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Cited by 42Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on BehaviorNeuroendocrine regulation and behaviorPsychedelics and Drug Studies

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate enhances mood and prosocial behavior without affecting plasma oxytocin and testosterone

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Bosch, Oliver G., Eisenegger, Christoph, Gertsch, Jürg, von Rotz, Robin, Dornbierer, Dario, Gachet, M. Salomé, Heinrichs, Markus, Wetter, Thomas C. +2 more·2015·Psychoneuroendocrinology
DOI 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.07.167
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Abstract

Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) is a GHB-/GABAB-receptor agonist. Reports from GHB abusers indicate euphoric, prosocial, and empathogenic effects of the drug. We measured the effects of GHB on mood, prosocial behavior, social and non-social cognition and assessed potential underlying neuroendocrine mechanisms. GHB (20mg/kg) was tested in 16 healthy males, using a randomized, placebo-controlled, cross-over design. Subjective effects on mood were assessed by visual-analogue-scales and the GHB-Specific-Questionnaire. Prosocial behavior was examined by the Charity Donation Task, the Social Value Orientation test, and the Reciprocity Task. Reaction time, memory, empathy, and theory-of-mind were also tested. Blood plasma levels of GHB, oxytocin, testosterone, progesterone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenocorticotropic-hormone (ACTH) were determined. GHB showed stimulating and sedating effects, and elicited euphoria, disinhibition, and enhanced vitality. In participants with low prosociality, the drug increased donations and prosocial money distributions. In contrast, social cognitive abilities such as emotion recognition, empathy, and theory-of-mind, and basal cognitive functions were not affected. GHB increased plasma progesterone, while oxytocin and testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone, DHEA, and ACTH levels remained unaffected. GHB has mood-enhancing and prosocial effects without affecting social hormones such as oxytocin and testosterone. These data suggest a potential involvement of GHB-/GABAB-receptors and progesterone in mood and prosocial behavior.

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  • Performance on the MASC after administration of GHB at 20 mg/kg did not reveal significant results.

    “Performance on the MASC has been studied after the administration of GHB (20 mg/kg), but did not reveal significant results (41).”

    From Modulation of Social Cognition via Hallucinogens and “Entactogens” (2019) · cites this paper as [41]

  • GHB at 20 mg/kg has been reported to increase the tendency to talk.

    “GHB (20 mg/kg) has been reported to increase the tendency to talk (41).”

    From Modulation of Social Cognition via Hallucinogens and “Entactogens” (2019) · cites this paper as [41]

  • GHB at 20 mg/kg was not shown to affect emotional empathy.

    “In contrast to MDMA and LSD, GHB (20 mg/kg) was not shown to affect emotional empathy (41).”

    From Modulation of Social Cognition via Hallucinogens and “Entactogens” (2019) · cites this paper as [41]

  • No effect was found for reciprocity during a Trust Game after GHB administration.

    “No effect was found for reciprocity during a Trust Game after GHB administration (41).”

    From Modulation of Social Cognition via Hallucinogens and “Entactogens” (2019) · cites this paper as [41]

  • After GHB at 20 mg/kg, participants showed more altruistic behavior on the Social Value Orientation Test and a Charity Donation Task, but only after participants who scored high at baseline were excluded from the analysis.

    “After GHB (20 mg/kg) administration, participants also showed more altruistic behavior on the SVO and a Charity Donation Task, but only after participants who scored high at baseline were excluded from the analysis (41).”

    From Modulation of Social Cognition via Hallucinogens and “Entactogens” (2019) · cites this paper as [41]

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Authors
Bosch, O. G., Eisenegger, C., Gertsch, J., von Rotz, R., Dornbierer, D., Gachet, M. S., Heinrichs, M., Wetter, T. C., Seifritz, E., & Quednow, B. B.
Affiliations
  • University of Zurich (CH)
  • University of Vienna (AT)
  • University of Bern (CH)
  • University of Freiburg (DE)
  • University of Regensburg (DE)
Corresponding author
Bosch, Oliver G.
ORCID
Venue
Psychoneuroendocrinology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2015-12
Volume
62
Pages
1-10
ISSN
0306-4530 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.psyneuen.2015.07.167
OpenAlex
W2170730440
Cited by
42
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 2
FWCI
2.32
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Psychoneuroendocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • University of Regensburg Publication Server (University of Regensburg) (acceptedVersion)
  • Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
  • BORIS (University Library Bern) (submittedVersion)
  • FreiDok plus (Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg) (submittedVersion)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
Keywords
gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, GABA-B receptor agonist, mood improvement, prosocial behavior, oxytocin, testosterone, progesterone, social cognition, empathy, theory of mind, emotion recognition, social value orientation, reciprocity, euphoria, neuroendocrine effects
MeSH terms
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Adult, Affect, Aldosterone, Brain, Dehydroepiandrosterone, Emotions, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Hydroxybutyrates, Male, Oxytocin, Progesterone, Social Behavior, Testosterone, Cross-Over Studies, Young Adult

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