Intranasal Oxytocin Increases Positive Communication and Reduces Cortisol Levels During Couple Conflict
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Background In nonhuman mammals, the neuropeptide oxytocin has repeatedly been shown to increase social approach behavior and pair bonding. In particular, central nervous oxytocin reduces behavioral and neuroendocrine responses to social stress and is suggested to mediate the rewarding aspects of attachment in highly social species. However, to date there have been no studies investigating the effects of central oxytocin mechanisms on behavior and physiology in human couple interaction. Methods In a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 47 heterosexual couples (total n = 94) received oxytocin or placebo intranasally before a standard instructed couple conflict discussion in the laboratory. The conflict session was videotaped and coded for verbal and nonverbal interaction behavior (e.g., eye contact, nonverbal positive behavior, and self-disclosure). Salivary cortisol was repeatedly measured during the experiment. Results Oxytocin significantly increased positive communication behavior in relation to negative behavior during the couple conflict discussion (F = 4.18, p = .047) and significantly reduced salivary cortisol levels after the conflict compared with placebo (F = 7.14, p = .011). Conclusions These results are in line with animal studies indicating that central oxytocin facilitates approach and pair bonding behavior. Our findings imply an involvement of oxytocin in couple interaction and close relationships in humans.
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Oxytocin is released during contact with a partner and helps maintain long-term romantic relationships.
“The hypothalamic peptide oxytocin (OXT) is released during partner contact (Grewen, Girdler, Amico, & Light, 2005) and contributes to the maintenance of long-term relationships (Ditzen et al., 2009;Kreuder et al., 2017;Scheele et al., 2013).”
From Oxytocin enhances the pain‐relieving effects of social support in romantic couples (2019) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al., 2009
Underlying human romantic attachment is a collection of interlocking brain systems hypothesized to have evolved to suit the reproductive needs of our ancestors.
“Underlying human romantic attachment is a collection of interlocking brain systems that are hypothesized to have evolved to suit the reproductive needs of our ancestors.”
From The Medicalization of Love (2015) · cites this paper as [24]
Brain chemicals such as oxytocin, dopamine, testosterone, and many others seem to regulate interpersonal drives and emotions, including the formation of romantic pair-bonds.
“Brain chemicals such as oxytocin, dopamine, testosterone, and many others seem to regulate our interpersonal drives and emotions, including the formation of romantic pair-bonds.”
From The Medicalization of Love (2015) · cites this paper as [24]
These underlying brain phenomena do much to shape, as well as respond to, higher-level romantic experiences across a wide range of theoretical conceptions.
“Although love is not simply reducible to these brain chemicals or pathways—and although there are many different theories of love, including how it should be defined—what is clear by now is that these underlying phenomena do much to shape (as well as to respond to) our higher-level romantic experiences, across a wide range of theoretical conceptions.”
From The Medicalization of Love (2015) · cites this paper as [24]
Nasally inhaled oxytocin can reduce stress levels and promote more positive communication between couples engaged in an argument.
“In one study, Swiss researchers showed that nasally inhaled oxytocin can reduce stress levels and promote more positive communication between couples engaged in an argument (Ditzen et al. 2009).”
From Natural Selection, Childrearing, and the Ethics of Marriage (and Divorce): Building a Case for the Neuroenhancement of Human Relationships (2012) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al. 2009
Oxytocin administration increases couples' positive communication.
“Acevedo et al. (2011) found higher activations among romantically attached individuals in regions implicated in pair-bonding in monogamous rodents, and OT administration has shown to increase couples’ positive communication (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
From Oxytocin during the initial stages of romantic attachment: Relations to couples’ interactive reciprocity (2012) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al., 2009
Intranasal oxytocin increases ratings of facial attractiveness and positive communication during couple conflicts.
“Intranasal administration of OXT increases ratings of facial attractiveness (27), positive communication behavior during couple conflicts (28)”
From Oxytocin enhances brain reward system responses in men viewing the face of their female partner (2013) · cites this paper as [28]
Intranasal OT increased positive behavior during couple conflict in both male and female partners.
“Intranasal OT was also found to increase positive behavior during couple conflict in both male and female partners (Ditzen et al, 2009).”
From Vasopressin and oxytocin receptor systems in the brain: Sex differences and sex-specific regulation of social behavior (2016) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al, 2009
Administering 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin increased positive communication during and decreased salivary cortisol after couple conflict in both men and women.
“Also, Ditzen et al. (2009) showed that administering 40 IU of intranasal oxytocin increased positive communication during and decreased salivary cortisol after couple conflict in both men and women.”
