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Cited by 171Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorTactile and Sensory InteractionsOlfactory and Sensory Function Studies

An oxytocin-induced facilitation of neural and emotional responses to social touch correlates inversely with autism traits

Open access
Scheele, Dirk, Kendrick, Keith M, Khouri, Christoph, Kretzer, Elisa, Schläpfer, Thomas E, Stoffel-Wagner, Birgit, Güntürkün, Onur, Maier, Wolfgang +1 more·2014·Neuropsychopharmacology
DOI 10.1038/npp.2014.78PMC PMC4104346
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Abstract

Social communication through touch and mutual grooming can convey highly salient socio-emotional signals and has been shown to involve the neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) in several species. Less is known about the modulatory influence of OXT on the neural and emotional responses to human interpersonal touch. The present randomized placebo (PLC)-controlled within-subject pharmaco-functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) study was designed to test the hypothesis that a single intranasal dose of synthetic OXT (24 IU) would facilitate both neural and emotional responses to interpersonal touch in a context- (female vs male touch) and trait- (autistic trait load) specific manner. Specifically, the experimental rationale was to manipulate the reward value of interpersonal touch independent of the intensity and type of actual cutaneous stimulation administered. Thus, 40 heterosexual males believed that they were touched by either a man or a woman, although in fact an identical pattern of touch was always given by the same female experimenter blind to condition type. Our results show that OXT increased the perceived pleasantness of female, but not male touch, and associated neural responses in insula, precuneus, orbitofrontal, and pregenual anterior cingulate cortex. Moreover, the behavioral and neural effects of OXT were negatively correlated with autistic-like traits. Taken together, this is the first study to show that the perceived hedonic value of human heterosexual interpersonal touch is facilitated by OXT in men, but that its behavioral and neural effects in this context are blunted in individuals with autistic traits.

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Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In a randomized, placebo-controlled, within-subject pharmaco-fMRI study of 40 heterosexual men, intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) increased the perceived pleasantness of female but not male social touch and enhanced associated neural responses in insula, precuneus, OFC, and pACC. Contrary to the authors’ hypothesis, these behavioral and neural oxytocin effects were negatively correlated with autistic traits, suggesting reduced oxytocin sensitivity in individuals with higher AQ scores.

Key findings

  • Oxytocin increased pleasantness ratings for female touch (OXT: 14.16±2.79 vs PLC: 13.50±2.49; t(39)=2.77, P<0.01, d=0.25) but not male touch (OXT: 8.96±3.29 vs PLC: 9.23±3.09; t(39)=−0.75, P=0.46, d=−0.08); female touch was rated more pleasant overall than male touch (13.83±2.53 vs 9.10±3.00; F(1,39)=64.29, P<0.01, η²=0.62).
  • The treatment-by-sex interaction on pleasantness was significant (F(1,39)=4.14, P=0.049, η²=0.10), with no main effect of treatment (P=0.30).
  • Under oxytocin, female touch produced enhanced neural responses in mid/anterior insula extending to OFC, precuneus/cuneus, right OFC, and pACC; male touch showed oxytocin effects only in right and left OFC.
  • The oxytocin effect on female-touch pleasantness was negatively correlated with autistic traits (AQ: r=−0.32, P=0.047), and AQ scores were negatively associated with oxytocin effects on female touch in PCC and OFC but positively associated with male-touch effects in precentral and medial frontal gyrus.

Methods

  • Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, within-subject pharmaco-fMRI design; 40 healthy, non-smoking heterosexual male adults (mean age 25.75±3.82 years) received intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo 30 min before scanning.
  • Subjects believed they were touched by either a male or female experimenter, but an identical pattern of touch was always administered by the same female experimenter blind to condition; conditions included “Home,” “Close,” and “Touch,” with pleasantness ratings after Close and Touch trials.
  • fMRI data were acquired on a 3T Siemens Trio and analyzed with SPM8; autistic traits were assessed with the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ; mean 13.20±4.64), and analyses included whole-brain and ROI contrasts plus correlations with AQ.

Limitations

  • The authors state they cannot rule out that autistic traits affect CSF oxytocin concentrations or that male and female touch have opposite effects on endogenous oxytocin concentrations; further studies are needed to disentangle oxytocin, endogenous opioids, and neurotransmitters such as dopamine.
  • The paper notes that the sample comprised healthy men with a mean AQ of 13.20±4.64, whereas ASD patient samples typically show peak scores of 35.8±6.5, so findings may not directly generalize to clinical ASD populations.
  • Evident from the text: the study included only heterosexual males, used a single 24 IU oxytocin dose, and relied on AQ as a trait measure rather than clinical diagnosis, limiting conclusions about dose–response and broader populations.

