Oxytocin increases amygdala reactivity to threatening scenes in females
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is well known for its profound effects on social behavior, which appear to be mediated by an OT-dependent modulation of amygdala activity in the context of social stimuli. In humans, OT decreases amygdala reactivity to threatening faces in males, but enhances amygdala reactivity to similar faces in females, suggesting sex-specific differences in OT-dependent threat-processing. To further explore whether OT generally enhances amygdala-dependent threat-processing in females, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a randomized within-subject crossover design to measure amygdala activity in response to threatening and non-threatening scenes in 14 females following intranasal administration of OT or placebo. Participants' eye movements were recorded to investigate whether an OT-dependent modulation of amygdala activity is accompanied by enhanced exploration of salient scene features. Although OT had no effect on participants' gazing behavior, it increased amygdala reactivity to scenes depicting social and non-social threat. In females, OT may, thus, enhance the detection of threatening stimuli in the environment, potentially by interacting with gonadal steroids, such as progesterone and estrogen.
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Sex differences in the effects of AVP and OXT manipulations on behavioral and brain responses have been reported in adult humans.
“Likewise, sex differences in the effects of AVP and OXT manipulations on behavioral and brain responses have been reported in adult humans (Thompson et al., 2006; Domes et al., 2007, 2010; Lischke et al., 2012; Rilling et al., 2014).”
From Sex-specific modulation of juvenile social play behavior by vasopressin and oxytocin depends on social context (2014) · cites this paper as Lischke et al., 2012
Task-based fMRI has often shown opposite findings in males and females, namely in amygdala activation.
“task-based fMRI has often shown opposite findings in males and females namely in terms of amygdala activation.14, 15”
From Intranasal oxytocin enhances intrinsic corticostriatal functional connectivity in women (2017) · cites this paper as [15]
Previous studies indicate that oxytocin may induce sex-dependent changes in amygdala activation to emotional stimuli, but in opposite directions to the present findings.
“Previous studies on amygdala responses to fearful faces and fearful/threatening scenes (14 -17, 30) and social risk (31) have also indicated that OXT may induce sex-dependent changes in amygdala activation to emotional stimuli.”
From Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them (2016) · cites this paper as [17]
Intranasal OT increases amygdala reactivity in women.
“but increases it in women (11, 12).”
From Oxytocin receptors in the anteromedial bed nucleus of the stria terminalis promote stress-induced social avoidance in female California mice (2018) · cites this paper as [12]
A pragmatic approach guided by prior fMRI OT research was taken for sample size determination.
“A pragmatic approach guided by prior fMRI OT research (Domes et al., 2007(Domes et al., , 2010;;Kirsch et al., 2005;Lischke et al., 2012) was taken for sample size determination reflecting the phase 1 status of OT administration using the Breath Powered device and the complex nature of the study design.”
From Low dose intranasal oxytocin delivered with Breath Powered device dampens amygdala response to emotional stimuli: A peripheral effect-controlled within-subjects randomized dose-response fMRI trial (2016) · cites this paper as Lischke et al., 2012
Intranasal oxytocin produces anxiolytic-like effects as a result of dampened amygdala reactivity to threat.
“Studies of intranasally delivered exogenous OXT (OXT IN ) have shown that the peptide produces anxiolytic-like effects as a result of dampened amygdala reactivity to threat (Eckstein and Hurlemann, 2013;Domes et al, 2007, but see Lischke et al, 2012)”
From Oxytocin Facilitates Pavlovian Fear Learning in Males (2016) · cites this paper as Lischke et al, 2012
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“In healthy women, amygdala activity was found to be enhanced rather than diminished (as in healthy men) in response to fearful faces and threatening scenes, independent of basal plasma levels of oxytocin, estradiol, andprogesterone following intranasal oxytocin administration (85, 89).”