From Endogenous peripheral oxytocin measures can give insight into the dynamics of social relationships: a review (2014) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al., 2009
Intranasal administration of OT reduces negative behavior during couple conflict.
“reduce negative behavior during couple conflict (19,20)”
From Oxytocin and the development of parenting in humans (2010) · cites this paper as [20]
In a study involving couples engaged in a conflict discussion, salivary cortisol levels were found to decrease following intranasal administration of 40 IU oxytocin.
“Interestingly, in a study involving couples engaged in a conflict discussion, salivary cortisol levels were also found to decrease following intranasal administration of 40 IU OT (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
From Effects of intranasal oxytocin on social anxiety in males with fragile X syndrome (2012) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al., 2009
Experimental manipulation of oxytocin facilitates positive interactions, cooperation, and trust.
“Research suggests the experimental manipulation of oxytocin facilitates positive interactions, cooperation and trust.”
From Acute intranasal oxytocin improves positive self-perceptions of personality (2012) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al., 2009
Only scales related to social behavior were altered by the administration of intranasal oxytocin relative to a placebo, with the exception of openness to experiences.
“only scales related to social behavior were altered by the administration of intranasal oxytocin relative to a placebo, with the exception of openness to experiences.”
From Acute intranasal oxytocin improves positive self-perceptions of personality (2012) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al., 2009
Most studies examine the effects of oxytocin 45 minutes after administration.
“While most studies examine the effects of oxytocin 45 minutes after administration (Ditzen et al., 2009; Kosfeld et al., 2005)”
From Acute intranasal oxytocin improves positive self-perceptions of personality (2012) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al., 2009
OXT administration dampens psychophysiological responses to stressors.
“More recently, studies in humans have demonstrated that OXT administration increases pro-social behaviors like trust, empathy, and willingness to take social risks (Kosfeld et al, 2005), whereas dampening psychophysiological responses to stressors (Ditzen et al, 2009).”
From Oxytocin modulation of amygdala functional connectivity to fearful faces in generalized social anxiety disorder (2015) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al, 2009
Intranasal oxytocin enhances positive communication in relation to negative behavior during couple conflicts and reduces cortisol saliva levels after the conflict.
“It has been shown, for example, that the peptide enhances positive communication in relation to negative behavior during couple conflicts and reduces cortisol saliva levels after the conflict (82).”
From Dissecting the Role of Oxytocin in the Formation and Loss of Social Relationships (2016) · cites this paper as [82]
Oxytocin has been shown to increase positive communication between couples.
“positive communication between couples (24)”
From Oxytocin administration to parent enhances infant physiological and behavioral readiness for social engagement (2012) · cites this paper as [24]
Other researchers have reported reductions in stress hormones following oxytocin administration in stressful situations without reductions in subjective anxiety measures.
“Additionally, other researchers have reported reductions in stress hormones following oxytocin administration in stressful situations without reductions in subjective anxiety measures (Cardoso et al., in press; Ditzen et al., 2009; Linnen et al., 2012).”
From Effect of oxytocin on craving and stress response in marijuana-dependent individuals: A pilot study (2013) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al., 2009
IN-OT reduces conflict between couples.
“IN-OT increases the rating of attractiveness of partners’ faces (Scheele et al. 2013), reduces conflict between couples (Ditzen et al. 2009), and enhances the distance between pair bonded men and unfamiliar attractive individuals (Scheele et al. 2012).”
From A precision medicine approach to oxytocin trials (2017) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al. 2009
A more dominant theory suggests that OT increases approach toward and decreases avoidance of social stimuli.
“A more dominant theory of OT's effects on social cognition suggests that it increases approach toward and decreases avoidance of social stimuli [20], [18], [21], [22]”
From A direct examination of the effect of intranasal administration of oxytocin on approach-avoidance motor responses to emotional stimuli (2013) · cites this paper as [20]
Peripheral or nasal administration of OT facilitates social recognition and trust in healthy humans and increases eye contact and recognition in autistic subjects.
“Peripheral or nasal administration of OT facilitates social recognition and trust in healthy humans (Guastella et al., 2008a andb, 2009;Ditzen et al., 2009) and increases eye contact and recognition in autistic subjects (Hollander et al., 2007;Yamasue et al., 2009).”
