CoChat
Sign Up
Cited by 89Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorNeural and Behavioral Psychology StudiesExperimental Behavioral Economics Studies

Oxytocin modulates social value representations in the amygdala

Open access
Liu, Yunzhe, Li, Shiyi, Lin, Wanjun, Li, Wenxin, Yan, Xinyuan, Wang, Xuena, Pan, Xinyue, Rutledge, Robb B. +1 more·2019·Nature Neuroscience
DOI 10.1038/s41593-019-0351-1
Open this paper in CoChat — free accountOpen PDF

Abstract

Humans exhibit considerable variation in how they value their own interest relative to the interests of others. Deciphering the neural codes representing potential rewards for self and others is crucial for understanding social decision-making. Here we integrate computational modeling with functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the neural representation of social value and the modulation by oxytocin, a nine-amino acid neuropeptide, in participants evaluating monetary allocations to self and other (self-other allocations). We found that an individual's preferred self-other allocation serves as a reference point for computing the value of potential self-other allocations. In more prosocial participants, amygdala activity encoded a social-value-distance signal; that is, the value dissimilarity between potential and preferred allocations. Intranasal oxytocin administration amplified this amygdala representation and increased prosocial behavior in more individualistic participants but not in more prosocial ones. Our results reveal a neurocomputational mechanism underlying social-value representations and suggest that oxytocin may promote prosociality by modulating social-value representations in the amygdala.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

The paper proposes that people evaluate self–other monetary allocations relative to an individual-specific preferred allocation, or social reference point, with social value distance encoded in the amygdala in prosocials. Intranasal oxytocin selectively increased prosociality and amplified amygdala social-value-distance coding in individualists, not prosocials.

Key findings

  • The social reference model best explained preference ratings across the fMRI, post-scan, online-replication, and oxytocin-replication experiments; under placebo, prosocials had a more prosocial reference point φ than individualists (fMRI: F(1,59)=33.49, p=2.91×10⁻⁷, η²=0.36; online: F(1,313)=92.14, p=2.71×10⁻¹⁹).
  • Under placebo, amygdala activity encoded social value distance more strongly in prosocials than individualists (peak MNI 20/−10/−12; ROI t(58)=2.75, p=0.008), whereas right lOFC encoded it more in individualists than prosocials (t(58)=−2.46, p=0.017).
  • Oxytocin selectively shifted φ toward more prosocial allocations in individualists (t(57)=2.21, p=0.031) but not prosocials (t(64)=−1.54, p=0.13); Social Disposition × Treatment interaction F(1,121)=6.35, p=0.013, η²=0.05, replicated in a within-subjects experiment (F(1,78)=6.73, p=0.011, η²=0.079).
  • Oxytocin amplified the amygdala social-value-distance representation in individualists (Social Disposition × Treatment F(1,112)=12.536, p=5.83×10⁻⁴, η²=0.057; right amygdala peak FWE p=0.02), and trial-by-trial amygdala responses predicting preference ratings showed the same interaction (F(1,115)=6.722, p=0.011, η²=0.057).

Methods

  • fMRI experiment: 282 male college students screened; 127 qualified; 125 included in behavioral analysis and 116 in fMRI analysis after exclusions. Double-blind placebo-controlled between-subjects design; 24 IU intranasal oxytocin or placebo administered about 35 min before scanning. Participants performed a monetary outcome-pair evaluation task with pairs on a circle (radius=5, angles −90° to 180°), rating preference on a 4-point scale over two sessions of 90 trials.
  • Model-based fMRI: social value distance was defined as 1−cos(θ(t)−φ), where φ is the individual-specific reference point from the social reference model. GLMs compared this model against egocentric, allocentric, equality, self-outcome, other-outcome, and inequality models; SPM12 random-effects analyses used FWE correction, with ROIs including amygdala and right lOFC.
  • Replications: an online behavioral experiment (n=315; 160 prosocials, 155 individualists) and an oxytocin-replication experiment (n=80 males; 40 prosocials, 40 individualists) using a within-subjects crossover design and a modified 3-circle task (radii 5, 6, 9; θ intervals 5°, 17°, 23°).

