Cited by 161Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAutism Spectrum Disorder ResearchFace Recognition and Perception

Oxytocin Promotes Facial Emotion Recognition and Amygdala Reactivity in Adults with Asperger Syndrome

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Domes, Gregor, Kumbier, Ekkehardt, Heinrichs, Markus, Herpertz, Sabine C·2014·Neuropsychopharmacology

Abstract

The neuropeptide oxytocin has recently been shown to enhance eye gaze and emotion recognition in healthy men. Here, we report a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that examined the neural and behavioral effects of a single dose of intranasal oxytocin on emotion recognition in individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS), a clinical condition characterized by impaired eye gaze and facial emotion recognition. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined whether oxytocin would enhance emotion recognition from facial sections of the eye vs the mouth region and modulate regional activity in brain areas associated with face perception in both adults with AS, and a neurotypical control group. Intranasal administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin improved performance in a facial emotion recognition task in individuals with AS. This was linked to increased left amygdala reactivity in response to facial stimuli and increased activity in the neural network involved in social cognition. Our data suggest that the amygdala, together with functionally associated cortical areas mediate the positive effect of oxytocin on social cognitive functioning in AS.

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Crossref · 10.1038/npp.2013.254

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  • Administration of oxytocin increases an individual's ability to interpret other individuals' facial language and tone of voice, as well as body language.

    “Moreover, administration of oxytocin increases an individual’s ability to interpret other individuals’ facial language and tone of voice (Hollander et al., 2003, 2007; Domes et al., 2014; Skuse et al., 2014), as well as body language (Kéri and Benedek, 2009).”

    From The Oxytocinergic System as a Mediator of Anti-stress and Instorative Effects Induced by Nature: The Calm and Connection Theory (2021) · cites this paper as Domes et al., 2014

    The Discussion reports that intranasal oxytocin improved recognition of facial emotions in adults with Asperger syndrome, particularly from the eye region, with a lesser effect in neurotypical controls. The Methods describe a task using pictures of eyes and mouths, not vocal cues; the paper therefore does not support the tone-of-voice portion or the claim's unrestricted reference to individuals generally. The separate body-language clause cites Kéri and Benedek, not Domes et al. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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  • Administration of synthetic oxytocin via nasal spray facilitates proactive social behaviors and increases eye gaze during social interaction.

    “The importance of oxytocin for social interaction between humans is further substantiated by experiments showing that administration of synthetic oxytocin via nasal spray facilitates proactive social behaviors and increases, e.g., eye gaze during social interaction.”

    From The Oxytocinergic System as a Mediator of Anti-stress and Instorative Effects Induced by Nature: The Calm and Connection Theory (2021) · cites this paper as Domes et al., 2014

    The Introduction reports prior findings that oxytocin promotes trusting behavior and increases gaze to human faces. The Discussion describes improved emotion recognition after intranasal oxytocin, but says eye contact might be a prerequisite for social approach behavior. This study did not show that the nasal spray facilitated proactive behavior or increased eye gaze during social interaction. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Visual and auditory stimuli, such as a friendly facial expression or tone of voice, can trigger oxytocin release and effects as part of prelinguistic communication.

    “Additionally, visual and auditory stimuli, such as a friendly facial expression or tone of voice, can trigger oxytocin release and effects as a part of prelinguistic communication (Domes et al., 2014).”

    From The Oxytocinergic System as a Mediator of Anti-stress and Instorative Effects Induced by Nature: The Calm and Connection Theory (2021) · cites this paper as Domes et al., 2014

    The Discussion (page unavailable) reports that intranasally administered oxytocin improved recognition of facial emotions—the opposite direction of influence from the one claimed. Our copy does not address whether facial expressions or voices trigger oxytocin release, or whether that occurs in prelinguistic communication; searches for those terms found no supporting passage. (LLM, conf=0.76)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Oxytocin administration has been shown to increase amygdala activation during face processing specifically in adults with ASD, accompanied by improvements in emotion recognition.

    “Similarly, oxytocin administration has been shown to increase amygdala activation during face processing specifically in adults with ASD, accompanied by improvements in emotion recognition51,52.”
  • Most randomized clinical trials have found some oxytocin effects on ASD symptoms and brain function, but not all trials have reported effects.

    “While most randomized clinical trials have found some oxytocin effects on ASD symptoms33,50–52 and brain function50–52,80,81, not all trials have reported effects82.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Steyer R, Schwenkmezger P, Notz P, Eid M. Der Mehrdimensionale Befindlichkeitsfragebogen MDBF [Multidimensional mood questionnaire] Hogrefe: Göttingen, Germany; 1997. [Google Scholar]

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Authors
Domes, G., Kumbier, E., Heinrichs, M., & Herpertz, S. C.
Affiliations
  • University of Freiburg (DE)
  • University of Rostock (DE)
  • Heidelberg University (DE)
Corresponding author
Domes, Gregor
Venue
Neuropsychopharmacology
Published
2013-09-26
Volume
39
Issue
3
Pages
698-706
ISSN
  • 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-634X
OpenAlex
W2078631866
Cited by
160
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 1
FWCI
21.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Bank (Australian Catholic University) (submittedVersion)
  • FreiDok plus (Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Do1312/1-1)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
Keywords
oxytocin, Asperger syndrome, facial emotion recognition, amygdala reactivity, intranasal administration, gaze, social cognition, face perception, autism spectrum disorder
MeSH terms
Administration, Intranasal, Amygdala, Analysis of Variance, Double-Blind Method, Drug Administration Schedule, Emotions, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Oxygen, Oxytocin, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Photic Stimulation, Bias, Case-Control Studies, Cross-Over Studies, Asperger Syndrome, Recognition, Psychology

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