From Two genetic variants of CD38 in subjects with autism spectrum disorder and controls (2010) · cites this paper as Ditzen et al., 2009
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Cited work 10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.08.011 · retracted 2007-01-12 · notice 10.1016/j.biopsych.2006.11.002 · this paper published 2009-05
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BackgroundFeldman, R., Gordon, I., Influs, M., Gutbir, T., & Ebstein, R. P. (2013) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2013.22 · Cited by 622 · 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
Dumais, K. M., & Veenema, A. H. (2016) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2015.04.003 · Cited by 520 · see citing works
“Together, these studies demonstrate that intranasal OT can induce different behavioral responses, but even when behavioral responses are the same (Ditzen et al., 2009), the neuronal mechanisms through which OT is mediating these behavioral responses seems to be consistently different in males versus females.”
BackgroundInfluentialEmpathy toward strangers triggers oxytocin release and subsequent generosity
Barraza, J. A., & Zak, P. J. (2009) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04504.x · Cited by 489 · see citing works
Placebo and the New Physiology of the Doctor-Patient Relationship
Benedetti, F. (2013) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00043.2012 · Cited by 492 · see citing works
“In addition, couples receiving intranasal oxytocin prior to a videotaped “conflict discussion” show an increase in positive communication behaviors (105).”
BackgroundOxytocin and the development of parenting in humans
Gordon, I., Zagoory-Sharon, O., Leckman, J. F., & Feldman, R. (2010) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2010.02.005 · Cited by 469 · see citing works
“ehavior during couple conflict (19,20), decrease amygdala”
De Dreu, C. K. W. (2012) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.12.009 · Cited by 455 · see citing works
“, 2010), and couples given intranasal oxytocin rather than placebo engage in more constructive discussions of relationship conflicts (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
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
The neurobiology of pair bonding: Insights from a socially monogamous rodent
Young, K. A., Gobrogge, K. L., Liu, Y., & Wang, Z. (2011) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2010.07.006 · Cited by 389 · see citing works
“In a placebo controlled experiment, for example, intranasal administration of OT—a method of delivery that readily allows the neuropeptide access to the brain—significantly increased positive communication between couples, as indexed by eye-contact, curiosity/care, and agreement scores [70].”
A Review of the Benefits of Nature Experiences: More Than Meets the Eye
Franco, L., Shanahan, D. F., & Fuller, R. A. (2017) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph14080864 · Cited by 424 · see citing works
“Oxytocin is found to increase social interaction [234], decrease stress [235–237], lower pain thresholds, produce anti-inflammatory effects [238,239], lower anxiety [240], and increase”
BackgroundPair-Bonding, Romantic Love, and Evolution
Fletcher, G. J. O., Simpson, J. A., Campbell, L., & Overall, N. C. (2015) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691614561683 · Cited by 402 · see citing works
“For example, romantic partners exposed to oxytocin display more positive communication during conflict discussions (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
BackgroundHypothalamic Oxytocin Mediates Social Buffering of the Stress Response
Smith, A. S., & Wang, Z. (2014) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.09.017 · Cited by 359 · see citing works
“Reciprocally, intranasal OT administration reduces the conflict-promoted cortisol response and increases positive social communication (43).”
Background“Shift-and-Persist” Strategies: Why Low Socioeconomic Status Isn’t Always Bad for Health
Chen, E., & Miller, G. E. (2012) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691612436694 · Cited by 359 · see citing works
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
“self -report &obs Ditzen et al. (2009) 24 M 24 F 47 M 47 F 40 IU single Syntocinon Novartis Not reported 0 0 0 Physiological questionnaire; checklist Medical assessment; BP & HR”
Oxytocin enhances brain reward system responses in men viewing the face of their female partner
Scheele, D., Wille, A., Kendrick, K. M., Stoffel-Wagner, B., Becker, B., Güntürkün, O., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R. (2013) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1314190110 · Cited by 345 · see citing works
“Intranasal administration of OXT increases ratings of facial attractiveness (27), positive communication behavior during couple conflicts (28), and may facilitate the fidelity of men in a monogamous relationship by making them keep a greater distance from other women (29).”
BackgroundThe neuroendocrinology of the microbiota-gut-brain axis: a behavioural perspective
Cussotto, S., Sandhu, K. V., Dinan, T. G., & Cryan, J. F. (2018) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.04.002 · Cited by 326 · see citing works
Theodoridou, A., Rowe, A. C., Penton-Voak, I. S., & Rogers, P. J. (2009) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.03.019 · Cited by 318 · see citing works
“…included both sexes either had fewer females than males (e.g. Guastella et al., 2009) or had equal numbers of males and females but relatively small samples (e.g. Savascan et al., 2008) with the only exception of a very recent study by Ditzen et al. (2009) which used a sample comparable to ours.”
