Intranasal Oxytocin Increases Positive Communication and Reduces Cortisol Levels During Couple Conflict

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).”

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.”

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.”

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.”

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).”

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).”

In the citing paper

“Intranasal administration of OXT increases ratings of facial attractiveness (27), positive communication behavior during couple conflicts (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).”

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.”

In the citing paper

“reduce negative behavior during couple conflict (19,20)”

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).”

In the citing paper

“Research suggests the experimental manipulation of oxytocin facilitates positive interactions, cooperation and trust.”

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.”

In the citing paper

“While most studies examine the effects of oxytocin 45 minutes after administration (Ditzen et al., 2009; Kosfeld et al., 2005)”

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).”

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).”

In the citing paper

“positive communication between couples (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).”

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).”

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]”

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).”