Oxytocin influences processing of socially relevant cues in the ventral tegmental area of the human brain.
Abstract
Background Evidence accumulates that the neuropeptide oxytocin plays an important role in mediating social interaction among humans and that a dysfunction in oxytocin-modulated brain mechanisms might lie at the core of disturbed social behavior in neuropsychiatric disease. Explanatory models suggest that oxytocin guides social approach and avoidance by modulating the perceived salience of socially meaningful cues. Animal data point toward the ventral tegmental area (VTA) as the brain site where this modulation takes place.Methods We used functional magnetic resonance imaging and a social incentive delay task to test the hypothesis that oxytocin modulates the neural processing of socially relevant cues in the VTA, hereby facilitating behavioral response. Twenty-eight nulliparous women (not taking any hormones) received intranasal oxytocin or placebo in a double-blind randomized clinical trial with a parallel-group design.Results Oxytocin significantly enhanced VTA activation in response to cues signaling social reward (friendly face) or social punishment (angry face). Oxytocin effects on behavioral performance were modulated by individual differences in sociability with enhanced performance in women scoring low but decreased performance in women scoring high on self-reported measures of agreeableness.Conclusions Our data provide evidence that the VTA is the human brain site where oxytocin attaches salience to socially relevant cues. This mechanism might play an important role in triggering motivation to react at the prospect of social reward or punishment.
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Ditzen et al. showed that oxytocin can facilitate positive communication-and reduce stress levels-in romantic couples engaged in an argument.
“In a seminal study, Ditzen et al. [70] showed that oxytocin can facilitate positive communication—and reduce stress levels—in romantic couples engaged in an argument.”
From Could intranasal oxytocin be used to enhance relationships? Research imperatives, clinical policy, and ethical considerations (2013) · cites this paper as [70]
Oxytocin increased the ratio of positive to negative communication behaviors and facilitated a more rapid reduction in cortisol levels after the conflict.
“Oxytocin increased the ratio of positive to negative communication behaviors and facilitated a more rapid reduction in cortisol levels after the conflict.”
From Could intranasal oxytocin be used to enhance relationships? Research imperatives, clinical policy, and ethical considerations (2013) · cites this paper as [70]
The VTA has been suggested as the human brain site where oxytocin attaches salience to socially relevant cues.
“Recently, it has been suggested that the VTA is the human brain site where oxytocin acts to attach salience to socially relevant cues (39)”
From Oxytocin enhances brain reward system responses in men viewing the face of their female partner (2013) · cites this paper as [39]
Following OXT administration, the VTA exhibited increased activation specifically in response to rewarding and aversive cues, but not in response to neutral cues.
“Furthermore, it is noteworthy that following OXT administration, the VTA exhibited increased activation specifically in response to rewarding and aversive cues, but not in response to neutral cues.”
From Convergence of oxytocin and dopamine signalling in neuronal circuits: Insights into the neurobiology of social interactions across species (2024) · cites this paper as Groppe et al., 2013
OXT mediates VTA activation to socially rewarding cues.
“OXT mediated VTA activation to socially rewarding cues (Groppe et al., 2013)”
From Convergence of oxytocin and dopamine signalling in neuronal circuits: Insights into the neurobiology of social interactions across species (2024) · cites this paper as Groppe et al., 2013
Intranasal OXT had contrasting effects on low-sociable and high-sociable participants, enhancing recognition of social cues in low-sociable participants while diminishing it in high-sociable ones.
“The administration of intranasal OXT had contrasting effects on these two groups, enhancing the recognition of social cues in low-sociable participants while diminishing it in high-sociable ones.”
From Convergence of oxytocin and dopamine signalling in neuronal circuits: Insights into the neurobiology of social interactions across species (2024) · cites this paper as Groppe et al., 2013
OFC activation may reflect an augmented salience of social contact.
“It thus appears that OFC activation may reflect an augmented salience of social contact”
From An oxytocin-induced facilitation of neural and emotional responses to social touch correlates inversely with autism traits (2014) · cites this paper as Groppe et al, 2013
OT has been found to increase in-group trust, pro-social behavior and neural reward sensitivity to social stimuli in men and women.
“OT has been found to increase in-group trust, pro-social behavior and neural reward sensitivity to social stimuli in men and women (eg, Groppe et al, 2013;Van IJzendoorn and Bakermans-Kranenburg, 2012;Preckel et al, 2014;Striepens et al, 2014).”
From Intranasal oxytocin administration dampens amygdala reactivity towards emotional faces in male and female PTSD patients (2016) · cites this paper as Groppe et al, 2013
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References 46 · Cited by 218
- Authors
- Groppe, S. E., Gossen, A., Rademacher, L., Hahn, A., Westphal, L., Gründer, G., & Spreckelmeyer, K. N.
- Affiliations
- RWTH Aachen University (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Spreckelmeyer, Katja N.
- Venue
- Biological Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2013-08
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 172-179
- ISSN
- 0006-3223 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2005631411
- Cited by
- 218
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 13
- FWCI
- 40.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SP1274/1-1)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Keywords
- oxytocin, ventral tegmental area, social reward, social punishment, social salience, intranasal oxytocin, sociability, agreeableness, social motivation, nulliparous women
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Cues, Double-Blind Method, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Motivation, Oxygen, Oxytocin, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Personality, Photic Stimulation, Punishment, Surveys and Questionnaires, Reaction Time, Social Behavior, Ventral Tegmental Area, Young Adult
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