Limitations

  • Stated: the right lOFC social-value-distance effect did not survive whole-brain cluster-level correction and was not predictive of trial-by-trial preference ratings or modulated by oxytocin; data distribution was assumed normal but not formally tested.
  • Stated: oxytocin reduced amygdala social-value-distance representation in prosocials with only a trend toward reduced prosociality; the authors suggest social desirability or social pressure may prevent neural effects from translating into explicit behavior.
  • Stated/evident: only male participants were recruited to avoid sex differences in oxytocin effects, limiting generalizability; the fMRI oxytocin effect used a between-subjects design, and the authors note that post hoc individual-difference modulators risk Type I error, though they examined a single a priori specified modulator.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/s41593-019-0351-1

Cites

64 of 64 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 76 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Intranasal oxytocin did not significantly increase the reference-point φ in prosocials.

    “Interestingly, we found a significant Social Disposition x Treatment interaction (F(1,121)=6.35,p=0.013, ɳ 2 =0.05,Fig. 2a), as intranasal oxytocin significantly increased the reference-point φ towards a preference for more prosocial allocations in individualists (independent-samples t-test, t(57)=2.21,p=0.031), but not in prosocials (t(64)=-1.54,p=0.13,Fig. 2a), indicating that oxytocin”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The individual-specific reference-point φ was independent of baseline salivary oxytocin.

    “The individual-specific reference-point φ was independent of baseline salivary oxytocin (r=0.03,p=0.75) (Supplementary Fig. 4).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    The social reference model most parsimoniously explains behavior consistent with social values being encoded as distance to an individual-specific reference-point.

    “We first show that our social reference model most parsimoniously explains behavior consistent with social values being encoded as distance to an individual-specific reference-point.”
    • Also stated in: § Representing social values according to an individual-specific reference-point · boosted
      “The social reference model was consistently the most parsimonious model across all studies: the fMRI during-scan experiment, the post-scan behavioral experiment, the behavioral online-replication experiment and the oxytocin-replication experiment (supported by model comparisons using variational free energy as the model selection criteria, Supplementary Fig. 2).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The angle between any two potential allocations is both necessary and sufficient to quantify their relationship.
  • Findingown data

    There was a significant negative correlation between SVO scores and the size of oxytocin effect on social reference-point.

    “We expected a negative correlation between SVO scores and the oxytocin effect on prosociality, and indeed found a significant negative correlation between SVO scores and the size of oxytocin effect on social reference-point (r=-0.23,p=0.041,Fig. 2f), suggesting that the more selfish the individual, the stronger the effect of oxytocin on promoting a prosocial reference-point.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data

    Intranasal oxytocin significantly increased the reference-point φ towards a preference for more prosocial allocations in individualists.

    “Interestingly, we found a significant Social Disposition x Treatment interaction (F(1,121)=6.35,p=0.013, ɳ 2 =0.05,Fig. 2a), as intranasal oxytocin significantly increased the reference-point φ towards a preference for more prosocial allocations in individualists (independent-samples t-test, t(57)=2.21,p=0.031), but not in prosocials (t(64)=-1.54,p=0.13,Fig. 2a), indicating that oxytocin”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 54
  • May combine two claims. 48
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 3

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

    Findingown data

    There was no effect of scanning order or partner type on φ.

    “Furthermore, there was no effect of scanning order or partner type on φ (Supplementary Fig. 6).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the fMRI experiment, participants most preferred self-gain/other-gain pairs and least preferred self-loss/other-gain pairs.

    “In general, participants most preferred self-gain/other-gain pairs and least preferred self-loss/other-gain pairs, suggesting that participants considered the interests of both self and partner.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    There was a significant main effect of Context on φ across all participants, with decreased prosociality in the competitive context.

