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Cited by 240Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorInfant Health and DevelopmentAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Oxytocin administration to parent enhances infant physiological and behavioral readiness for social engagement

Open access
Weisman, Omri, Zagoory-Sharon, Orna, Feldman, Ruth·2012·Biological Psychiatry
DOI 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.011
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Abstract

Background The social milieu provides the context for the organism's survival, endurance, and adaptation. In mammals, social participation originates within the parent-infant bond and is supported by the oxytocin (OT) system, whose functioning is transmitted from parent to child through patterns of parental care. Human studies indicate that OT administration increases affiliative behavior, including trust, empathy, and social reciprocity. Here, we examine whether OT administration to parent can enhance physiological and behavioral processes that support parental social engagement but, moreover, can have parallel effects on the infant.Methods Utilizing a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design, 35 fathers and their 5-month-old infants were observed twice following administration of OT or placebo to father in the face-to-face still-face paradigm. Parent and infant salivary OT were assessed at multiple time points, respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) was measured in the three face-to-face still-face episodes, and social behaviors of the parent and child were micro-coded for indices of social engagement.Results Oxytocin administration increased father salivary OT, RSA during free play, and key parenting behaviors that support parental-infant bonding. Parallel increases were also found in the infant's salivary OT, RSA response, and engagement behavior, including social gaze, exploration, and social reciprocity.Conclusions Results are the first to demonstrate that OT administration to one attachment partner can have parallel effects on the other and underscore the role of OT in the cross-generation transmission of human social participation. Findings have translational implications for conditions associated with early risk for social-emotional growth, including autism and prematurity, without the need to administer drugs to young infants.

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Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Intranasal oxytocin administered to fathers increased fathers’ salivary oxytocin, respiratory sinus arrhythmia during free play, and parenting behaviors, with parallel increases in infants’ salivary oxytocin, RSA, and social engagement. The authors conclude that oxytocin administration to one attachment partner can affect the other without directly administering the drug to the infant.

Key findings

  • Father salivary OT rose after 24 IU intranasal OT versus placebo: pre-interaction mean 6197.97 vs 34.34 pg/mL, t = 3.88, p < .001; condition-by-time interaction F(3,99) = 75.64, p < .001, ES = .69.
  • Infant salivary OT rose in parallel: 20 minutes after interaction began, mean 8227.31 vs 68.34 pg/mL, t = 3.92, p < .01; condition main effect F(1,33) = 118.89, p < .001, ES = .77.
  • Father RSA during free play was higher in the OT condition, t(34) = 2.55, p < .05; infant RSA during free play was also higher, t(34) = 1.98, p = .05, with no overall RSA condition difference.
  • Behavioral effects included longer father social reciprocity, t(34) = 3.69, p < .001; longer father touch, t(34) = 2.11, p < .05; longer infant object manipulation, t(34) = 2.49, p = .05; and longer infant social gaze, t(34) = 2.07, p < .05. Father affect did not differ between conditions.

Methods

  • Double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design with 35 healthy fathers (mean age 29.7 years, SD = 4.2) and their 5-month-old infants (18 girls; range 4–8 months), observed twice one week apart; total n = 70.
  • Fathers self-administered 24 IU intranasal oxytocin or placebo and were observed in the face-to-face still-face paradigm (3 minutes free play, 2 minutes still-face, 2 minutes reunion); salivary OT, ECG-derived RSA, and micro-coded social behaviors were measured.
  • Analyses used repeated-measures ANOVA, paired t tests, and correlations; OT values were log-transformed before analysis.

Limitations

  • Stated in the paper: the study was conducted with fathers, so generalization to mother-infant dyads requires future research; it relied on peripheral OT measurements although central-peripheral OT links remain controversial; salivary OT after administration may reflect oral cavity contamination, though the authors argue against this; mechanisms of the parent-child OT association remain unknown.
  • Evident from the text: the sample was limited to healthy, educated, middle-class, married fathers and healthy infants, with 68.5% firstborns; observations were short lab-based interactions, and no maternal or longer-term outcomes were assessed.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.011

Cites

60 of 60 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

0 of 77 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Father RSA increase from baseline to free play was greater in the oxytocin condition than placebo.