BackgroundSelf-citationBonding after trauma: on the role of social support and the oxytocin system in traumatic stress
Olff, M. (2012) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.3402/ejpt.v3i0.18597 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
“Also, although oxytocin seems to facilitate a positive psychobiological stress response for both men and women, some studies indicate different responses in women (Domes et al., 2010; Kubzansky et al., 2012; Lischke et al., 2012).”
Intranasal oxytocin increases covert attention to positive social cues
Domes, G., Sibold, M., Schulze, L., Lischke, A., Herpertz, S. C., & Heinrichs, M. (2013) · Psychological Medicine · doi:10.1017/s0033291712002565 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
“An exclusively male sample was investigated because of empirical evidence suggesting sex differences in responding to intranasal OT (Domes et al. 2010 ; Lischke et al. 2012b).”
BackgroundSelf-citationSex differences in fear extinction
Velasco, E. R., Florido, A., Milad, M. R., & Andero, R. (2019) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.020 · Cited by 125 · see citing works
“Intranasal OXT produces sexdependent activations in the amygdala and changes in its rsFC (Bethlehem et al., 2017; Domes et al., 2010, 2007; Ebner et al., 2016; Eckstein et al., 2017; Kovács and Kéri, 2015; Lischke et al., 2012; Petrovic et al., 2008; Sripada et al., 2013).”
BackgroundOxytocin facilitates the sensation of social stress
Eckstein, M., Scheele, D., Weber, K., Stoffel‐Wagner, B., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R. (2014) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.22508 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
“Of note, we only tested male volunteers in the present study and since OXT appears to have sex-dimorphic effects (Lischke et al., 2012), an extrapolation of our findings to women is hampered.”
Koch, S. B. J., van Zuiden, M., Nawijn, L., Frijling, J. L., Veltman, D. J., & Olff, M. (2014) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.11.018 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
“Several human neuroimaging studies have shown that OT administration in healthy females resulted in enhanced, rather than attenuated, amygdala reactivity towards threatening scenes (Lischke et al., 2012) and fearful faces (Bertsch et al.”
BackgroundGrace, S. A., Rossell, S. L., Heinrichs, M., Kordsachia, C., & Labuschagne, I. (2018) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.05.031 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
“, 2010), left anterior temporal responses to negative scenes (Lischke et al., 2012), and increased activity within the IFG, MTG and STG in response to infant distress (Voorthuis et al.”
Self-citationOxytocin and the social brain: Neural mechanisms and perspectives in human research
Kanat, M., Heinrichs, M., & Domes, G. (2014) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2013.11.003 · Cited by 122 · see citing works
“In women, OT was found to increase amygdala reactivity to emotional cues in some studies (Domes et al., 2010a; Lischke et al., 2012) and to dampen amygdala activity in other studies (Riem et al.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialSelf-citationOverview of human oxytocin research
Kendrick, K. M., Guastella, A. J., & Becker, B. (2017) · Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences · doi:10.1007/7854_2017_19 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Hormonal contraceptives suppress oxytocin-induced brain reward responses to the partner’s face
Scheele, D., Plota, J., Stoffel-Wagner, B., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R. (2016) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsv157 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
“However, in light of accumulating evidence implying sexual-dimorphic effects of OXT on reproductive behavior, social cognition and emotional processing (Domes et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012; Fischer-Shofty et al., 2013; Lynn et al., 2014; Preckel et al., 2014; Rilling et al., 2014; Scheele et al., 2014b; Yao et al…”
BackgroundOxytocin and Autism: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Preti, A., Melis, M., Siddi, S., Vellante, M., Doneddu, G., & Fadda, R. (2014) · Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1089/cap.2013.0040 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
“In women, increased amygdala reactivity to threatening or fearful scenes was found after oxytocin administration, compared with placebo (Domes et al. 2010; Lischke et al. 2012).”