    “Furthermore, the ANOVA on φ (Fig. 2a, d), with Social Disposition and Treatment as between-subjects factors and Context as a within-subjects factor, revealed the expected significant main effect of Context (F(1,121)=145.92,p=1.59×10 -22 , ɳ 2 =0.55), with decreased prosociality in the competitive context.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    There was a significant Social Disposition x Treatment interaction on φ across contexts.

    “There was a significant Social Disposition x Treatment interaction (F(1,121)=5.28,p=0.023, ɳ 2 =0.042).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Intranasal oxytocin selectively amplified the neural representation of social value distance in the amygdala of individualists, but not prosocials.

    “Intranasal oxytocin selectively amplified the neural representation of social value distance in the amygdala of individualists, but not prosocials.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The amygdala responses in prosocials negatively predicted trial-by-trial preference ratings under placebo, which was reduced by oxytocin.

    “The amygdala responses in prosocials negatively predicted trial-by-trial preference ratings under placebo, which was reduced by oxytocin.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Social value distance is encoded by the amygdala in prosocials: the more dissimilar a potential allocation to the individual-specific reference-point (i.e., their preferred allocation), the greater the amygdala response.

    “Social value distance is encoded by the amygdala in prosocials: the more dissimilar a potential allocation to the individual-specific reference-point (i.e., their preferred allocation), the greater the amygdala response.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Findingown data

    We found some evidence for a social value distance representation in the right lOFC in individualists relative to prosocials, although this activity did not survive whole-brain cluster-level correction and was not predictive of trial-by-trial preference ratings or modulated by oxytocin.

    “We also found some evidence for a social value distance representation in the right lOFC in individualists relative to prosocials, which may reflect a distinct coding scheme for representing social values, although this activity did not survive whole-brain cluster-level correction and was not predictive of trial-by-trial preference ratings or modulated by oxytocin.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    We replicated the selective oxytocin effects on promoting prosociality (i.e., φ) in individualists in the whole sample (40 prosocials and 40 individualists), as well as in the first 20 prosocials and 20 individualists.

    “We replicated the selective oxytocin effects on promoting prosociality (i.e., φ) in individualists in the whole sample (40 prosocials and 40 individualists), as well as in the first 20 prosocials and 20 individualists (as estimated by the G*Power analysis).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    We consistently found across multiple studies that the selective effect of oxytocin on promoting prosociality in individualists was present in both competitive and non-competitive contexts, in both within-and between-subjects designs and with different experimental task designs.

    “We consistently found across multiple studies that the selective effect of oxytocin on promoting prosociality in individualists was present in both competitive and non-competitive contexts, in both within-and between-subjects designs and with different experimental task designs.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Findingown data

    There was no significant main effect or interaction effect between Social Disposition and Treatment on the salivary oxytocin level.

    “There was no significant main effect or interaction effect between Social Disposition and Treatment on the salivary oxytocin level.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    In the online-replication experiment, the social reference-point derived from the social reference model was correlated with individuals' SVO scores (r=0.55, p=4.38×10 -26, 95% CI=[0.47,0.62]), suggesting a more prosocial reference-point in prosocials both at a group and individual level.

    “Moreover, in the online-replication experiment, the social reference-point derived from the social reference model was correlated with individuals' SVO scores (r=0.55,p=4.38×10 -26 , 95% CI=[0.47,0.62], Fig. 2c), suggesting a more prosocial reference-point in prosocials both at a group and individual level.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Amygdala responses were not related to absolute value differences or deviations from the allocentric reference.

    “Amygdala responses were not related to absolute value differences or deviations from the allocentric reference (Supplementary Fig.9e-l, all p>0.5).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The pattern of more prosocial reference-points in prosocials than individualists was similarly observed in the competitive context in the post-scan experiment and in the oxytocin-replication experiment.