    “assessing the change in fathers' RSA from baseline to free play, calculated as RSA during free play minus RSA at baseline, showed greater RSA increase in the OT condition, t (34) ϭ 5.08, p Ͻ .05.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Infants in the oxytocin condition exhibited longer episodes of object manipulation than placebo.

    “Episodes of infant object manipulation were longer, t (34) ϭ 2.49, p ϭ .05”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Fathers in the oxytocin condition exhibited longer episodes of social reciprocity than placebo.

    “key parenting behaviors that support parentalinfant bonding”
    • Also stated in: § Social Engagement Behavior · plain
      “Among fathers, episodes of social reciprocity, indexing moments of infant-oriented positive vocalizations and encouragement of infant orientation to the social context, were longer in the oxytocin condition, t (34) ϭ 3.69, p Ͻ .001”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Father RSA during free play was higher in the oxytocin condition than placebo.

    “RSA during free play”
    • Also stated in: § Parasympathetic Activation · plain
      “Fathers' RSA during free play in the OT and placebo conditions were compared with pairedcomparison t tests and showed higher RSA in the oxytocin condition, t (34) ϭ 2.55, p Ͻ .05”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Infant RSA during free play was higher in the oxytocin condition than placebo.

    “RSA response”
    • Also stated in: § Parasympathetic Activation · plain
      “Infants' RSA during the free-play episode was similarly higher in the oxytocin condition, t (34) ϭ 1.98, p ϭ .05”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 20
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 37

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The effect of oxytocin on RSA was specific to the free-play episode; overall RSA level did not differ between conditions.

    “A repeated-measure ANOVA conducted for father and infant separately showed no difference in overall RSA level between conditions (OT, PL), suggesting the effect was specific to the free-play episode.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Infant salivary OT increased in the oxytocin condition compared with placebo.

    “Parallel increases were also found in the infant's salivary OT”
    • Also stated in: § Salivary Oxytocin · plain
      “infants in the OT condition showed a dramatic increase in salivary OT between the first (before father-infant interaction) and next assessments.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Findingown data

    Father baseline OT in the OT condition showed stability from baseline to T2.

    “Father baseline OT in the OT condition showed stability from baseline to T2 (r ϭ .35,p Ͻ .05)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    Oxytocin administration to fathers increased infant respiratory sinus arrhythmia during social play.

    “infant RSA was higher during social play”
    • Also stated in: § Discussion · plain
      “Following OT administration to father, father and infant cardiac vagal tone during face-to-face interaction are increased (grey lines), compared with placebo.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Findings have translational implications for conditions associated with early risk for social-emotional growth, including autism and prematurity, without the need to administer drugs to young infants.

    “Findings have translational implications for conditions associated with early risk for social-emotional growth, including autism and prematurity, without the need to administer drugs to young infants.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Plasma OT is associated with bonding-related cognitions and increased activations in motivational-limbic brain areas in response to infant stimuli.

    “plasma OT has been associated with bonding-related cognitions (11) and increased activations in motivational-limbic brain areas in response to infant stimuli (12).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [11] Feldman, 2007, Evidence for a euroendocrinological foundation of human affiliation: Plasma oxytocin levels across pregnancy and the postpartum period predict mother infant bonding, Psychol Sci source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [12] Atzil, 2011, Specifying the neurobiological basis of human attachment: Brain, hormones, and behavior in synchronous and intrusive mothers, Neuropsychopharmacology source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Parent and infant OT responses are interrelated and the cross-generation link is shaped by the degree of social reciprocity during infant-mother and infant-father interactions.

    “parent and infant OT responses were interrelated and the cross-generation link was shaped by the degree of social reciprocity during infant-mother and infant-father interactions (13).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [13] Feldman, 2010, The cross-generation transmission of oxytocin in humans, Horm Behav source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin has been shown to increase empathy.

    “Oxytocin has been shown to increase empathy (19,20)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [19] Bartz, 2010, Oxytocin selectively improves empathic accuracy, Psychol Sci source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [20] Hurlemann, 2010, Oxytocin enhances amygdala-dependent, socially reinforced learning and emotional empathy in humans, J Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Maternal and paternal postpartum social behaviors are associated with the parent's plasma OT.