Oxytocin facilitates social approach behavior in women
Preckel, K., Scheele, D., Kendrick, K. M., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R. (2014) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2014.00191 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Intranasal oxytocin enhances intrinsic corticostriatal functional connectivity in women
Bethlehem, R. A. I., Lombardo, M. V., Lai, M.-C., Auyeung, B., Crockford, S. K., Deakin, J., Soubramanian, S., Sule, A., Kundu, P., Voon, V, et al. (2017) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2017.72 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Quintana, D. S., Westlye, L. T., Alnæs, D., Rustan, Ø. G., Kaufmann, T., Smerud, K. T., Mahmoud, R. A., Djupesland, P. G., & Andreassen, O. A. (2016) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.04.010 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Intranasal oxytocin effects on social cognition: A critique
Evans, S. L., Dal Monte, O., Noble, P., & Averbeck, B. B. (2014) · Brain Research · doi:10.1016/j.brainres.2013.11.008 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Oxytocin and stress-related disorders: neurobiological mechanisms and treatment opportunities
Sippel, L. M., Allington, C. E., Pietrzak, R. H., Harpaz-Rotem, I., Mayes, L. C., & Olff, M. (2017) · Chronic Stress · doi:10.1177/2470547016687996 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Koch, S. B., van Zuiden, M., Nawijn, L., Frijling, J. L., Veltman, D. J., & Olff, M. (2016) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2015.299 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Kinetics of oxytocin effects on amygdala and striatal reactivity vary between women and men
Lieberz, J., Scheele, D., Spengler, F. B., Matheisen, T., Schneider, L., Stoffel‐Wagner, B., Kinfe, T. M., & Hurlemann, R. (2019) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/s41386-019-0582-6 · Cited by 93 · see citing works
Wang, D., Yan, X., Li, M., & Ma, Y. (2017) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsx085 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
“…on STG activity might be independent of the valence of the processes, as we found that IN-OT increased STG activity was contributed by studies examining positive (Voorthuis et al., 2014; Rilling et al., 2014) or negative processes (Domes et al., 2010; Riem et al., 2011; Lischke et al., 2012).”
BackgroundOxytocin effects in schizophrenia: Reconciling mixed findings and moving forward
Bradley, E., & Woolley, J. D. (2017) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2017.05.007 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Oxytocin Facilitates Pavlovian Fear Learning in Males
Eckstein, M., Scheele, D., Patin, A., Preckel, K., Becker, B., Walter, A., Domschke, K., Grinevich, V., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R. (2016) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2015.245 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
“…produces anxiolytic-like effects as a result of dampened amygdala reactivity to threat (Eckstein and Hurlemann, 2013; Domes et al, 2007, but see Lischke et al, 2012), thereby promoting in-group trust (Kosfeld et al, 2005), cooperation (De Dreu et al, 2010) and affiliative behaviors (Hurlemann…”
BackgroundLinks between the neurobiology of oxytocin and human musicality
Harvey, A. R. (2020) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2020.00350 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
“, 2018; Yoon and Kim, 2020), enhancing the detection of threat (Lischke et al., 2012; Bredewold and Veenema, 2018) and facilitating the extinction of fearful or distressing memories (Kirsch et al.”
BackgroundRocchetti, M., Radua, J., Paloyelis, Y., Xenaki, L., Frascarelli, M., Caverzasi, E., Politi, P., & Fusar‐Poli, P. (2014) · Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences · doi:10.1111/pcn.12185 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Oxytocin’s effect on resting-state functional connectivity varies by age and sex
Ebner, N. C., Chen, H., Porges, E., Lin, T., Fischer, H., Feifel, D., & Cohen, R. A. (2016) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2016.03.013 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
“, 2015a) and sex variations in the effects, some of which ave supported sex differences (Lischke et al., 2012; Domes et al., 010; Rilling et al., 2014) and some of which have not (Ellenbogen t al.”