Schneiderman, I., Zagoory-Sharon, O., Leckman, J. F., & Feldman, R. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.12.021 · Cited by 317 · see citing works
“(2011) found higher activations among romantically attached individuals in regions implicated in pair-bonding in monogamous rodents, and OTadministration has shown to increase couples’ positive communication (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
Does Oxytocin Increase Trust in Humans? A Critical Review of Research
Nave, G., Camerer, C., & McCullough, M. (2015) · Perspectives on Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/1745691615600138 · Cited by 309 · see citing works
Oxytocin Modulates Social Distance between Males and Females
Scheele, D., Striepens, N., Güntürkün, O., Deutschländer, S., Maier, W., Kendrick, K. M., & Hurlemann, R. (2012) · The Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.1523/jneurosci.2755-12.2012 · Cited by 298 · see citing works
“While it has been reported to reduce conflict between couples (Ditzen et al., 2009), this may be a generalized effect of its prosocial actions independent of relationship status.”
BackgroundPsychobiology of social support: The social dimension of stress buffering
Ditzen, B., & Heinrichs, M. (2014) · Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience · doi:10.3233/rnn-139008 · Cited by 298 · see citing works
“, 2012), couple interaction (Ditzen, Nater, et al., 2012; Ditzen et al., 2009), and social cognition, namely empathic evaluation of emotions (Domes, Heinrichs, Michel, et al.”
Self-citationJakubiak, B. K., & Feeney, B. C. (2016) · Personality and Social Psychology Review · doi:10.1177/1088868316650307 · Cited by 302 · see citing works
“For instance, oxytocin administered to humans reduced salivary cortisol (e.g., Ditzen et al., 2009; Linnen, Ellenbogen, Cardosa, & Joober, 2012), amygdala activity (Kirsch et al., 2005), and subjective stress ratings (Heinrichs, Baumgartner, Kirschbaum, & Ehlert, 2003) during stressful laboratory…”
BackgroundProsocial 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
“2009 [42] 23 M, 23 F 40 IU intranasally OXT increased positive communication during couple conflict and reduced salivary cortisol level Double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subjects design Heinrichs et al.”
BackgroundMethodThe animal and human neuroendocrinology of social cognition, motivation and behavior
McCall, C., & Singer, T. (2012) · Nature Neuroscience · doi:10.1038/nn.3084 · Cited by 273 · see citing works
Cultural Neuroscience: Biology of the Mind in Cultural Contexts
Kim, H. S., & Sasaki, J. Y. (2013) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115040 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
“…cooperation, affiliation, and positive communication, have been associated with oxytocin, examined as both plasma oxytocin (Feldman et al. 2007) and exogenously administered oxytocin (Ditzen et al. 2009, Kosfeld et al. 2005) in animals and humans (see Meyer-Lindenberg et al. 2011 for a review).”
BackgroundThe cross-generation transmission of oxytocin in humans
Feldman, R., Gordon, I., & Zagoory-Sharon, O. (2010) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.06.005 · Cited by 256 · see citing works
“…showed the effects of OT on social adaptation throughout life, including increased trust (Kosfeld et al., 2005), more responsive couple interaction (Ditzen et al., 2009), decreased social fear (Kirsch et al., 2005), and improved social skills among autistic individuals (Andari et al., 2010).”
BackgroundWeisman, O., Zagoory-Sharon, O., & Feldman, R. (2012) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.011 · Cited by 240 · see citing works
“Oxytocin has been shown to inrease empathy (19,20), theory of mind (21), trust (22), altruism 23), and positive communication between couples (24) and to mprove social functioning in conditions such as autism and chizophrenia (25).”
Oxytocin and human social behavior.
Campbell, A. (2010) · Personality and Social Psychology Review · doi:10.1177/1088868310363594 · Cited by 232 · see citing works
“When asked to discuss an area of conflict in their relationship (designed to induce stress), postdiscussion cortisol levels were significantly lower in those couples who had previously received OT (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
BackgroundInfluentialThe 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
Smith, A. S., Ågmo, A., Birnie, A. K., & French, J. A. (2010) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2009.12.004 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
“…OT and OT antagonists have been delivered into the brain by several peripheral routes (e.g., intranasal OT: Born et al., 2002; Heinrichs et al., 2003; Parker et al., 2005; Ditzen et al., 2009; per os (p.o.) and intravenous OT-receptor antagonist: Thompson et al., 1997; Boccia et al., 2007).”
Marital behavior, oxytocin, vasopressin, and wound healing
Gouin, J.-P., Carter, C. S., Pournajafi-Nazarloo, H., Glaser, R., Malarkey, W. B., Loving, T. J., Stowell, J., & Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (2010) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.01.009 · Cited by 227 · see citing works
“This is consistent with other studies that have not found differences between men and women on the association between oxytocin and marital behaviors (Grewen et al., 2005; Ditzen et al., 2009).”