    “Maternal and paternal postpartum social behaviors were associated with the parent's plasma OT (9)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [9] Feldman, 2012, Sensitive parenting is associated with plasma oxytocin and polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and CD38 genes [published online ahead of print February 13], Biol Psychiatry source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Provision of parental touch induces salivary OT increase in mothers and fathers.

    “the provision of parental touch induced salivary OT increase in mothers and fathers (10)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [10] Feldman, 2010, Natural variations in maternal and paternal care are associated with systematic changes in oxytocin following parent–infant contact, Psychoneuroendocrinology source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Risk alleles on the OXTR gene implicated in autism and depression are associated with reduced maternal and paternal touch, lower maternal sensitivity, and decreased infant social gaze during interactions with mother and father.

    “risk alleles on the OXTR gene implicated in autism and depression were associated with reduced maternal and paternal touch, lower maternal sensitivity, and decreased infant social gaze during interactions with mother and father (9,16).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [9] Feldman, 2012, Sensitive parenting is associated with plasma oxytocin and polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and CD38 genes [published online ahead of print February 13], Biol Psychiatry source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [16] Bakermans-Kranenburg, 2008, Oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) genes associated with observed parenting, Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Such overarching involvement of OT in social and affiliative processes is thought to stem from the hormone's central involvement in the formation of the parent-infant bond, which, in turn, enhances physiological and behavioral systems that underpin human social engagement throughout life.

    “Such overarching involvement of OT in social and affiliative processes is thought to stem from the hormone's central involvement in the formation of the parent-infant bond, which, in turn, enhances physiological and behavioral systems that underpin human social engagement throughout life (3,26,27).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [3] Feldman, 2012, Oxytocin and social affiliation in humans, Horm Behav source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [26] Carter, 1998, Neuroendocrine perspectives on social attachment and love, Psychoneuroendocrinology source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [27] Sroufe, 2005, Attachment and development: A prospective, longitudinal study from birth to adulthood, Attach Hum Dev source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Baseline plasma and salivary OT in mothers and fathers are interrelated and comparable during the first months of parenting.

    “Human studies have indicated that baseline plasma and salivary OT in mothers and fathers are interrelated and are comparable during the first months of parenting (10,13,29,30)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [10] Feldman, 2010, Natural variations in maternal and paternal care are associated with systematic changes in oxytocin following parent–infant contact, Psychoneuroendocrinology source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [13] Feldman, 2010, The cross-generation transmission of oxytocin in humans, Horm Behav source

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    • cites [29] Gordon, 2010, Oxytocin and the development of parenting in humans, Biol Psychiatry source

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    • cites [30] Feldman, 2011, Maternal and paternal plasma, salivary, and urinary oxytocin and parent-infant synchrony: Considering stress and affiliation components of human bonding, Dev Sci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin has been shown to increase trust.

    “trust (22)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [22] Kosfeld, 2005, Oxytocin increases trust in humans, Nature source

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    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin has been shown to improve social functioning in conditions such as autism and schizophrenia.

    “improve social functioning in conditions such as autism and schizophrenia (25).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [25] Meyer-Lindenberg, 2011, Oxytocin and vasopressin in the human brain: Social neuropeptides for translational medicine, Nat Rev Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin has been shown to increase positive communication between couples.

    “positive communication between couples (24)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [24] Ditzen, 2009, Intranasal oxytocin increases positive communication and reduces cortisol levels during couple conflict, Biol Psychiatry source

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    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin has been shown to increase altruism.

    “altruism (23)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [23] De Dreu, 2010, The neuropeptide oxytocin regulates parochial altruism in intergroup conflict among humans, Science source

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    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin has been shown to increase theory of mind.

    “theory of mind (21)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [21] Domes, 2007, Oxytocin improves “mind-reading” in humans, Biol Psychiatry source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    The face-to-face still-face paradigm used was well-validated.

    “Father and infant were observed in the well-validated face-to-face still-face paradigm (FTFSF) (43)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [43] Adamson, 2003, The still-face: A history of a shared experimental paradigm, Infancy source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The expression of these parenting behaviors predicts greater empathy, prosocial orientation, and emotion regulation in childhood and adolescence.