    “The pattern of more prosocial reference-points in prosocials than individualists was similarly observed in the competitive context in the post-scan experiment (F(1,59)=12.59,p=7.69×10 -4 , ɳ 2 =0.18,Fig. 2d) and in the oxytocin-replication experiment (F(1,78)=28.27,p=9.78×10 -7 , ɳ 2 =0.27,Fig. 2e).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    There was no significant mood change overall and no significant interaction effect with division of Social Disposition or Treatment.

    “There was no significant mood change overall and no significant interaction effect with division of Social Disposition or Treatment (Supplementary Table 4).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    More prosocial reference-points for social value representations in prosocials than individualists in the fMRI during-scan experiment, in the online-replication experiment, in the fMRI post-scan experiment, and in the oxytocin-replication experiment.

    “More prosocial reference-points for social value representations in prosocials than individualists in the fMRI during-scan experiment (a, 31 prosocials and 30 individualists, p=2.91×10 -7 , under placebo), in the online-replication experiment (b, n = 315, 160 prosocials and 155 individualists, p=2.71×10 -19 ), in the fMRI post-scan experiment (d, in a competitive context via framing the payoff in”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Intranasal oxytocin increased prosociality in individualists but not in prosocials, by moving their reference-point φ towards a preference for more prosocial allocations in the fMRI during-scan experiment and in the oxytocin-replication experiment.

    “Moreover, intranasal oxytocin increased prosociality in individualists but not in prosocials, by moving their reference-point φ towards a preference for more prosocial allocations in the fMRI during-scan experiment (a, n = 125, individualists under placebo: n = 30 males, under oxytocin: n = 29 males; prosocials under placebo: n = 31 males, under oxytocin: n = 35 males, p = 0.013) and in the oxyto”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • The quote only partly states this claim.

    Findingown data

    The social reference model outperforms other models.

    “We conducted an online experiment with a large sample (n = 315, 132 males, 160 prosocials, mean age = 22.40 ± 3.27; 155 individualists, mean age = 22.48 ± 3.30) to provide a replication for our finding that the social reference model outperforms other models.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    People care about both themselves and others' interests, but with considerable individual variation in how they weigh equity of self-other gain and cooperation with others.

    “Recent studies of social decision-making find that people are rarely purely self-centered or altruistic: they care about both themselves and others' interests, but with considerable individual variation in how they weigh equity of self-other gain 3 and cooperation with others 3,4 during their decision-making.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [3] Haruno, M. & Frith, C. D. Activity in the amygdala elicited by unfair divisions predicts social value orientation. Nat. Neurosci. 13, 160–161 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [4] Declerck, C. H., Boone, C. & Kiyonari, T. The effect of oxytocin on cooperation in a prisoner’s dilemma depends on the social context and a person’s social value orientation. Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci. 9, 802–809 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    Amygdala activity tracks the subjective values of rewards and punishments and reflects individual preferences.

    “Recent studies have shown that amygdala activity tracks the subjective values of rewards and punishments 14 and reflects individual preferences 15 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [14] Paton, J. J., Belova, M. A., Morrison, S. E. & Salzman, C. D. The primate amygdala represents the positive and negative value of visual stimuli during learning. Nature 439, 865–870 (2006). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [15] De Martino, B., Camerer, C. F. & Adolphs, R. Amygdala damage eliminates monetary loss aversion. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 107, 3788–3792 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    Individual differences in social preference may stem from individual variation in preferred social allocations and differences in neural representations of potential relative to preferred allocations.

    “Individual differences in social preference may stem from individual variation in preferred social allocations and differences in neural representations of potential relative to preferred allocations [5][6][7] .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [5][6][7]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The amygdala has a large number of oxytocin and dopamine receptors and is strongly implicated in social cognition and social decision-making.