BackgroundResultInfluentialPrehn, K., Kazzer, P., Lischke, A., Heinrichs, M., Herpertz, S. C., & Domes, G. (2013) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/psyp.12042 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Self-citationLonstein, J. S., Maguire, J. L., Meinlschmidt, G., & Neumann, I. D. (2014) · Journal of Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1111/jne.12188 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
Frijling, J. L. (2017) · European Journal of Psychotraumatology · doi:10.1080/20008198.2017.1302652 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Oxytocin enhances attention to the eye region in rhesus monkeys
Dal Monte, O., Noble, P. L., Costa, V. D., & Averbeck, B. B. (2014) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2014.00041 · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Sex-dependent neural effect of oxytocin during subliminal processing of negative emotion faces.
Luo, L., Becker, B., Geng, Y., Zhao, Z., Gao, S., Zhao, W., Yao, S., Zheng, X., Ma, X., Gao, Z., et al. (2017) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.08.079 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
How the brain codes intimacy: The neurobiological substrates of romantic touch
Kreuder, A.-K., Scheele, D., Wassermann, L., Wollseifer, M., Stoffel-Wagner, B., Lee, M. R., Hennig, J., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R. (2017) · Human Brain Mapping · doi:10.1002/hbm.23679 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
“, 2016; Young and Wang, 2004] and human [Ditzen et al., 2013; Feng et al., 2015; Hoge et al., 2014; Lischke et al., 2012; Scheele et al., 2014b; Yao et al., 2014] studies.”
BackgroundCalcagnoli, F., Stubbendorff, C., Meyer, N., de Boer, S. F., Althaus, M., & Koolhaas, J. M. (2015) · Neuropharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2014.11.012 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
Feeser, M., Fan, Y., Weigand, A., Hahn, A., Gärtner, M., Böker, H., Grimm, S., & Bajbouj, M. (2015) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2014.12.015 · Cited by 74 · see citing works
“Some studies indicate that OXT promotes the identification of emotions regardless of valence (Lischke et al., 2012a; Prehn et al., 2013).”
BackgroundVocal emotions influence verbal memory: Neural correlates and interindividual differences
Schirmer, A., Chen, C.-B., Ching, A. S. M., Tan, L., & Hong, R. Y. S. (2012) · Cognitive Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3758/s13415-012-0132-8 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
“By stimulating the release of OT and the transcription of OT receptor genes, estrogen allows the OT system to become more active (Gabor, Phan, Clipperton-Allen, Kavaliers &Choleris 2012; Lischke et al., 2012).”
BackgroundRubin, L. H., Connelly, J. J., Reilly, J. L., Carter, C. S., Drogos, L. L., Pournajafi‐Nazarloo, H., Ruocco, A. C., Keedy, S., Matthew, I., Tandon, N., et al. (2015) · Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2015.10.003 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
“In healthy humans, some opposite sex-related effects have been seen, as intranasal OT reduces neural activation in the amygdala in response to emotional face processing in men (28, 29) but increases amygdala activity in women (30, 31).”
BackgroundScantamburlo, G., Hansenne, M., Geenen, V. G., Legros, J., & Ansseau, M. (2014) · European Psychiatry · doi:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2014.08.007 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
“Interestingly, OT decreases amygdala reactivity to aversive, threat-related faces [2] in males, but increases amygdala reactivity to similar faces in females [10].”
BackgroundTollenaar, M. S., Chatzimanoli, M., van der Wee, N. J. A., & Putman, P. (2013) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.02.018 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
“These effects are found in a healthy male population, and should be replicated in (sub)clinical populations and in females, as gender difference in the response to oxytocin have been found before (Domes et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012b).”
Oxytocin modulates fMRI responses to facial expression in macaques
Liu, N., Hadj-Bouziane, F., Jones, K. B., Turchi, J. N., Averbeck, B. B., & Ungerleider, L. G. (2015) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1508097112 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
“Subsequently, a series of studies examined the effects of OT on responses to facial expressions (3, 16), to conditioned facial expressions (17), and to threatening scenes (18).”