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Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/npp.2014.78

Cites

56 of 56 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 41 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data
    § RESULTS

    The oxytocin effect on the pleasantness rating of the female caress was negatively correlated with autistic traits as measured by the autism-spectrum quotient.

    “However, contrary to expectation, the OXT effect on the pleasantness rating of the female caress was negatively correlated with autistic traits as measured by the AQ (r=−0.32, P=0.047; Figure 1b).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § RESULTS

    For the male touch condition, only an oxytocin effect in the right and left orbitofrontal cortex was evident.

    “For the male touch condition, only an OXT effect in the right (38, 28, −2, k=53, t(39)=4.53, PFWE<0.01) and left OFC (−32, 28, 0, k=31, t(39)=3.03, PFWE=0.04) was evident.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § RESULTS

    Oxytocin did not increase the pleasantness of a caress when subjects thought it was given by a male.

    “OXT further increased the pleasantness of a caress when subjects thought it was given by a female (OXT: 14.16±2.79, PLC: 13.50±2.49, t(39)=2.77, P<0.01, d=0.25), but not when they thought it was given by a male (OXT: 8.96±3.29, PLC: 9.23±3.09, t(39)=−0.75, P=0.46, d=−0.08).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § RESULTS

    Oxytocin increased the pleasantness of a caress when subjects thought it was given by a female.

    “OXT further increased the pleasantness of a caress when subjects thought it was given by a female (OXT: 14.16±2.79, PLC: 13.50±2.49, t(39)=2.77, P<0.01, d=0.25), but not when they thought it was given by a male (OXT: 8.96±3.29, PLC: 9.23±3.09, t(39)=−0.75, P=0.46, d=−0.08).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § RESULTS

    Oxytocin had no effect on the primary somatosensory cortex.

    “OXT had no effect on the primary SI, even if we used Brodmann areas 1, 2, and 3 as separate ROIs with a very lenient significance threshold (P=0.005 uncorrected).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 21
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 24

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § RESULTS

    Oxytocin did not influence neural processing during the close proximity control condition and there was no main treatment effect across all conditions.

    “Likewise, OXT did not influence neural processing during the close proximity control condition ((Female CloseOXT>Female ClosePLC) and (Male CloseOXT>Male ClosePLC), all Ps>0.05) and there was also no main treatment effect across all conditions (all Ps>0.05) demonstrating that the OXT administration did not have non-specific global effects.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § DISCUSSION

    Oxytocin significantly potentiated the pleasantness ratings given in response to the female touch condition, but had no effect when subjects thought they were being touched by a male, and subjects generally rated male touch as mildly aversive.

    “While OXT significantly potentiated the pleasantness ratings given in response to the female touch condition, it had no effect when subjects thought they were being touched by a male, and where they generally rated this latter experience as being mildly aversive.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation
    § DISCUSSION

    Heterosexual men perceive touch by an attractive woman as significantly more pleasant than that by a male, and this is associated with differential responses in the primary somatosensory cortex, despite identical cutaneous stimulation in both cases.

    “We have replicated previous findings (Gazzola et al, 2012) that heterosexual men perceive touch by an attractive woman as significantly more pleasant than that by a male, and that this is associated with differential responses in the primary SI, despite identical cutaneous stimulation in both cases.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gazzola et al, 2012 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § RESULTS

    The autism-spectrum quotient score was negatively associated with the oxytocin effect on female touch in the posterior cingulate cortex and positively with its effect on male touch in a large cluster in the medial frontal gyrus including parts of the precentral gyrus.

    “Furthermore, the AQ score was negatively associated with the OXT effect on female touch (Female TouchOXT>Female TouchPLC) in the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) (16, −40, 30, t(39)=4.87, k=1266, PFWE<0.01) and positively with its effect on male touch in a large cluster in the medial frontal gyrus including parts of the precentral gyrus (−12, −6, 56, t(39)=5.53, k=5495, PFWE<0.01).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § DISCUSSION

    In the present study, AQ score and the OFC response to touch were negatively correlated in the more pleasant female touch condition but positively associated in the more aversive male touch one.

    “Consistent with these results, in the present study AQ score and the OFC response to touch were negatively correlated in the more pleasant female touch condition but positively associated in the more aversive male touch one.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § DISCUSSION

    In the female touch condition there was a negative association between the AQ scores and the OXT effect on PCC activation, whereas in the male touch condition there was a positive association with activation in the precentral gyrus.

