms?
Feduccia, A. A., & Mithoefer, M. C. (2018) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2018.03.003 · Cited by 217 · see citing works
Oxytocin Signaling in the Central Amygdala Modulates Emotion Discrimination in Mice
Ferretti, V., Maltese, F., Contarini, G., Nigro, M., Bonavia, A., Huang, H., Gigliucci, V., Morelli, G., Scheggia, D., Managò, F., et al. (2019) · Current Biology · doi:10.1016/j.cub.2019.04.070 · Cited by 212 · see citing works
Depression: An Evolutionarily Conserved Mechanism to Terminate Separation Distress? A Review of Aminergic, Peptidergic, and Neural Network Perspectives
Watt, D. F., & Panksepp, J. (2009) · Neuropsychoanalysis · doi:10.1080/15294145.2009.10773593 · Cited by 207 · see citing works
When do people cooperate? The neuroeconomics of prosocial decision making
Declerck, C. H., Boone, C., & Emonds, G. (2012) · Brain and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2012.09.009 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
Oxytocin increases amygdala reactivity to threatening scenes in females
Lischke, A., Gamer, M., Berger, C., Grossmann, A., Hauenstein, K., Heinrichs, M., Herpertz, S. C., & Domes, G. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.01.011 · Cited by 194 · see citing works
DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene predicts neural response to ambiguous social stimuli
Jack, A., Connelly, J. J., & Morris, J. P. (2012) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2012.00280 · Cited by 192 · see citing works
“ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE published: 10 October 2012 doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2012.00280 DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene predicts neural response to ambiguous social stimuli”
BackgroundInfluential
No Laughing Matter: Intranasal Oxytocin Administration Changes Functional Brain Connectivity during Exposure to Infant Laughter
Riem, M. M. E., van IJzendoorn, M. H., Tops, M., Boksem, M. A. S., Rombouts, S. A. R. B., & Bakermans-Kranenburg, M. J. (2012) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2011.313 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Borderline personality disorder, mentalization, and the neurobiology of attachment.
Fonagy, P., Luyten, P., & Strathearn, L. (2011) · Infant Mental Health Journal · doi:10.1002/imhj.20283 · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Two genetic variants of CD38 in subjects with autism spectrum disorder and controls
Munesue, T., Yokoyama, S., Nakamura, K., Anitha, A., Yamada, K., Hayashi, K., Asaka, T., Liu, H.-X., Jin, D., Koizumi, K., et al. (2010) · Neuroscience Research · doi:10.1016/j.neures.2010.03.004 · Cited by 177 · see citing works
Making room for oxytocin in understanding depression
McQuaid, R. J., McInnis, O. A., Abizaid, A. B., & Anisman, H. (2014) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2014.07.005 · Cited by 172 · see citing works
Association of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene variants with multiple phenotype domains of autism spectrum disorder
Campbell, D. B., Datta, D., Jones, S. T., Batey Lee, E., Sutcliffe, J. S., Hammock, E. A. D., & Levitt, P. (2011) · Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders · doi:10.1007/s11689-010-9071-2 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Impaired MMN/P3a complex in first-episode psychosis: cognitive and psychosocial associations
Hermens, D. F., Ward, P. B., Hodge, M. A. R., Kaur, M., Naismith, S. L., & Hickie, I. B. (2010) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2010.03.019 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Association between the oxytocin receptor gene and amygdalar volume in healthy adults
Inoue, H., Yamasue, H., Tochigi, M., Abe, O., Liu, X., Kawamura, Y., Takei, K., Suga, M., Yamada, H., Rogers, M. A., et al. (2010) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.07.019 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Oxytocin Promotes Facial Emotion Recognition and Amygdala Reactivity in Adults with Asperger Syndrome
Domes, G., Kumbier, E., Heinrichs, M., & Herpertz, S. C. (2014) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2013.254 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Oxytocin and Vasopressin in Children and Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders: Sex Differences and Associations With Symptoms
Miller, M., Bales, K. L., Taylor, S. L., Yoon, J., Hostetler, C. M., Carter, C. S., & Solomon, M. (2013) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.1270 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Integrative Approaches Utilizing Oxytocin to Enhance Prosocial Behavior: From Animal and Human Social Behavior to Autistic Social Dysfunction
Yamasue, H., Yee, J. R., Hurlemann, R., Rilling, J. K., Chen, F. S., Meyer-Lindenberg, A., & Tost, H. (2012) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.3327-12.2012 · Cited by 149 · see citing works
Effects of intranasal oxytocin on 'compassion focused imagery'
Rockliff, H., Karl, A., McEwan, K., Gilbert, J., Matos, M., & Gilbert, P. (2011) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/a0023861 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Oxytocin decreases methamphetamine self-administration, methamphetamine hyperactivity, and relapse to methamphetamine-seeking behaviour in rats
Carson, D. S., Cornish, J. L., Guastella, A. J., Hunt, G. E., & McGregor, I. S. (2010) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.06.018 · Cited by 146 · see citing works
Self-citation
Intranasal oxytocin, social cognition and neurodevelopmental disorders: A meta-analysis
Keech, B., Crowe, S., & Hocking, D. R. (2018) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.09.022 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
MDMA enhances “mind reading” of positive emotions and impairs “mind reading” of negative emotions
