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Intranasal Oxytocin Increases Positive Communication and Reduces Cortisol Levels During Couple Conflict
Open accessAbstract
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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In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“reduce negative behavior during couple conflict (19,20)”
From Oxytocin and the development of parenting in humans (2010) · cites this paper as [20]
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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 the citing paper
“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
In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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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In the paper
“Lerner, 2005, Facial expressions of emotion reveal neuroendocrine and cardiovascular stress responses, Biol Psychiatry, 58, 743, 10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.08.011”
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Rencontre magique: l'Approche centrée sur la personne et les neurosciences
Lux, M., & Ducroux-Biass, F. (2012) · Approche Centrée sur la Personne Pratique et recherche · doi:10.3917/acp.014.0005 · Cited by 3
“La vérification de ces relations semble fournir un merveilleux projet de recherche empirique. neuro-sciences la compatibilité de ces deux champs de”
Halsband, U. (2015) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-54577-1_67 · Cited by 3
The Role of Oxytocin in Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Concepts and Mechanisms
Levin, R., Edelman, S., Shalev, I., Ebstein, R. P., & Heresco‐Levy, U. (2010) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-90-481-8553-5_20 · Cited by 5
Oksitosin ve Psikiyatrik Bozukluklar
Say, G. N., & Müjdeci, M. (2016) · Psikiyatride Guncel Yaklasimlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry · doi:10.18863/pgy.17749 · Cited by 5
Why Does It Feel So Good to Care for Others and for Myself?
Birkett, M., & Sasaki, J. Y. (2018) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809837-0.00007-6 · Cited by 3
Engel, S., Schumacher, S., Niemeyer, H., Kuester, A., Burchert, S., Rau, H., Willmund, G., & Knaevelsrud, C. (2020) · Verhaltenstherapie · doi:10.1159/000506028 · Cited by 4
“…oxytocin administrations promoted trust [Kosfeld et al., 2005; Mikolajczak et al., 2010] and positive communication during a partnership conflict [Ditzen et al., 2009], to mention just two of many prominent examples that have been summarized in numerous reviews [Feldman, 2012; Donaldson and…”
BackgroundChen, J., Luo, Y. L. L., Xie, Y., Yang, Z., & Cai, H. (2021) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2020.104920 · Cited by 3
Evoking Issues of Race and Ethnicity in Research on Physiology and Interpersonal Communication
Davis, S. M. (2020) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190679446.013.15 · Cited by 3
Crime and Violence: Desensitization in Victims to Watching Criminal Events
Tella, R. D., Freira, L., Gálvez, R. H., Schargrodsky, E., Shalóm, D. E., & Sigman, M. (2017) · National Bureau of Economic Research · doi:10.3386/w23697 · Cited by 3
Bases hormonals de la conducta prosocial: una revisió de la literatura
Lerma, F. S., Manuel, M. V., & Susana, L. T. (2016) · Anuari de Psicologia de la Societat Valenciana de Psicologia · doi:10.7203/anuari.psicologia.16.1.189 · Cited by 2
Oxytocin promotes action prediction
Burgstaller, J., Paulus, M., & Pfundmair, M. (2018) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2018.09.004 · Cited by 2
“, 2008) and enhances the understanding of others' perspective (Ditzen et al., 2009).”
Oxytocin and postpartum depression - a possible treatment for depressed mothers
Leziak, M., Niedobylski, S., Żak, K., Piwoński, M., Krasowska, D., & Skórzyńska-Dziduszko, K. (2020) · Journal of Education Health and Sport · doi:10.12775/jehs.2020.10.07.016 · Cited by 2
“(which involved nonverbal signs as well) and salivary cortisol during standard instructed couple conflict discussion with placebo group – the OXT group displayed significantly more positive communication patterns and lower mean salivary cortisol level after the discussion [22].”
BackgroundBeyond the Human? A Critique of Transhumanism
Fuchs, T. A. E. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780192898197.003.0003 · Cited by 2
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Hormonal Mechanisms of In-Pair Mating and Maintenance
Denes, A., Crowley, J. P., & Dhillon, A. (2023) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197524718.013.13 · Cited by 3
The effectiveness of oxytocin in the treatment of stimulant use disorders: a systematic review
Lee-Cheong, S., Ludgate, S. A., Epp, T., & Schütz, C. G. (2023) · Behavioural Pharmacology · doi:10.1097/fbp.0000000000000744 · Cited by 2
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The Function of Oxytocin in Memory —A General Review of Oxytocin’s Effect on Memory
Gao, F. (2023) · World Journal of Neuroscience · doi:10.4236/wjns.2023.134013 · Cited by 3
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“These neurochemicals could potentially influence to some degree the features observed in the post-orgasmic state noted above (Andrade et al., 2019; De Dreu et al., 2015; Ditzen et al., 2009; Kraehenmann et al., 2017; Lane et al., 2013; Mikolajczak et al., 2010; Neuman & Landgraf, 2012).”
Oxytocin – ein prosoziales Hormon
Bertsch, K., & Herpertz, S. C. (2010) · Gynäkologische Endokrinologie · doi:10.1007/s10304-010-0388-4 · Cited by 2
“Männliche Probanden, die Oxytocin erhielten, beurteilten schockkonditionierte Gesichter als weniger unsympathisch und zeigten geringere Aktivierungen in für die Affektregulation wichtigen Arealen, v. a. im anterioren medialen Temporallappen, anterioren Cingulum und der rechten Amygdala, als Probanden der Placebogruppe.”
BackgroundInfluentialEgert, S. (2014) · Verhaltenstherapie · doi:10.1159/000368432 · Cited by 2
“Darüber hinaus beeinflusst es das Sozialverhalten [Zak et al., 2007; Ditzen et al., 2008], reduziert soziale Angst [Heinrichs et al., 2003] und steuert das Ausmaß von Vertrauen, das einer Person entgegengebracht wird [Kosfeld et al., 2005; Baumgartner et al., 2008].”
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“For example, although OT administration can reduce cortisol levels and increase positive communication in couples (Ditzen et al., 2009), Flanagan and colleagues (2018) extended this line of research to couples with substance misuse.”
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“In addition to facilitating social behavior and bonding, OXT is linked to the physiologic stress response—it can be used to attenuate this response, which has been experimentally evaluated in humans (Ditzen et al. 2009; Linnen et al. 2012) and squirrel monkeys (Samiri sciureus, Parker et al.”
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BackgroundOxytocin receptor controls promiscuity and development in prairie volesPreprint
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CD38 genetic variation is associated with increased personal distress to an emotional stimulus
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The Neural and Genetic Basis of Romantic Love
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Metadata
- 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
- 805
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 33 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 45 · 2020: 46 · 2019: 51 · 2018: 57 · 2017: 68 · 2016: 45 · 2015: 62 · 2014: 65 · 2013: 55 · 2012: 54
- FWCI
- 15.08
- 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)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
- 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)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › 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, self-disclosure, eye contact, nonverbal behavior, attachment
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Intranasal, Adult, Communication, Conflict, Psychological, Double-Blind Method, Family Characteristics, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Oxytocin, Placebos, Saliva
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