BackgroundResultBaribeau, D. A., & Anagnostou, E. A. (2015) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00335 · Cited by 229 · see citing works
“It has previously been shown that application of vasopressin to hippocampal cells can enhance neurotransmission, leading to long-term potentiation (Rong et al., 1993; Chepkova et al., 1995).”
BackgroundThe neurochemistry and social flow of singing: bonding and oxytocin
Keeler, J. R., Roth, E. A., Neuser, B. L., Spitsbergen, J. M., Waters, D. J. M., & Vianney, J.-M. (2015) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2015.00518 · Cited by 220 · see citing works
“Oxytocin mediates social behavior (Heinrichs et al., 2009) and regulates stress and anxiety (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
Variation in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Is Associated with Pair-Bonding and Social Behavior
Walum, H., Lichtenstein, P., Neiderhiser, J. M., Reiss, D., Ganiban, J. M., Spotts, E. L., Pedersen, N. L., Anckarsäter, H., Larsson, H., & Westberg, L. (2012) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.09.002 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Oxytocin increases autonomic cardiac control: Moderation by loneliness
Norman, G. J., Cacioppo, J. T., Morris, J. S., Malarkey, W. B., Berntson, G. G., & DeVries, A. C. (2011) · Biological Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.biopsycho.2010.11.006 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
“OT administration also facilitates positive communication (Ditzen et al., 2009; Gouin et al., 2010), reduces psychological arousal to social threat (Norman et al., 2010a) and interacts with social support to decrease physiological stress reactivity (Heinrichs et al., 2003).”
Watt, D. F., & Panksepp, J. (2009) · Neuropsychoanalysis · doi:10.1080/15294145.2009.10773593 · Cited by 207 · see citing works
Carson, D. S., Berquist, S. W., Trujillo, T. H., Garner, J. P., Hannah, S. L., Hyde, S. A., Sumiyoshi, R. D., Jackson, L. P., Moss, J. K., Strehlow, M. C., et al. (2015) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/mp.2014.132 · Cited by 196 · see citing works
Quirin, M., Kuhl, J., & Düsing, R. (2011) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.12.005 · Cited by 204 · see citing works
“With respect to HPA regulation in humans, it has been demonstrated that intranasal oxytocin predicts reduced cortisol levels after experimentally induced couple conflicts (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
BackgroundChronic and acute intranasal oxytocin produce divergent social effects in mice
Huang, H., Michetti, C., Busnelli, M., Managò, F., Sannino, S., Scheggia, D., Giancardo, L., Sona, D., Murino, V., Chini, B., et al. (2014) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2013.310 · Cited by 199 · see citing works
“…stimuli (Baumgartner et al, 2008; Domes et al, 2007a; Gamer et al, 2010; Kirsch et al, 2005), improving social and emotion recognition (Domes et al, 2007b; Guastella et al, 2008; Rimmele et al, 2009), attachment (Buchheim et al, 2009) and heterosexual couples interaction (Ditzen et al, 2009).”
BackgroundOxytocin role in enhancing well-being: A literature review
IsHak, W. W., Kahloon, M., & Fakhry, H. (2010) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2010.06.001 · Cited by 198 · 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
“In humans, OT attenuates anxiety and stress (Ditzen et al., 2009; Heinrichs et al., 2003), promotes trust (Kosfeld et al.”
BackgroundSelf-citationArginine Vasopressin and Oxytocin Modulate Human Social Behavior
Ebstein, R. P., Israel, S., Lerer, E., Uzefovsky, F., Shalev, I., Gritsenko, I., Riebold, M., Salomon, S., & Yirmiya, N. (2009) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/j.1749-6632.2009.04541.x · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Chronic icv oxytocin attenuates the pathological high anxiety state of selectively bred Wistar rats
Slattery, D. A., & Neumann, I. D. (2010) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2009.06.038 · Cited by 195 · see citing works
“, 2003) and to mediate the positive and buffering effects of social support (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
Intranasal oxytocin attenuates the cortisol response to physical stress: a dose-response study
Cardoso, C., Ellenbogen, M. A., Orlando, M. A., Bacon, S. L., & Joober, R. (2013) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.07.013 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
“, 2002)– —decreases cortisol levels during interpersonal stress (Ditzen et al., 2009; Quirin et al., 2011; Linnen et al., 2012) and during the recovery phase following a public speech stressor (Heinrichs et al.”