    “The amygdala, with a large number of oxytocin and dopamine receptors 11,12 and strongly implicated in social cognition and social decision-making 3,13 , is a prominent candidate to encode deviations from a social reference-point.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [11] Boccia, M. L., Petrusz, P., Suzuki, K., Marson, L. & Pedersen, C. A. Immunohistochemical localization of oxytocin receptors in human brain. Neurosci. 253, 155–164 (2013). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [12] Haber, S. N. & Knutson, B. The reward circuit: linking primate anatomy and human imaging. Neuropsychopharmacology 35, 4–26 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [3] Haruno, M. & Frith, C. D. Activity in the amygdala elicited by unfair divisions predicts social value orientation. Nat. Neurosci. 13, 160–161 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [13] Bickart, K. C., Dickerson, B. C. & Barrett, L. F. The amygdala as a hub in brain networks that support social life. Neuropsychologia 63, 235–248 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The amygdala encodes error signals that represent the differences between expectations and outcomes.

    “Notably, the amygdala has been suggested to encode error signals that represent the differences between expectations and outcomes 9 , a quantity that is fundamental for value-based decision-making 2 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [9] Gottfried, J. A., O’Doherty, J. & Dolan, R. J. Encoding predictive reward value in human amygdala and orbitofrontal cortex. Science 301, 1104–1107 (2003). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin plays an important role in social interaction and social decision-making, including promoting social motivation, increasing trust and cooperation with own-group members, and reducing social distance.

    “Oxytocin has been found to play an important role in social interaction and social decision-making 22 , including promoting social motivation 23 , increasing trust and cooperation with own-group members 24 , and reducing social distance 25 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [22] Zink, C. F. & Meyer-Lindenberg, A. Human neuroimaging of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition. Horm. Behav. 61, 400–409 (2012). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [23] Alvares, G. A., Hickie, I. B. & Guastella, A. J. Acute effects of intranasal oxytocin on subjective and behavioral responses to social rejection. Exp. Clin. Psychopharmacol. 18, 316–321 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [24] Ma, Y., Liu, Y., Rand, D. G., Heatherton, T. F. & Han, S. Opposing oxytocin effects on intergroup cooperative behavior in intuitive and reflective minds. Neuropsychopharmacology 40, 2379–2387 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Individual differences in social behavior result in part from differences in the neuromodulatory regulation of neural circuits.

    “It has also been suggested that individual differences in social behavior result in part from differences in the neuromodulatory regulation of neural circuits 6 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [6] Chang, S. W. et al. Neuroethology of primate social behavior. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 110, 10387–10394 (2013). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    In humans, intranasal oxytocin produces stronger effects on cooperation in less socially proficient individuals.

    “In humans, it has been suggested that individual differences in oxytocin effects are adaptive depending on an individual's social disposition 21 such that intranasal oxytocin produces stronger effects on cooperation in less socially proficient individuals 4 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [21] Ma, Y., Shamay-Tsoory, S., Han, S. & Zink, C. F. Oxytocin and social adaptation: Insights from neuroimaging studies of healthy and clinical populations. Trends Cogn. Sci. 20, 133–145 (2016). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [4] Declerck, C. H., Boone, C. & Kiyonari, T. The effect of oxytocin on cooperation in a prisoner’s dilemma depends on the social context and a person’s social value orientation. Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci. 9, 802–809 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Previous studies have linked inhibition of self-interest and top-down control of selfish behavior with right lateral prefrontal cortex, such as right lOFC and right dlPFC.

    “Previous studies have linked inhibition of self-interest and top-down control of selfish behavior with right lateral prefrontal cortex 17 , such as right lOFC 18,19 and right dlPFC 20 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [17] Knoch, D. & Fehr, E. Resisting the power of temptations: the right prefrontal cortex and self-control. Ann. NY Acad. Sci. 1104, 123–134 (2007). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [18] Spitzer, M., Fischbacher, U., Herrnberger, B., Grön, G. & Fehr, E. The neural signature of social norm compliance. Neuron 56, 185–196 (2007). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [19] Rudebeck, P. H., Saunders, R. C., Prescott, A. T., Chau, L. S. & Murray, E. A. Prefrontal mechanisms of behavioral flexibility, emotion regulation and value updating. Nat. Neurosci. 16, 1140–1145 (2013). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [20] Haruno, M., Kimura, M. & Frith, C. D. Activity in the nucleus accumbens and amygdala underlies individual differences in prosocial and individualistic economic choices. J. Cogn. Neurosci. 26, 1861–1870 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    The pattern of results was consistent with the amygdala providing an input signal for preferences, and fluctuations in the amygdala responses can explain trial-by-trial deviations from average preferences.