BackgroundOxytocin reduces amygdala responses during threat approach
Radke, S., Volman, I., Kokal, I., Roelofs, K., de Bruijn, E. R. A., & Toni, I. (2017) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.02.028 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
“Interpretational issues Future studies need to consider sex differences in the proessing of emotional stimuli (Domes et al., 2010b; Whittle et al., 011) as well as the sexually dimorphic effects of oxytocin adminstration on amygdala reactivity to threat (Domes et al., 2010a; ischke et al., 2012).”
BackgroundSex- and context-dependent effects of oxytocin on social sharing
Ma, X., Zhao, W., Luo, R., Zhou, F., Geng, Y., Xu, L., Gao, Z., Zheng, X., Becker, B., & Kendrick, K. M. (2018) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2018.08.004 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
“, 2012) but increase them in women (Bertsch et al., 2013b; Domes et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012).”
Oxytocin and anxiety disorders
Gottschalk, M. G., & Domschke, K. (2017) · Current Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences · doi:10.1007/7854_2017_25 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Current findings on the role of oxytocin in the regulation of food intake
Spetter, M. S., & Hallschmid, M. (2017) · Physiology & Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2017.03.007 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
The impact of oxytocin on stress: the role of sex
Love, T. M. (2018) · Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.cobeha.2018.06.018 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Oxytocin sharpens self-other perceptual boundary
Colonnello, V., Chen, F. S., Panksepp, J., & Heinrichs, M. (2013) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2013.08.010 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
“…increased positive valuation of novel social stimuli might be related to oxytocin’s substantial dampening of amygdala activation and reduction of human fear and stress reactivity (Heinrichs et al., 2003; Labuschagne et al., 2010, but see Lischke et al., 2012a for oxytocin effects in women).”
BackgroundInfluentialSelf-citationSilva, R. C., Pisanu, C., Maffioletti, E., Menesello, V., Bortolomasi, M., Gennarelli, M., Baune, B. T., Squassina, A., & Minelli, A. (2023) · European Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1016/j.euroneuro.2023.07.012 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
Oxytocin Selectively Improves Empathic Accuracy: A Replication in Men and Novel Insights in Women
Bartz, J. A., Nitschke, J. P., Krol, S. A., & Tellier, P. (2019) · Biological Psychiatry Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging · doi:10.1016/j.bpsc.2019.01.014 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Kim, Y., Kim, C., Park, S. J., Pyo, J., & Treasure, J. L. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0090721 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
“In humans, oxytocin reduces eye gaze to angry expressions [22], and in healthy females, oxytocin increases amygdala reactivity to both social and non-social threats [23].”
BackgroundThe interplay of oxytocin and sex hormones
Quintana, D. S., Glaser, B. D., Kang, H., Kildal, E. S.-M., Audunsdottir, K., Sartorius, A. M., & Barth, C. (2024) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105765 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
“However, an opposite effect has been found in females who exhibit greater amygdala activity in response to negative stimuli (Frijling et al., 2016; Lischke et al., 2012), which is likely linked to differences in sex hormone signaling.”
How does oxytocin modulate human behavior?
Yao, S., & Kendrick, K. M. (2025) · Molecular Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/s41380-025-02898-1 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
“Initial studies restricted to females reported increased amygdala responses to emotional faces [130] and to social and non-social threatening scenes [131].”
Lischke, A., Lemke, D., Neubert, J., Hamm, A. O., & Lotze, M. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-017-11290-1 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Self-citationOral Contraceptives Impair Complex Emotion Recognition in Healthy Women
Pahnke, R., Mau‐Moeller, A., Junge, M., Wendt, J., Weymar, M., Hamm, A. O., & Lischke, A. (2019) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2018.01041 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Self-citationOxytocin reduces neural activation in response to infant faces in nulliparous young women
Bos, P. A., Spencer, H., & Montoya, E. R. (2018) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsy080 · Cited by 47 · see citing works
“, 2018), and a similar effect was observed for women exposed to socially threatening scenes (Lischke et al., 2012).”