    “The expression of these behaviors has been shown to predict greater empathy, prosocial orientation, and emotion regulation in childhood and adolescence (3,38).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [3] Feldman, 2012, Oxytocin and social affiliation in humans, Horm Behav source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [38] Feldman, 2007, Parent-infant synchrony: Biological foundations and developmental outcomes, Curr Dir Psychol Sci source

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    Premisecitation

    Postpartum human parents engage in a species-typical repertoire that includes touch, gaze, vocalizations, affective expression, and joint exploration of the environment.

    “Postpartum human parents, like other mammalian parents, engage in a species-typical repertoire that includes touch, gaze, vocalizations, affective expression, and joint exploration of the environment (38).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [38] Feldman, 2007, Parent-infant synchrony: Biological foundations and developmental outcomes, Curr Dir Psychol Sci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Higher RSA during mother-infant free play is associated with more optimal maternal care and higher infant social engagement.

    “Higher RSA during mother-infant free play has been associated with more optimal maternal care and higher infant social engagement (34 -36).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [34] Moore, 2004, Infants' vagal regulation in the still-face paradigm is related to dyadic coordination of mother–infant interaction, Dev Psychol source

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    • cites [35] Moore, 2009, Mother-infant vagal regulation in the face-to-face still-face paradigm is moderated by maternal sensitivity, Child Dev source

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    • cites [36] Feldman, 2010, Touch attenuates infants' physiological reactivity to stress, Dev Sci source

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    Premisecitation

    These father behaviors induce similar levels of social reciprocity to those observed during mother-child interactions.

    “these behaviors induce similar levels of social reciprocity to those observed during mother-child interactions (41).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [41] Feldman, 2003, Infant-mother and infant-father synchrony: The coregulation of positive arousal, Infant Ment Health J source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    RSA provides a measure of parasympathetic activity that indexes the mammalian capacity to flexibly respond to micro-level shifts in environmental events, thereby supporting orientation, attention, and social engagement.

    “Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), the respiratory component in heart rhythms mediated by the 10th cranial nerve, the vagus, provides a measure of parasympathetic activity that indexes the mammalian capacity to flexibly respond to micro-level shifts in environmental events, thereby supporting orientation, attention, and social engagement (33).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [33] Porges, 1995, Cardiac vagal tone: A physiological index of stress, Neurosci Biobehav Rev source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design with counterbalanced administration order and blinding of participants and experimenters to drug condition.

    “Utilizing a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design”
    • Also stated in: § Oxytocin Versus Placebo · plain
      “Administration order was counterbalanced, and participants and experimenters were blind to drug condition.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Intranasal OT administration markedly increases salivary OT levels over several hours.

    “two recent studies from different labs showed that intranasal OT administration markedly increased salivary OT levels over several hours (48,49).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [48] Weisman, 2012, Intranasal oxytocin is reflected in human saliva [published online ahead of print March 19], Psychoneuroendocrinology source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [49] Huffmeijer, 2012, Salivary levels of oxytocin remain elevated for more than two hours after intranasal oxytocin administration, Neuro Endocrinol Lett

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given

    All experiments were held between 13:00 and 17:00 to control for diurnal variations in OT.

    “All experiments were held between 13:00 and 17:00, to control for diurnal variations in OT.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Salivary OT measured by immunoassay is a reliable biomarker, is stable over time, and correlates with plasma OT and OT-related processes such as breastfeeding.

    “recent studies across several labs have shown that salivary OT measured by immunoassay is a reliable biomarker, is stable over time, and correlates with plasma OT and OT-related processes, such as breastfeeding (10,30,(45)(46)(47).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 5 sources checked
    • cites [10] Feldman, 2010, Natural variations in maternal and paternal care are associated with systematic changes in oxytocin following parent–infant contact, Psychoneuroendocrinology source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [30] Feldman, 2011, Maternal and paternal plasma, salivary, and urinary oxytocin and parent-infant synchrony: Considering stress and affiliation components of human bonding, Dev Sci source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [45] Carter, 2007, Oxytocin: Behavioral associations and potential as a salivary biomarker, Ann N Y Acad Sci source

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    • cites [46] Grewen, 2010, An investigation of plasma and salivary oxytocin responses in breast- and formula-feeding mothers to infants, Psychophysiology

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    • cites [47] White-Traut, 2009, Detection of salivary oxytocin levels in lactating women, Dev Psychobiol source

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    Study design and conductnone given

    Each IBI series was visually scanned by a condition-blind researcher for outlier caused by artifacts or ectopic beats.