    “Thus, in the female touch condition there was a negative association between the AQ scores and the OXT effect on PCC activation, whereas in the male touch condition there was a positive association with activation in the precentral gyrus.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § DISCUSSION

    OXT had no effect on mood and attention.

    “Furthermore, OXT had no effect on mood and attention”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Study design and conductnone given
    § MATERIALS AND METHODS

    The experimenter did not know whether the female or the male experimenter condition was presented.

    “The experimenter did not know whether the female or the male experimenter condition was presented.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § MATERIALS AND METHODS

    Intranasal administration of oxytocin increases oxytocin concentration in the cerebrospinal fluid.

    “The intranasal administration of OXT has been shown to increase OXT concentration in the CSF (Striepens et al, 2013).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Striepens et al, 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation
    § INTRODUCTION

    Exogenous oxytocin administration has wide ranging prosocial effects.

    “Largely as a result of the reported wide ranging prosocial effects of exogenous OXT administration (Eckstein and Hurlemann, 2013; Scheele et al, 2013; Striepens et al, 2011), the OXT system is considered to be a promising drug target for pharmacological treatment of the various symptoms of social impairment in ASD, including reduced interest in giving or receiving social touch.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Eckstein and Hurlemann, 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Scheele et al, 2013 source

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    • cites Striepens et al, 2011 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given
    § MATERIALS AND METHODS

    The study used a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, within-group design.

    “In this study, we applied a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, within-group design.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data
    § MATERIALS AND METHODS

    The subjects could not see their legs or the experimenter because the entire opening of the scanner was covered with a fabric.

    “The entire opening of the scanner was covered with a fabric so that the subjects could not see their legs or the experimenter.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § INTRODUCTION

    Oxytocin has been shown to induce grooming and associative behaviors such as touch and huddling in rodents and monkeys.

    “The evolutionarily conserved neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has been shown to induce grooming and associative behaviors such as touch and huddling in rodents and monkeys (Dunbar, 2010; Winslow and Insel, 1991).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Dunbar, 2010 source

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    • cites Winslow and Insel, 1991 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § INTRODUCTION

    Individuals with autism spectrum disorder show a diminished response to pleasant and neutral somatosensory stimulation and an exaggerated limbic response to unpleasant stimuli.

    “a recent study found that they show a diminished response to pleasant and neutral somatosensory stimulation, and an exaggerated limbic response to unpleasant stimuli (Cascio et al, 2012).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cascio et al, 2012 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § INTRODUCTION

    The primary somatosensory cortex of heterosexual men discriminates between the rewarding experience of being caressed by an attractive woman and the unpleasant feeling of being touched by another man.

    “The SI of heterosexual men discriminates between the rewarding experience of being caressed by an attractive woman or the unpleasant feeling of being touched by another man (Gazzola et al, 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gazzola et al, 2012 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § RESULTS

    Oxytocin specifically influenced the pleasantness ratings of female social touch but had no effect on those of close physical proximity.

    “Thus, OXT specifically influenced the pleasantness ratings of female social touch but had no effect on those of close physical proximity.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation
    § DISCUSSION

    Social touch in general and the oxytocin effect on hedonic value and neural response to human touch in particular are context dependent.

    “Our results strongly corroborate the notion that social touch in general and the OXT effect on hedonic value and neural response to human touch in particular are context dependent (Scheele et al, 2012; Striepens et al, 2014; Striepens et al, 2012).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Scheele et al, 2012 source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Striepens et al, 2014 source

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    • cites Striepens et al, 2012 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § DISCUSSION

    Higher autistic traits were associated with reduced efficacy of oxytocin treatment, suggesting a reduced sensitivity to the peptide.

    “On the contrary, the opposite response pattern was observed with higher autistic traits being associated with reduced efficacy of OXT treatment, suggesting a reduced sensitivity to the peptide.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § DISCUSSION

    The findings confirmed the first hypothesis that oxytocin would selectively augment subjective pleasantness ratings of female but not male touch, and that this would be due to the experience of touch and not simply as a result of close female proximity.

    “Our findings confirmed our first hypothesis, that OXT would selectively augment subjective pleasantness ratings of female but not male touch, and that this would be due to the experience of touch and not simply as a result of close female proximity.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § RESULTS

    The oxytocin effect on neural substrates of social touch was differentially modulated by autistic traits in the female and male touch conditions, with high autism-spectrum quotient scores associated with reduced responses to female touch in posterior cingulate cortex and orbitofrontal cortex but with increased ones to male touch in the precentral and medial frontal gyrus.