BackgroundLeppanen, J., Ng, K. W., Kim, Y.-R., Tchanturia, K., & Treasure, J. (2018) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2017.08.041 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
“Healthy Acheson et al. 2013 Betw een subje cts 24 IU 45 min Healthy Oxytocin = 22 Placebo = 22 % female = 47.75 Oxytoc in = 28.2 (6.0) Placeb o = 35.5 (21.1) Fear condition ing (late acquisitio n) EMG startle magnitu de Conditio ned stimulus 0.03 [- 0.57 , 0.62 ] No Bertsch et al. 2013 Betw een subje cts 24 IU 45 min…”
BackgroundMethodInfluentialAn oxytocin receptor polymorphism predicts amygdala reactivity and antisocial behavior in men
Waller, R. E., Corral-Frías, N. S., Vannucci, B., Bogdan, R., Knodt, A. R., Hariri, A. R., & Hyde, L. W. (2016) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsw042 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
“For example, OXT administration was associated with decreased amygdala reactivity to fear-inducing stimuli among men (Kirsch et al., 2005; Domes et al., 2007) but increased reactivity women (Domes et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012).”
BackgroundFemale psychopharmacology matters! Towards a sex-specific psychopharmacology
Bolea-Alamanac, B. M., Bailey, S., Lovick, T. A., Scheele, D., & Valentino, R. J. (2018) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881117747578 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Seeley, S. H., Chou, Y., & O'Connor, M. (2018) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.09.011 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
“Prior task-based fMRI studies suggest that IN-OT may modulate neural and behavioral responses in a sex-specific manner (e.g., Domes et al., 2007; Lischke et al., 2012; MacDonald, 2013; Tully et al., 2018).”
Lischke, A., Herpertz, S. C., Berger, C., Domes, G., & Gamer, M. (2017) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsx107 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
“…than decreased HC participants’ amygdala and insula activity irrespective of the scenes’ valence, which is largely consistent with previous studies investigating oxytocininduced changes in stimulus processing in healthy females (Domes et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012b, c; Bertsch et al., 2013).”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluentialSelf-citationMartins, D., Paduraru, M., & Paloyelis, Y. (2021) · British Journal of Pharmacology · doi:10.1111/bph.15451 · Cited by 43 · see citing works
“For instance, although studies in men have consistently reported anxiolytic effects of intranasal OT (Heinrichs et al., 2003; Spengler et al., 2017), studies in women have reported opposite effects (Domes et al., 2007, 2010; Lischke et al., 2012).”
ResultKrause, S., Pokorny, D., Schury, K., Doyen-Waldecker, C., Hulbert, A., Karabatsiakis, A., Kolassa, I., Gündel, H., Waller, C., & Buchheim, A. (2016) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2016.00627 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
“A large number of studies have implicated oxytocin in maternal care (Pedersen et al., 2006), pair bonding (Ross et al., 2009), interpersonal trust (Kosfeld et al., 2005), emotion recognition (Gimpl and Fahrenholz, 2001; Lischke et al., 2012), and empathy (Hurlemann et al., 2010).”
BackgroundEffects of Oxytocin on Women's Aggression Depend on State Anxiety
Campbell, A. C., & Hausmann, M. (2013) · Aggressive Behavior · doi:10.1002/ab.21478 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
“…scenes and faces (Domes et al., 2007; Gamer, Zurowski, & Buchel, 2010; Kirsch et al., 2005; Petrovic, Kalisch, Singer, & Dolan, 2008) but two recent studies found that in women,under similar conditions, amygdala activation is increased by OT (Domes et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012).”