    “Each IBI series was visually scanned by a condition-blind researcher for outlier caused by artifacts or ectopic beats.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    The intra-assay and interassay coefficients were <12.3% and <21.09%, respectively.

    “The intra-assay and interassay coefficients were Ͻ12.3% and Ͻ21.09%, respectively.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductnone given

    The research was approved by the Institutional Review Board and conducted according to ethical standards, and all participants signed an informed consent.

    “The research was approved by the Institutional Review Board and conducted according to ethical standards, and all participants signed an informed consent.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The free-play episode was micro-coded by trained observers using a validated coding scheme.

    “The free-play episode was micro-coded by trained observers on a computerized system (Noldus, Wageningen, Netherlands) using a validated coding scheme (51).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [51] Feldman, 2004, Parent-infant synchrony and the social emotional development of triplets, Dev Psychol source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    RSA amplitude was quantified using Porges' MXEdit software, which has been well-validated in parenting research.

    “RSA amplitude was quantified for each episode of the FTFSF paradigm (free play, still-face, reunion) for father and child using Porges' MXEdit software (Delta Biometrics, Bethesda, Maryland) (50), which has been well-validated in parenting research.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [50] Porges, 1985

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Oxytocin administration has integrative effects at three levels: between central and peripheral oxytocin, between oxytocin response in parent and child, and between the oxytocin and parasympathetic systems.

    “The findings demonstrate the integrative effects of OT administration at three levels: between central and peripheral OT, between OT response in parent and child, and between the OT and parasympathetic systems.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The study relied on peripheral measurements of oxytocin.

    “Second, we relied on peripheral measurements of OT, although the connection between central and peripheral OT levels is still controversial.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The study was conducted with fathers, so the findings may not generalize to mother-infant dyads.

    “First, given the complexity of administrating OT to nursing women, the study was conducted with fathers, and future research is required to examine whether the findings generalize to mother-infant dyads.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductcitation

    Salivary oxytocin levels after administration may reflect oral cavity contamination resulting from the method of administration.

    “An additional concern is that salivary OT levels after administration may reflect oral cavity contamination resulting from method of administration.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Disruptions to parental-infant bonding, such as premature birth or maternal postpartum depression, are expressed in lower peripheral oxytocin, lower respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and reduced social behavior.

    “disruptions to parental-infant bonding, in cases such as premature birth or maternal postpartum depression, are expressed in lower peripheral OT (14), lower RSA (53), and reduced social behavior (54).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [14] Skrundz, 2011, Plasma oxytocin concentration during pregnancy is associated with development of postpartum depression, Neuropsychopharmacology source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [53] Feldman, 2006, From biological rhythms to social rhythms: Physiological precursors of mother-infant synchrony, Dev Psychol source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [54] Feldman, 2006, Neonatal state organization, neuromaturation, mother-infant interaction, and cognitive development in small-for-gestational-age premature infants, Pediatrics source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The link between brain and peripheral oxytocin activity is controversial, but researchers have suggested that the two are coordinated.

    “The link between brain and peripheral OT activity has been an issue of continuous controversy; yet, researchers have suggested that the two are coordinated (56).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [56] Ross, 2009, Oxytocin and the neural mechanisms regulating social cognition and affiliative behavior, Front Neuroendocrinol source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Peripheral oxytocin, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, and parent-infant social behaviors are stable within individuals over time.

    “In addition, peripheral OT, RSA, and parent-infant social behaviors have each been shown in longitudinal studies to be stable within individuals over time (11,27,55).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [11] Feldman, 2007, Evidence for a euroendocrinological foundation of human affiliation: Plasma oxytocin levels across pregnancy and the postpartum period predict mother infant bonding, Psychol Sci source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [27] Sroufe, 2005, Attachment and development: A prospective, longitudinal study from birth to adulthood, Attach Hum Dev source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [55] Bornstein, 2000, Physiological self-regulation and information processing in infancy: Cardiac vagal tone and habituation, Child Dev source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    One potential pathway involves the effects of alterations in brain oxytocin on visceral functioning, particularly the vagus, leading to an increase in peripheral oxytocin levels.