BackgroundA Theory of Challenge and Threat States in Athletes: A Revised Conceptualization
Meijen, C., Turner, M. J., Jones, M. V., Sheffield, D., & McCarthy, P. J. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00126 · Cited by 202 · see citing works
Crockford, C., Deschner, T., Ziegler, T. E., & Wittig, R. M. (2014) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00068 · Cited by 187 · see citing works
Ramsey, M. A., & Gentzler, A. L. (2015) · Developmental Review · doi:10.1016/j.dr.2015.01.003 · Cited by 185 · see citing works
“Oxytocin also increases positive communication in adult couples (Ditzen et al., 2009), and is linked to higher levels of partner support (Grewen, Girdler, Amico, & Light, 2005).”
BackgroundRiedl, R., & Javor, A. (2011) · Journal of Neuroscience Psychology and Economics · doi:10.1037/a0026318 · Cited by 180 · see citing works
“…of AVP, for example, has been shown to increase salivary COR levels in a social stress test (de Winter et al., 2003; Ebstein et al., 2009; Patchev & Almeida, 1995), while intranasal administered OXT reduced the COR response to social stress (Ditzen et al., 2009; Heinrichs et al., 2003).”
BackgroundNolte, T., Guiney, J., Fonagy, P., Mayes, L., & Luyten, P. (2011) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2011.00055 · Cited by 241 · see citing works
MacDonald, K., & Feifel, D. (2013) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2013.00035 · Cited by 181 · see citing works
Impact of early adversity on glucocorticoid regulation and later mental disorders
Strüber, N., Strüber, D., & Roth, G. (2014) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.10.015 · Cited by 173 · 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
“, 2000; Ludwig and Leng, 2006; Campbell, 2008) and may be involved in romantic love, trust, and fear in humans (Koshfeld et al., 2005; Zeki, 2007; Domes et al., 2007; Ditzen et al., 2009).”
BackgroundMaking 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
“Furthermore, intranasal oxytocin increased ositive communication during couple conflict, and limited the corisol rise relative to that observed among couples that received lacebo (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
BackgroundIntranasal administration of oxytocin: behavioral and clinical effects, a review
Veening, J. G., & Olivier, B. (2013) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.04.012 · Cited by 169 · see citing works
“Limiting ourselves to the human studies over the last few years, the main outcomes concerned effects on fear and (social) anxiety (Fischer-Shofty et al., 2009; Guastella et al., 2009; Xu et al., 1996) , trust, social stimuli and rejection (Alvares et al., 2010; Baumgartner et al., 2008; Norman et al., 2010) , responsi…”
BackgroundInfluentialWeisman, O., Zagoory‐Sharon, O., Schneiderman, I., Gordon, I., & Feldman, R. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2012.08.011 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
“…measures of stress and anxiety with inconclusive results; whereas some studies consider OT as a neuroendocrine marker of stress (Taylor et al., 2006, 2010), others emphasize its anxiolytic effects (Heinrichs et al., 2003; Light et al., 2005; Gordon et al., 2008; Ditzen et al., 2009).”
Cardoso, C., Kingdon, D., & Ellenbogen, M. A. (2014) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.07.014 · Cited by 171 · see citing works
Feng, C., Hackett, P. D., DeMarco, A. C., Chen, X., Stair, S., Haroon, E., Ditzen, B., Pagnoni, G., & Rilling, J. K. (2015) · Brain Imaging and Behavior · doi:10.1007/s11682-014-9333-9 · Cited by 157 · see citing works
Neumann, I. D. (2009) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2009.04.012 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
“conflict discussion accompanied by lower rise in salivary cortisol levels [49].”
Keebaugh, A. C., & Young, L. J. (2011) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.07.018 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
“In humans, OT has been shown to modulate social behavior, including interpersonal trust, eye gaze, facial memory, and emotion perception (Ditzen et al., 2009; Domes et al., 2007; Guastella et al., 2008; Kosfeld et al., 2005).”
BackgroundThe Natural Principles of Love
Gottman, J. M., & Gottman, J. (2017) · Journal of Family Theory & Review · doi:10.1111/jftr.12182 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Oxytocin, cortisol, and triadic family interactions
Gordon, I., Zagoory-Sharon, O., Leckman, J. F., & Feldman, R. (2010) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2010.08.008 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
Anxiolytic-like effect of oxytocin in the simulated public speaking test
de Oliveira, D. C., Zuardi, A. W., Graeff, F. G., Queiroz, R. H., & Crippa, J. A. (2012) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881111400642 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
“Thus, it has been reported that OT administration attenuates glucocorticoid secretion (Ditzen et al., 2009; Heinrichs et al., 2003; Neumann, 2002; Neumann et al., 2000; Windle et al., 1997) and stress-induced increases in arterial pressure (Holst et al., 2002; Windle et al., 1997).”