    “This pattern of results was consistent with the amygdala providing an input signal for preferences, and fluctuations in the amygdala responses can explain trial-by-trial deviations from average preferences.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    The vmPFC is typically associated with value computation and value-guided choice.

    “Given that the vmPFC is typically associated with value computation and value-guided choice 34,35 , these results may suggest a potential amygdala pathway linked to social preferences and social value-based decisions, which can be modulated by oxytocin in individualists.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [34] Lim, S. L., O’Doherty, J. P. & Rangel, A. The decision value computations in the vmPFC and striatum use a relative value code that is guided by visual attention. J. Neurosci. 31, 13214–13223 (2011). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [35] Jocham, G., Hunt, L. T., Near, J. & Behrens, T. E. A mechanism for value-guided choice based on the excitation-inhibition balance in prefrontal cortex. Nat. Neurosci. 15, 960–961 (2012). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    TPJ activity encodes the subjective value of altruistic choice and the value of generosity.

    “For example, TPJ activity encodes the subjective value of altruistic choice and the value of generosity [36][37][38] .”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [36][37][38]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    These results may suggest a potential amygdala pathway linked to social preferences and social value-based decisions, which can be modulated by oxytocin in individualists.

    “Given that the vmPFC is typically associated with value computation and value-guided choice 34,35 , these results may suggest a potential amygdala pathway linked to social preferences and social value-based decisions, which can be modulated by oxytocin in individualists.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Premisecitation

    This dissimilarity distance measure bears some similarity to variables in value-based decision-making frameworks.

    “This dissimilarity distance measure bears some similarity to variables in value-based decision-making frameworks 2 .”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [2] Rangel, A., Camerer, C. & Montague, P. R. A framework for studying the neurobiology of value-based decision making. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 9, 545–556 (2008). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    Previous findings link prosocial decisions with several hubs in the social brain network, including the amygdala, ventral striatum and TPJ.

    “Moreover, we found evidence that social value distance is also encoded by neural responses in the ventral striatum and TPJ in prosocials, consistent with previous findings linking prosocial decisions with several hubs in the social brain network 7,36 , including the amygdala, ventral striatum and TPJ.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [7] Chang, S. W. et al. Neural mechanisms of social decision-making in the primate amygdala. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 112, 16012–16017 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [36] Morishima, Y., Schunk, D., Bruhin, A., Ruff, C. C. & Fehr, E. Linking brain structure and activation in temporoparietal junction to explain the neurobiology of human altruism. Neuron 75, 73–79 (2012). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    This representation can guide how we interact with others and how we respond to perceived unfairness.

    “This representation can guide how we interact with others and how we respond to perceived unfairness.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Individualists focus on self-interest and personal goals when making decisions.

    “While individualists focus on self-interest and personal goals when making decisions 3,4 , oxytocin may increase prosociality by shifting reference-points to more prosocial allocations and increasing the weights of outcomes for others, possibly through amplifying the amygdala representation of social value distance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [3] Haruno, M. & Frith, C. D. Activity in the amygdala elicited by unfair divisions predicts social value orientation. Nat. Neurosci. 13, 160–161 (2010). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [4] Declerck, C. H., Boone, C. & Kiyonari, T. The effect of oxytocin on cooperation in a prisoner’s dilemma depends on the social context and a person’s social value orientation. Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci. 9, 802–809 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Interpretationcitation

    Social value distance signals in prosocials may also relate to mentalizing about the needs of others, integrating social information into estimates of subjective value, and calculating altruistic values in the social brain network.