    “Thus, the OXT effect on neural substrates of social touch was differentially modulated by autistic traits in the female and male touch conditions, with high AQ scores being associated with reduced responses to female touch in PCC and OFC but with increased ones to male touch in the precentral and medial frontal gyrus.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    Elevated concentrations of endogenous oxytocin have been reported following both pleasant experiences such as massage or sexual intercourse, and unpleasant ones such as physical or psychological stress.

    “Elevated concentrations of endogenous OXT have been reported following both pleasant experiences such as massage or sexual intercourse (Borrow and Cameron, 2012; Morhenn et al, 2012), and unpleasant ones such as physical or psychological stress (Danevova et al, 2013; Sanders et al, 1990; Taylor et al, 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Borrow and Cameron, 2012 source

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    • cites Morhenn et al, 2012

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    • cites Danevova et al, 2013 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § Abstract

    The perceived hedonic value of human heterosexual interpersonal touch is facilitated by oxytocin in men, but its behavioral and neural effects in this context are blunted in individuals with autistic traits.

    “Taken together, this is the first study to show that the perceived hedonic value of human heterosexual interpersonal touch is facilitated by OXT in men, but that its behavioral and neural effects in this context are blunted in individuals with autistic traits.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    OFC neurons have been shown to track salience.

    “OFC neurons have been shown to track salience”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ogawa et al, 2013 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    The pACC has one of the highest opioid receptor binding densities in the brain.

    “the pACC has one of the highest opioid receptor binding densities in the brain”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Vogt et al, 1995 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    Increased ratings for 'sad and rejected' was correlated with opioidergic deactivation in the pACC.

    “increased ratings for ‘sad and rejected' was correlated with opioidergic deactivation in the pACC”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hsu et al, 2013 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    The anterior insula, the ACC, and the OFC are functionally connected.

    “The anterior insula, the ACC, and the OFC are functionally connected”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cauda et al, 2011 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    The PCC has been previously associated with pleasant touch.

    “The PCC has been previously associated with pleasant touch”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Hua et al, 2008 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    In monkeys, electrical stimulation of touch-sensitive neurons in the precentral gyrus elicits defensive-like movements.

    “In monkeys, electrical stimulation of touch-sensitive neurons in the precentral gyrus elicits defensive-like movements”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Graziano et al, 2002 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    In humans, a tactile response inhibition task has identified this region's involvement in generating the positive event-related potential (P300).

    “in humans, a tactile response inhibition task has identified this region's involvement in generating the positive event-related potential (P300)”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Huster et al, 2010 source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § DISCUSSION

    OXT facilitates both a self-related orientation and a greater salience of social cues which, under positive circumstances, result in a more pleasant experience of social touch.

    “Taken together, our fMRI results may therefore suggest that OXT facilitates both a self-related orientation and a greater salience of social cues which, under positive circumstances, result in a more pleasant experience of social touch.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    Voos et al. (2013) brushed the right forearm instead of both legs, did not instruct their subjects to rate the pleasantness of each trial in the scanner, and more than half of their subjects were female.

    “For example, Voos et al (2013) brushed the right forearm instead of both legs, they did not instruct their subjects to rate the pleasantness of each trial in the scanner and, perhaps most importantly, more than half of their subjects were female.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Voos et al, 2013 source

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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § DISCUSSION

    The absence of comparable associations between AQ scores and OFC activation in the PLC session in the current study may reflect both methodological and subject differences.

    “The absence of comparable associations between AQ scores and OFC activation in the PLC session in the current study may reflect both methodological and subject differences.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § DISCUSSION

    The consequences of a more intense experience are not only moderated by the valence of the context, but also depend on pre-existing personality traits.

    “The consequences of a more intense experience are not only moderated by the valence of the context, but also depend on pre-existing personality traits.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    The precuneus has been implicated in mediating self-consciousness and self-referential processing.

    “the precuneus has been implicated in mediating self-consciousness and self-referential processing”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cabanis et al, 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    Aberrant social reward of touch in individuals with ASD has been associated with a diminished BOLD response to pleasant and an exaggerated limbic response to unpleasant stimuli.

    “Aberrant social reward of touch in individuals with ASD has been associated with a diminished BOLD response to pleasant and an exaggerated limbic response to unpleasant stimuli”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Cascio et al, 2012 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    Diminished OFC activation in response to touch in healthy adults with higher autistic traits has been reported previously.