Hysek, C. M., Domes, G., & Liechti, M. E. (2012) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-012-2645-9 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Intranasal oxytocin modulates EEG mu/alpha and beta rhythms during perception of biological motion
Perry, A., Bentin, S., Shalev, I., Israel, S., Uzefovsky, F., Bar-On, D., & Ebstein, R. P. (2010) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.04.011 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Emotion recognition and oxytocin in patients with schizophrenia
Averbeck, B. B., Bobin, T., Evans, S., & Shergill, S. S. (2011) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291711001413 · Cited by 144 · see citing works
Oxytocin and vasopressin in rodent behaviors related to social dysfunctions in autism spectrum disorders
Lukas, M., & Neumann, I. D. (2012) · Behavioural Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.bbr.2012.08.011 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
Oxytocin blunts social vigilance in the rhesus macaque
Ebitz, R. B., Watson, K. K., & Platt, M. L. (2013) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1305230110 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
A double-blind randomized controlled trial of oxytocin nasal spray in Prader Willi syndrome
Einfeld, S. L., Smith, E., McGregor, I. S., Steinbeck, K., Taffe, J., Rice, L. J., Horstead, S. K., Rogers, N., Hodge, M. A., & Guastella, A. J. (2014) · American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A · doi:10.1002/ajmg.a.36653 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Self-citation
Intranasal Arginine Vasopressin Enhances the Encoding of Happy and Angry Faces in Humans
Guastella, A. J., Kenyon, A. R., Alvares, G. A., Carson, D. S., & Hickie, I. B. (2010) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.03.014 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Self-citation
Oxytocin not only increases trust when money is at stake, but also when confidential information is in the balance
Mikolajczak, M., Pinon, N., Lane, A., de Timary, P., & Luminet, O. (2010) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.05.010 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
The effects of oxytocin on social cognition and behaviour in frontotemporal dementia
Jesso, S., Morlog, D., Ross, S., Pell, M. D., Pasternak, S., Mitchell, D. G. V., KERTESZ, A. E., & Finger, E. C. (2011) · Brain · doi:10.1093/brain/awr171 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Understanding others: Emotion recognition in humans and other animals
Ferretti, V., & Papaleo, F. (2018) · Genes Brain & Behavior · doi:10.1111/gbb.12544 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Oxytocin mediates entrainment of sensory stimuli to social cues of opposing valence
Choe, H. K., Reed, M. D., Benavidez, N., Montgomery, D., Soares, N., Yim, Y. S., & Choi, G. B. (2015) · Neuron · doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2015.06.022 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
Association between Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms and Self-Rated ‘Empathic Concern’ in Schizophrenia
Montag, C., Brockmann, E.-M., Lehmann, A. I., Müller, D. J., Rujescu, D., & Gallinat, J. (2012) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051882 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Oxytocin selectively facilitates recognition of positive sex and relationship words.
Unkelbach, C., Guastella, A. J., & Forgas, J. P. (2008) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2008.02206.x · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Self-citation
Experience of stress in childhood negatively correlates with plasma oxytocin concentration in adult men
Opacka‐Juffry, J., & Mohiyeddini, C. (2011) · Stress · doi:10.3109/10253890.2011.560309 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Oxytocin in the socioemotional brain: implications for psychiatric disorders
Kirsch, P. (2015) · Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.31887/dcns.2015.17.4/pkirsch · Cited by 122 · see citing works
Does oxytocin influence the early detection of angry and happy faces?
Guastella, A. J., Carson, D. S., Dadds, M. R., Mitchell, P. B., & Cox, R. E. (2008) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2008.09.001 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Self-citation
Dose-dependent social-cognitive effects of intranasal oxytocin delivered with novel Breath Powered device in adults with autism spectrum disorder: a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind crossover trial
Quintana, D. S., Westlye, L. T., Hope, S., Nærland, T., Elvsåshagen, T., Dørum, E., Rustan, Ø., Valstad, M., Rezvaya, L., Lishaugen, H., et al. (2017) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2017.103 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
The promise and pitfalls of intranasally administering psychopharmacological agents for the treatment of psychiatric disorders
Quintana, D. S., Guastella, A. J., Westlye, L. T., & Andreassen, O. A. (2016) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/mp.2015.166 · Cited by 107 · see citing works
Self-citation
A brief history of oxytocin and its role in modulating psychostimulant effects
Carson, D. S., Guastella, A. J., Taylor, E. R., & McGregor, I. S. (2013) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881112473788 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Self-citation
Intranasal oxytocin and salivary cortisol concentrations during social rejection in university students
Linnen, A.-M., Ellenbogen, M. A., Cardoso, C., & Joober, R. (2012) · Stress · doi:10.3109/10253890.2011.631154 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
CD38 and its role in oxytocin secretion and social behavior
Higashida, H., Yokoyama, S., Kikuchi, M., & Munesue, T. (2012) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.12.011 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Intranasal oxytocin effects on social cognition: A critique