BackgroundResultHuffmeijer, R., Alink, L. R. A., Mattie Tops, A., Grewen, K., Light, K. C., Bakermans‐Kranenburg, M. J., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2012) · Hormones and Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.11.008 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
“…on females' processing of different kinds of socio-emotional stimuli have also revealed effects of oxytocin on neural responses to these stimuli, but the nature of effects has varied (e.g., increased (Lischke et al., 2012) as well as reduced amygdala activity (Riem et al., 2011) has been observed).”
Oxytocin Reduces Face Processing Time but Leaves Recognition Accuracy and Eye-Gaze Unaffected
Hubble, K., Daughters, K., Manstead, A. S. R., Rees, A., Thapar, A., & van Goozen, S. H. M. (2016) · Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society · doi:10.1017/s1355617716000886 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
Oxytocin improves facial emotion recognition in young adults with antisocial personality disorder
Timmermann, M., Jeung, H., Schmitt, R., Boll, S., Freitag, C. M., Bertsch, K., & Herpertz, S. C. (2017) · Psychoneuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.07.483 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Self-citationFischer-Shofty, M., Shamay‐Tsoory, S., & Levkovitz, Y. (2013) · Frontiers in Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnins.2013.00127 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Oxytocin Enhances the Neural Efficiency of Social Perception
Tillman, R. M., Gordon, I., Naples, A. J., Rolison, M. J., Leckman, J. F., Feldman, R., Pelphrey, K. A., & McPartland, J. C. (2019) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2019.00071 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Oxytocin modulates meta-mood as a function of age and sex
Ebner, N. C., Horta, M., Lin, T., Feifel, D., Fischer, H., & Cohen, R. A. (2015) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2015.00175 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
“Of note, the present study did not directly control for the influence of levels of gonadal hormones on the reported effects (Domes et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012).”
ResultThe impact of sex as a biological variable in the search for novel antidepressants
Williams, A. V., & Trainor, B. C. (2018) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2018.05.003 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
“Consistent with these data, imaging studies show that intranasal OT enhances amygdala (Chartoff and Mavrikaki, 2015; Domes et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012) and anterior cingulate responses (Luo et al.”
Quintana, D. S., Dieset, I., Elvsåshagen, T., Westlye, L. T., & Andreassen, O. A. (2017) · Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology · doi:10.1016/j.yfrne.2016.12.004 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
“…decreases amygdala activity in males (Domes et al., 2007; Kirsch et al., 2005; Labuschagne et al., 2010; Petrovic et al., 2008; Quintana et al., 2016b), it appears to increase amygdala activity in females, even when controlling for menstrual cycle phase (Domes et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012).”
BackgroundBang, M., Kang, J. I., Kim, S. J., Park, J. Y., Kim, K. R., Lee, S. Y., Park, K., Lee, E. M., Lee, S., & An, S. K. (2019) · Schizophrenia Bulletin · doi:10.1093/schbul/sbz016 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Oxytocin and emotion processing
Simplicio, M. C. D., & Harmer, C. J. (2016) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881116641872 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
“However, some studies also reported an oxytocin-induced in negative bias in emotional facial-expression processing (Fischer-Shofty et al., 2010; Lischke et al., 2012a).”
BackgroundResult
- Authors
- Lischke, A., Gamer, M., Berger, C., Grossmann, A., Hauenstein, K., Heinrichs, M., Herpertz, S. C., & Domes, G.
- Affiliations
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (DE)
- University of Rostock (DE)
- University of Freiburg (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Lischke, Alexander
- Domes, Gregor
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psychoneuroendocrinology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-09
- Volume
- 37
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 1431-1438
- ISSN
- 0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2042669554
- Cited by
- 194
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 22 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 37.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
- FreiDok plus (Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Keywords
- oxytocin, amygdala, threat processing, sex differences, female, intranasal administration, eye movements, social danger, sex steroids, progesterone, estrogen
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Intranasal, Adult, Amygdala, Double-Blind Method, Emotions, Eye Movements, Facial Expression, Fear, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Oxytocin, Cross-Over Studies, Functional Neuroimaging
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