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Oxytocin increases autonomic cardiac control: Moderation by loneliness
Abstract
The current study examined the role of perceived social isolation in moderating the effects of oxytocin on cardiac autonomic control in humans. Intranasal administration of 20 IU oxytocin resulted in a significant increase in autonomic (parasympathetic and sympathetic) cardiac control. Specifically, oxytocin increased high frequency heart rate variability, a relatively pure measure of parasympathetic cardiac control, and decreased pre-ejection period, a well-validated marker of enhanced sympathetic cardiac control. Derived metrics of autonomic co-activity and reciprocity revealed that oxytocin significantly increased overall autonomic cardiac control. Furthermore, the effects of oxytocin on cardiac autonomic control were significantly associated with loneliness ratings. Higher levels of loneliness were associated with diminished parasympathetic cardiac reactivity to intranasal oxytocin. The effects of OT on autonomic cardiac control were independent of any effects on circulating pro-inflammatory cytokine or stress hormone levels. Thus, lonely individuals may be less responsive to the salubrious effects of oxytocin on cardiovascular responsivity.
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In the citing paper
“intranasally administered and naturally secreted oxytocin increases HF-HRV in humans27–30.”
From Voluntary upregulation of heart rate variability through biofeedback is improved by mental contemplative training (2019) · cites this paper as [30]
In the citing paper
“intranasal administration of oxytocin has been found to increase HF-HRV in humans27–30”
From Voluntary upregulation of heart rate variability through biofeedback is improved by mental contemplative training (2019) · cites this paper as [30]
In the citing paper
“In humans, OT is mostly known for its functions in childbirth and breastfeeding, but it can also alleviate social stress, for example, by lowering salivary cortisol levels 4 , increasing parasympathetic control of the heart 5 , and attenuating amygdala activation in response to seeing faces 6,7 .”
From A registered replication study on oxytocin and trust (2020) · cites this paper as [5]
In the citing paper
“Furthermore, intranasal oxytocin regulates responses of the HPA axis [42] and the (para)sympathetic nervous system [43].”
From Efficacy of oxytocin administration early after psychotrauma in preventing the development of PTSD: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial (2014) · cites this paper as [43]
In the citing paper
“In the latter study, oxytocin significantly increased overall autonomic cardiac control because it elevated high frequency heart rate variability (HRV) and decreased the pre-ejection period (PEP), a well-known indicator of sympathetic cardiac control.”
In the citing paper
“Our finding of a reduction in PEP, a well-known marker of sympathetic cardiac control [32], in oxytocin-treated patients (Table 2, p = 0.007)”
In the citing paper
“another research group that found intranasal oxytocin to increase the HR and to decrease PEP in healthy individuals [32].”
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Metadata
- Authors
- Norman, G. J., Cacioppo, J. T., Morris, J. S., Malarkey, W. B., Berntson, G. G., & DeVries, A. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Norman, Greg J.
- Venue
- Biological Psychology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2011-03
- Volume
- 86
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 174-180
- ISSN
- 0301-0511 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2100442727
- Semantic Scholar
- 3cf9c7cd259a356839f42ecf143af3a8f6ef8b54
- Cited by
- 211
- References
- 59
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 7.90
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Biological Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Templeton Foundation
- Clinical Research Center at The Ohio State University
- National Center of Research Resources of the NIH (WM) (UL1-RR025755)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- oxytocin, loneliness, social isolation, cardiac autonomic control, heart rate variability, pre-ejection period, intranasal administration, inflammatory cytokines, stress hormones
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Autonomic Nervous System, Blood Pressure, Catecholamines, Electrocardiography, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Loneliness, Male, Models, Biological, Oxytocics, Oxytocin, Predictive Value of Tests, Time Factors, Cytokines, Young Adult
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