Evans, S. L., Dal Monte, O., Noble, P., & Averbeck, B. B. (2014) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2013.11.008 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Oxytocin decreases aversion to angry faces in an associative learning task
Evans, S., Shergill, S. S., & Averbeck, B. B. (2010) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2010.110 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Oxytocin facilitates approach behavior to positive social stimuli via decreasing anterior insula activity
Yao, S., Zhao, W., Geng, Y., Chen, Y., Zhao, Z., Ma, X., Xu, L., Becker, B., & Kendrick, K. M. (2018) · International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1093/ijnp/pyy068 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
How could MDMA (ecstasy) help anxiety disorders? A neurobiological rationale
Johansen, P., & Krebs, T. (2009) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881109102787 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
The effect of oxytocin on cooperation in a prisoner's dilemma depends on the social context and a person's social value orientation
Declerck, C. H., Boone, C., & Kiyonari, T. (2014) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nst040 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Research Review: Social motivation and oxytocin in autism – implications for joint attention development and intervention
Stavropoulos, K. K. M., & Carver, L. J. (2013) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.12061 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Hippocampal microinfusion of oxytocin attenuates the behavioural response to stress by means of dynamic interplay with the glucocorticoid-catecholamine responses
Cohen, H., Kaplan, Z., Kozlovsky, N., Gidron, Y., Matar, M. A., & Zohar, J. (2010) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2826.2010.02003.x · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Self-reported spirituality correlates with endogenous oxytocin.
Holbrook, C., Hahn‐Holbrook, J., & Holt‐Lunstad, J. (2014) · Psychology of Religion and Spirituality · doi:10.1037/a0038255 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Oxytocin selectively facilitates learning with social feedback and increases activity and functional connectivity in emotional memory and reward processing regions
Hu, J., Qi, S., Becker, B., Luo, L., Gao, S., Gong, Q., Hurlemann, R., & Kendrick, K. M. (2015) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.22760 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Selective influences of oxytocin on the evaluative processing of social stimuli
Norman, G. J., Cacioppo, J. T., Morris, J. S., Karelina, K., Malarkey, W. B., DeVries, A. C., & Berntson, G. G. (2011) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881110367452 · Cited by 92 · see citing works
“The dosage (20 IU) and timing (45min post-administration) used in this study was chosen based upon previous reports on the effects of oxytocin on psychological variables (Guastella et al., 2008; Kirsch et al., 2005; Kosfeld et al., 2005).”
BackgroundMethod
Synchronising movements with the sounds of a virtual partner enhances partner likeability
Launay, J., Dean, R. T., & Bailes, F. (2014) · Cognitive Processing · doi:10.1007/s10339-014-0618-0 · Cited by 91 · see citing works
Oxytocin and the modulation of pain experience: Implications for chronic pain management
Tracy, L. M., Georgiou‐Karistianis, N., Gibson, S. J., & Giummarra, M. J. (2015) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.04.013 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Oxytocin induces positive expectations about ambivalent stimuli (cognitive bias) in dogs
Kis, A., Hernádi, A., Kanizsàr, O., Gácsi, M., & Topál, J. (2014) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2014.12.004 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Oxytocin Modulates Attention Switching Between Interoceptive Signals and External Social Cues
Yao, S., Becker, B., Zhao, W., Zhao, Z., Kou, J., Ma, X., Geng, Y., Ren, P., & Kendrick, K. M. (2017) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2017.189 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Attachment and Personality Disorders: A Short Review
Lorenzini, N., & Fonagy, P. (2013) · FOCUS The Journal of Lifelong Learning in Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.focus.11.2.155 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Oxytocin promotes coordinated out-group attack during intergroup conflict in humans
Zhang, H., Gross, J., De Dreu, C., & Ma, Y. (2019) · eLife · doi:10.7554/elife.40698 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
The many faces of oxytocin: Implications for psychiatry
Zik, J. B., & Roberts, D. L. (2014) · Psychiatry Research · doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.048 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Oxytocin enhances the perception of biological motion in humans
Kéri, S., & Benedek, G. (2009) · Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/cabn.9.3.237 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Male predominance in autism: neuroendocrine influences on arousal and social anxiety
Pfaff, D. W., Rapin, I., & Goldman, S. (2011) · Autism Research · doi:10.1002/aur.191 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Oxytocin changes primate paternal tolerance to offspring in food transfer
Saito, A., & Nakamura, K. (2011) · Journal of Comparative Physiology A · doi:10.1007/s00359-010-0617-2 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Melanocortin receptor agonists facilitate oxytocin-dependent partner preference formation in the Prairie Vole
Modi, M. E., Inoue, K., Barrett, C. E., Kittelberger, K. A., Smith, D. G., Landgraf, R., & Young, L. J. (2015) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2015.35 · Cited by 82 · see citing works