    “One potential pathway involves the effects of alterations in brain OT on visceral functioning, particularly the vagus, which lead to an increase in peripheral OT levels (57).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [57] Yu, 2011, Oxytocin is expressed by both intrinsic sensory and secretomotor neurons in the enteric nervous system of guinea pig, Cell Tissue Res source

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    Premisecitation

    Vagal stimulation leads to oxytocin release in the brain.

    “This hypothesis is consistent with the findings that vagal stimulation leads to OT release in the brain (58).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [58] McEwen, 2004, Brain-fluid barriers: Relevance for theoretical controversies regarding vasopressin and oxytocin memory research, Adv Pharmacol source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin is a neurohormonal system that dynamically engages body and brain, organism and environment, and separate partners within an attachment relationship.

    “Oxytocin is a neurohormonal system that dynamically engages body and brain, organism and environment, and separate partners within an attachment relationship (3).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3] Feldman, 2012, Oxytocin and social affiliation in humans, Horm Behav source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Gonadal steroids and neuropeptides jointly influence bonding by increasing oxytocin-dopamine interactions.

    “Similarly, Bos et al. (62) suggest that gonadal steroids and neuropeptides jointly influence bonding by increasing OT-dopamine interactions.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [62] Bos, 2012, Acute effects of steroid hormones and neuropeptides on human social-emotional behavior: A review of single administration studies, Front Neuroendocrinol source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin has anxiolytic effects on internal state and social behavior.

    “This conceptualization is consistent with the known anxiolytic effects of OT on internal state and social behavior (61).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [61] Neumann, 2008, Brain oxytocin: A key regulator of emotional and social behaviours in both females and males, J Neuroendocrinol source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The oxytocinergic and autonomic systems enhance each other through positive feedback mechanisms and jointly establish a sense of safety that enables the formation of affiliative bonds.

    “Porges and Carter (59) suggest that the oxytocinergic and autonomic systems enhance each other through positive feedback mechanisms and jointly establish a sense of safety that enables the formation of affiliative bonds (28,59,60).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [59] Porges, 2011, Neurobiology and evolution: Mechanisms, mediators, and adaptive consequences of caregiving

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [28] Meaney, 2010, Epigenetics and the biological definition of gene x environment interactions, Child Dev source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [60] Porges, 2003, Social engagement and attachment: A polygenetic perspective, Ann N Y Acad Sci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin administration improves key features of autism and schizophrenia.

    “triggered by the effects of OT administration on improving key features of the disorder in autism and schizophrenia (25).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [25] Meyer-Lindenberg, 2011, Oxytocin and vasopressin in the human brain: Social neuropeptides for translational medicine, Nat Rev Neurosci source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    Touch within close relationships is associated with baseline oxytocin and the oxytocin response.

    “Touch within close relationships has been repeatedly associated with baseline OT and the OT response (3)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3] Feldman, 2012, Oxytocin and social affiliation in humans, Horm Behav source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation

    High concentrations of drug in saliva following heroin and cocaine smoked administration resulted from oral contamination.

    “Jenkins et al. (72) suggested that high concentrations of drug in saliva following heroin and cocaine smoked administration resulted from oral contamination.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [72] Jenkins, 1995, Comparison of heroin and cocaine concentrations in saliva with concentrations in blood and plasma, J Anal Toxicol source

      Not checked in the free run.

49 of 49

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 humans, intranasal application of oxytocin increases parenting behaviors that support parent-infant bonding in fathers toward their infants.

    “In humans, intranasal application of OT (IN-OT) increases parenting behaviors that support parent-infant bonding in fathers toward their infants [38].”

    From The Neurobiology of Love and Pair Bonding from Human and Animal Perspectives (2023) · cites this paper as [38]

  • Administration of oxytocin to fathers of 5-month-olds increased paternal vagal tone during free play and facilitated bonding behaviors such as social gaze, affectionate touch, and infant-directed speech.

    “Administration of oxytocin to fathers of 5-month-olds increased paternal vagal tone during free play and facilitated bonding behaviors such as social gaze, affectionate touch, and infant-directed speech (Weisman et al., 2012).”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Weisman et al. (2012)

  • Regarding exogenous oxytocin, it is associated with changes in paternal parenting behaviors, including alterations to vagal tone.