BackgroundMcQuaid, R. J., McInnis, O. A., Stead, J. D. H., Matheson, K., & Anisman, H. (2013) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2013.00128 · Cited by 158 · see citing works
“ORIGINAL RESEARCH ARTICLE published: 23 July 2013 doi: 10.3389/fnins.2013.00128”
BackgroundInfluentialOxytocin administration, salivary testosterone, and father–infant social behavior
Weisman, O., Zagoory‐Sharon, O., & Feldman, R. (2013) · Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology and Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.pnpbp.2013.11.006 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
“…shown to increase levels of the structurallyrelated neuropeptide arginine vasopressin (AVP; Weisman et al., 2013c), and to alter levels of salivary cortisol (Ditzen et al., 2009; Weisman et al., 2013b), suggesting an effect of OT on other hormones which are specifically related to paternal care.”
Roles of Oxytocin in Stress Responses, Allostasis and Resilience
Takayanagi, Y., & Onaka, T. (2021) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms23010150 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Oxytocin׳s role in anxiety: A critical appraisal
MacDonald, K., & Feifel, D. (2014) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2014.01.025 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Effects of intranasal oxytocin on social anxiety in males with fragile X syndrome
Hall, S. S., Lightbody, A. A., McCarthy, B. E., Parker, K. J., & Reiss, A. L. (2012) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2011.07.020 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
“Similar doses of OT have been administered to subjects in previous studies of social functioning (Andari et al., 2010; Feifel et al., 2010; Guastella et al., 2008; Hollander et al., 2007; Ditzen et al., 2009).”
Effects of MDMA and intranasal oxytocin on social and emotional processing
Kirkpatrick, M. G., Lee, R., Wardle, M. C., Jacob, S., & de Wit, H. (2014) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2014.12 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Oxytocin Modulates Neural Reactivity to Children's Faces as a Function of Social Salience
Wittfoth-Schardt, D., Gründing, J., Wittfoth, M., Lanfermann, H., Heinrichs, M., Domes, G., Buchheim, A., Gündel, H., & Waller, C. (2012) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2012.47 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
“…various social behaviors: for example, it increases trust (but not risk behavior) in economic games (Baumgartner et al, 2008; Kosfeld et al, 2005) and reduces the behavioral and physiological signs of stress during couple conflict (Ditzen et al, 2009) or psychosocial stress (Heinrichs et al, 2003).”
BackgroundSelf-citationMacDonald, K., MacDonald, T. M., Brüne, M., Lamb, K., Wilson, M. P., Golshan, S., & Feifel, D. (2013) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.05.014 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
“We note, importantly, that as in other studies of OTand cortisol effects (Ditzen et al., 2009), we did not see a stress-induced elevation in cortisol in our experiment, perhaps due to the toobenign nature of our experimental task (which was not explicitly socioevaluative (Dickerson and Kemeny, 2004)), or perhaps due t…”
BackgroundResultInfluentialPierrehumbert, B., Torrisi, R., Laufer, D., Halfon, O., Ansermet, F., & Beck Popovic, M. (2010) · Neuroscience · doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2009.12.016 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
A Review of the Physiological Effects and Mechanisms of Singing
Kang, J., Scholp, A., & Jiang, J. J. (2018) · Journal of Voice · doi:10.1016/j.jvoice.2017.07.008 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Relations between plasma oxytocin and cortisol: The stress buffering role of social support
McQuaid, R. J., McInnis, O. A., Paric, A., Al-Yawer, F., Matheson, K., & Anisman, H. (2016) · Neurobiology of Stress · doi:10.1016/j.ynstr.2016.01.001 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
“, 2012) and that associated with couple conflict (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
BackgroundInfluentialHerpertz, S. C., & Bertsch, K. (2015) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2015.15020216 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
“Oxytocin administration was also found to increase the proportion of positive communication behaviors and to reduce cortisol levels during couple conflict discussions (107) and to increase the attractiveness of the intimate partners (108).”
BackgroundA psychobiological rationale for oxytocin in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder
Olff, M., Langeland, W., Witteveen, A., & Denys, D. (2010) · CNS Spectrums · doi:10.1017/s109285290000047x · Cited by 135 · see citing works
Dissecting the Role of Oxytocin in the Formation and Loss of Social Relationships
Hurlemann, R., & Scheele, D. (2016) · Biological Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2015.05.013 · Cited by 136 · see citing works
“It has been shown, for example, that the peptide enhances positive communication in relation to negative behavior during couple conflicts and reduces cortisol saliva levels after the conflict (82).”