Cognitive and neural mechanisms of novelty detection and recognition memory
Köhler, S. (2008) · Brain and Cognition · doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2008.02.125
Post-encoding administration of oxytocin selectively enhances memory consolidation of male faces in females
Liu, W., Li, J., Chen, Z., Zhao, Q., & Sun, X. (2026) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.2529865123 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Oxytocin and face memory in humansPreprint
Liu, W. (2026) · OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints)
Effects of oxytocin on behavioral and ERP measures of recognition memory for own-race and other-race faces in women and men
Herzmann, G., Bird, C. W., Freeman, M., & Curran, T. (2013) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.04.002 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
Oxytocin Makes a Face in Memory Familiar
Rimmele, U., Hediger, K., Heinrichs, M., & Klaver, P. (2009) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.4260-08.2009 · Cited by 402 · see citing works

Authors: Guastella, A. J., Mitchell, P. B., & Mathews, F.
Affiliations: The University of Sydney (AU)
UNSW Sydney (AU)
ORCID: Guastella, Adam J.
Mitchell, Philip B.
Venue: Biological Psychiatry
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2008-08
Volume: 64
Issue: 3
Pages: 256-258
ISSN: 0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.02.008
OpenAlex: W2060494670
Cited by: 352
References: 32
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 28
FWCI: 40.89
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
Keywords: oxytocin, social memory, face recognition (cognition), memory encoding, positive emotions, happy faces, social bonding, social approach, memory retrieval
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adult, Double-Blind Method, Emotions, Humans, Male, Memory, Neuropsychological Tests, Oxytocics, Oxytocin, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Photic Stimulation, Social Behavior

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Oxytocin enhances the encoding of positive social memories in humans.

Abstract

Integrity signals

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Cites

Cited by

Related

Record

About these checks