    “Diminished OFC activation in response to touch in healthy adults with higher autistic traits has been reported previously”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Voos et al, 2013 source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationnone given
    § DISCUSSION

    Moderating effects of ASD symptoms on responsivity to OXT treatment may be domain specific.

    “Notwithstanding, moderating effects of ASD symptoms on responsivity to OXT treatment may be domain specific.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S3 (load-bearing).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § DISCUSSION

    OXT may provide the glue for the various and diverse forms of bonding that characterize us as a social species.

    “By facilitating the hedonic value of pleasant social contact as a potential by-product of an increased self-referential processing and salience of social cues, OXT may provide the glue for the various and diverse forms of bonding that characterize us as a social species.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § DISCUSSION

    ASDs have been reported to represent the extreme end of a normal distribution of autistic-like traits, suggesting that these disorders, and autistic-like traits, are etiologically linked.

    “ASDs have been reported to represent the extreme end of a normal distribution of autistic-like traits, suggesting that these disorders, and autistic-like traits, are etiologically linked”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Robinson et al, 2011 source

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    • cites Lundstrom et al, 2012 source

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § DISCUSSION

    Assuming a linear dose-response relationship, an almost three-fold higher OXT dose would be required to reach similar effect sizes in subjects with higher AQ scores (d=0.15) than in those with lower ones (d=0.42).

    “assuming a linear dose–response relationship, an almost three-fold higher OXT dose would be required to reach similar effect sizes in our subjects with higher AQ scores (d=0.15) than in those with lower ones (d=0.42).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: A linear dose–response relationship for OXT holds.
40 of 40

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The modulatory influence of oxytocin on neural and emotional responses to human interpersonal touch is not yet known, and no study has yet investigated whether oxytocin influences subjective experience of social touch in a context-dependent manner and the neural circuits associated with it.

    “Less is known about the modulatory influence of OXT on the neural and emotional responses to human interpersonal touch.”
    “However, no study has yet investigated whether it influences our subjective experience of social touch in a context-dependent manner and the neural circuits associated with it.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    A linear dose–response relationship for OXT holds.

    “assuming a linear dose–response relationship”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    An altered emotional salience of male touch does not necessarily become evident in pleasantness ratings.

    “an altered emotional salience of male touch does not necessarily become evident in pleasantness ratings”
3 of 3

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Statistics recomputed

Every reported test result, recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom. A result shows as not adding up only once an independent check has confirmed it.

  • ConsistentF(1, 39) = 64.29reported p < .01 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1,39)=64.29, p < .01”

  • ConsistentF(1, 39) = 4.14reported p = .049 · recomputed p = .049

    “F(1,39)=4.14, p = .049”

  • Consistentt(39) = 2.77reported p < .01 · recomputed p = .009

    “t(39)=2.77, p < .01”

  • Consistentt(39) = -0.75reported p = .46 · recomputed p = .458

    “t(39)=−0.75, p = .46”

  • ConsistentF(1, 39) = 4.47reported p = .04 · recomputed p = .041

    “F(1,39)=4.47, p = .04”

5 of 5

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

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Authors
Scheele, D., Kendrick, K. M., Khouri, C., Kretzer, E., Schläpfer, T. E., Stoffel-Wagner, B., Güntürkün, O., Maier, W., & Hurlemann, R.
Affiliations
  • University of Bonn (DE)
  • University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (CN)
  • Ruhr University Bochum (DE)
Corresponding author
Hurlemann, René
ORCID
Venue
Neuropsychopharmacology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2014-04-02
Volume
39
Issue
9
Pages
2078-2085
ISSN
  • 0893-133X (ISSN-L)
  • 1740-634X
DOI
10.1038/npp.2014.78
PMC
PMC4104346
OpenAlex
W2138834433
Semantic Scholar
790910db6883ff9e20b942a5f3591bf4154464be
Cited by
171
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 21 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 6
FWCI
32.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Neuropsychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DZNE Pub (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (91132720)
  • Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
Keywords
oxytocin, interpersonal touch, autistic traits, social touch, perceived hedonic value, insula, precuneus, orbitofrontal cortex, pregenual anterior cingulate cortex, reward processing, neuroimaging
MeSH terms
Administration, Intranasal, Adult, Autistic Disorder, Brain, Brain Mapping, Central Nervous System Agents, Double-Blind Method, Emotions, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Oxytocin, Reward, Heterosexuality, Touch Perception

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Claims read by deepseek-v4.1-flash under definition version 3 (extract-v3) on 2026-10-09.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-09.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

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