BackgroundLane, A., Luminet, O., Nave, G., & Mikolajczak, M. (2016) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/jne.12384 · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Oxytocin facilitates accurate perception of competition in men and kinship in women
Fischer-Shofty, M., Levkovitz, Y., & Shamay-Tsoory, S. G. (2013) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsr100 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Long-term exposure to intranasal oxytocin in a mouse autism model
Bales, K. L., Solomon, M., Jacob, S., Crawley, J. N., Silverman, J. L., Larke, R. H., Sahagún, E., Puhger, K. R., Pride, M. C., & Mendoza, S. P. (2014) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2014.117 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Gorka, S. M., Fitzgerald, D. A., Labuschagne, I., Hosanagar, A., Wood, A. G., Nathan, P. J., & Phan, K. L. (2015) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2014.168 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
“More recently, studies in humans have demonstrated that OXT administration increases pro-social behaviors like trust, empathy, and willingness to take social risks (Kosfeld et al, 2005), whereas dampening psychophysiological responses to stressors (Ditzen et al, 2009).”
BackgroundMa, Y., Shamay-Tsoory, S., Han, S., & Zink, C. F. (2016) · Trends in Cognitive Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.tics.2015.10.009 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
“Intranasal administration of OT (IN-OT) in humans has been documented in the regulation of anxiety [10–14] and stress [15–19], the initiation of positive social interactions [16,20–22], and the promotion of social cognition [23–25] and prosocial behaviors [26–28].”
BackgroundA meta-analytic review of the correlation between peripheral oxytocin and cortisol concentrations
Brown, C. A., Cardoso, C., & Ellenbogen, M. A. (2016) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.11.001 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
“…in humans have found corresponding decreases in levels of plasma cortisol in response to stress (Legros, 2001), and the administration of intranasal oxytocin is known to attenuate the salivary cortisol response in response to various stressors (Cardoso et al., 2013; Ditzen et al., 2009).”
A three-phase model of the social emotional functioning in eating disorders
Treasure, J., Corfield, F., & Cardi, V. (2012) · European Eating Disorders Review · doi:10.1002/erv.2181 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Meuwly, N., Bodenmann, G., Germann, J., Bradbury, T. N., Ditzen, B., & Heinrichs, M. (2012) · Journal of Family Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0030356 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Self-citationEffect of oxytocin on craving and stress response in marijuana-dependent individuals: A pilot study
McRae-Clark, A. L., Baker, N. L., Maria, M. M.-S., & Brady, K. T. (2013) · Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1007/s00213-013-3062-4 · Cited by 124 · see citing works
“This dose was selected based on previous studies that have used similar doses of oxytocin (Ditzen et al. 2009; Zak et al. 2007).”
BackgroundMethodRoles of Oxytocin Neurones in the Control of Stress, Energy Metabolism, and Social Behaviour
Onaka, T., Takayanagi, Y., & Yoshida, M. (2012) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2826.2012.02300.x · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Oxytocin facilitates the sensation of social stress
Eckstein, M., Scheele, D., Weber, K., Stoffel‐Wagner, B., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R. (2014) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.22508 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
“In situations where the experimental manipulation does not increase salivary cortisol levels, OXT may attenuate stress axis activity (Ditzen et al., 2009; Linnen et al., 2012) but this modulatory influence may itself depend on developmental experiences (Meinlschmidt and Heim, 2007), and there are also negative studies…”
BackgroundOxytocin 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
- Authors
- Ditzen, B., Schaer, M., Gabriel, B., Bodenmann, G., Ehlert, U., & Heinrichs, M.
- Affiliations
- Emory University (US)
- University of Fribourg (CH)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Ditzen, Beate
- Venue
- Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2009-05
- Volume
- 65
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 728-731
- ISSN
- 0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1977529793
- Cited by
- 784
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 26 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 45 · 2019: 48 · 2018: 54 · 2017: 66 · 2016: 43 · 2015: 62 · 2014: 65 · 2013: 55 · 2012: 54
- FWCI
- 45.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- hdl.handle.net
- Licence
- cc-by-nc-nd
- www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
- Locations
- Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- Digital Access to Libraries (submittedVersion)
- Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften digital collection (Zurich University of Applied Sciences) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- FreiDok plus (Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Keywords
- oxytocin, couple conflict, positive communication, salivary cortisol, intranasal administration, close relationships, pair bonding, social stress
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Intranasal, Adult, Communication, Conflict, Psychological, Double-Blind Method, Family Characteristics, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone
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