    “Regarding exogenous oxytocin, it is associated with changes in paternal parenting behaviors, including alterations to vagal tone.”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Weisman et al. (2012)

  • The results were the first to demonstrate that giving oxytocin to one attachment partner-the father-can induce similar effects in the child, suggesting oxytocin has a potential cross-generational transmission effect through increased social engagement.

    “The results were the first to demonstrate that giving oxytocin to one attachment partner—the father in this case—can induce similar effects in the child, suggesting oxytocin has a potential cross-generational transmission effect through increased social engagement.”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Weisman et al. (2012)

  • Infant oxytocin levels, vagal tone, and social engagement, including social reciprocity, increased in a parallel manner.

    “Infant oxytocin levels, vagal tone, and social engagement, including social reciprocity, increased in a parallel manner.”

    From The evolved nest, oxytocin functioning, and prosocial development (2023) · cites this paper as Weisman et al. (2012)

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Condition is called a between-subject factor in a crossover study

    Minor

    The study says each father was observed under both oxytocin and placebo. Condition is therefore within-subject, contrary to its description as a between-subject factor.

  • Figure caption invokes an infant baseline that was not collected

    Minor

    The Figure 1 caption compares both fathers' and infants' levels with a baseline assessment, but the stated baseline saliva sample was collected from fathers only.

  • Infant ANOVA interaction has an inconsistent denominator degree of freedom

    Minor

    For the reported infant ANOVA, a condition main effect with 33 denominator degrees of freedom implies 66 denominator degrees of freedom for its two-degree-of-freedom condition-by-time interaction, not 68.

    Reported 68 · recomputed 66

  • Infant pre-interaction result is described as significant but tabulated as nonsignificant

    Minor

    The text says every assessment following baseline differed significantly for both fathers and infants, but Table 1 marks the infant pre-interaction comparison as nonsignificant.

4 of 4

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 7

  1. Young, 2009, Being human: Love: Neuroscience reveals all, Nature, 457, 148, 10.1038/457148a · DOI
  2. Feldman, 2012, Sensitive parenting is associated with plasma oxytocin and polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and CD38 genes [published online ahead of print February 13], Biol Psychiatry, 10.1016/j.biopsych.2011.12.025 · DOI · Paper page
  3. Feldman, 2007, Evidence for a euroendocrinological foundation of human affiliation: Plasma oxytocin levels across pregnancy and the postpartum period predict mother infant bonding, Psychol Sci, 18, 965, 10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.02010.x · DOI · Paper page
  4. Carter, 2007, Oxytocin: Behavioral associations and potential as a salivary biomarker, Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1098, 312, 10.1196/annals.1384.006 · DOI · Paper page
  5. Grewen, 2010, An investigation of plasma and salivary oxytocin responses in breast- and formula-feeding mothers to infants, Psychophysiology, 47, 625
  6. Huffmeijer, 2012, Salivary levels of oxytocin remain elevated for more than two hours after intranasal oxytocin administration, Neuro Endocrinol Lett, 33, 21
  7. Porges, 2003, Social engagement and attachment: A polygenetic perspective, Ann N Y Acad Sci, 1008, 31, 10.1196/annals.1301.004 · DOI · Paper page

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Weisman, O., Zagoory-Sharon, O., & Feldman, R.
Affiliations
Bar-Ilan University (IL)
Corresponding author
Feldman, Ruth
ORCID
Venue
Biological Psychiatry
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2012-12
Volume
72
Issue
12
Pages
982-989
ISSN
0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.biopsych.2012.06.011
OpenAlex
W2009544015
Cited by
240
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 28 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 28 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 4
FWCI
41.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations
  • Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (2005-273)
  • Israel Science Foundation (#1318/08)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Infant Health and Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
oxytocin, parent-infant bonding, respiratory sinus arrhythmia, social reciprocity, social gaze, salivary oxytocin, still-face paradigm, autism risk, preterm birth, infant social-emotional development
MeSH terms
Adult, Arrhythmia, Sinus, Autonomic Nervous System, Child Development, Double-Blind Method, Electrocardiography, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Fathers, Female, Humans, Infant, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Object Attachment, Oxytocin, Parent-Child Relations, Saliva, Social Behavior, Infant Behavior, Postpartum Period, Young Adult

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.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

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