    “Social value distance signals in prosocials may also relate to mentalizing about the needs of others 36,37 , integrating social information into estimates of subjective value 40 , and calculating altruistic values 41 in the social brain network.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [36] Morishima, Y., Schunk, D., Bruhin, A., Ruff, C. C. & Fehr, E. Linking brain structure and activation in temporoparietal junction to explain the neurobiology of human altruism. Neuron 75, 73–79 (2012). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [37] Hutcherson, C. A., Bushong, B. & Rangel, A. A neurocomputational model of altruistic choice and its implications. Neuron 87, 451–462 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [40] Ruff, C. C. & Fehr, E. The neurobiology of rewards and values in social decision making. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 15, 549–562 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [41] Telzer, E. H., Fuligni, A. J., Lieberman, M. D. & Galván, A. Neural sensitivity to eudaimonic and hedonic rewards differentially predict adolescent depressive symptoms over time. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 111, 6600–6605 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Interpretationreasoning

    Individuals may consider or calculate self-interest, altruistic values and evaluation of threat to self-interest when comparing potential and preferred allocations.

    “Taken together, individuals may consider or calculate self-interest, altruistic values and evaluation of threat to self-interest when comparing potential and preferred allocations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning

    These processes differ among individuals with different social orientations.

    “These processes differ among individuals with different social orientations.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Interpretationcitation

    It is possible that individualists perceive deviations from their preferred allocation mainly as conflicts with self-interest, consistent with studies related to inhibition of self-interest conflict and evaluating threats to self-interest.

    “However, it is possible that individualists perceive deviations from their preferred allocation mainly as conflicts with self-interest, consistent with studies related to inhibition of self-interest conflict and evaluating threats to self-interest 18,19 .”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [18] Spitzer, M., Fischbacher, U., Herrnberger, B., Grön, G. & Fehr, E. The neural signature of social norm compliance. Neuron 56, 185–196 (2007). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [19] Rudebeck, P. H., Saunders, R. C., Prescott, A. T., Chau, L. S. & Murray, E. A. Prefrontal mechanisms of behavioral flexibility, emotion regulation and value updating. Nat. Neurosci. 16, 1140–1145 (2013). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin is believed to facilitate social approach and to increase the salience of social cues in promoting adaptive social behaviors.

    “Oxytocin is believed to facilitate social approach and to increase the salience of social cues in promoting adaptive social behaviors 21 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [21] Ma, Y., Shamay-Tsoory, S., Han, S. & Zink, C. F. Oxytocin and social adaptation: Insights from neuroimaging studies of healthy and clinical populations. Trends Cogn. Sci. 20, 133–145 (2016). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    This pattern is consistent with previous studies related to right lOFC function.

    “However, this pattern is consistent with previous studies related to right lOFC function 39 .”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [39] Kringelbach, M. L. The human orbitofrontal cortex: linking reward to hedonic experience. Nat. Rev. Neurosci. 6, 691–702 (2005). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    Right lOFC activation is associated with inhibition of self-interest, reward-guided decisions and detecting and evaluating threats to self-interest.

    “Right lOFC activation is associated with inhibition of self-interest, reward-guided decisions and detecting and evaluating threats to self-interest 18,19 .”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [18] Spitzer, M., Fischbacher, U., Herrnberger, B., Grön, G. & Fehr, E. The neural signature of social norm compliance. Neuron 56, 185–196 (2007). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [19] Rudebeck, P. H., Saunders, R. C., Prescott, A. T., Chau, L. S. & Murray, E. A. Prefrontal mechanisms of behavioral flexibility, emotion regulation and value updating. Nat. Neurosci. 16, 1140–1145 (2013). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin has been implicated in many social behaviors, from promoting trust, generosity and cooperation to aggravating mistrust and aggressive behavior.

    “Oxytocin has been implicated in many social behaviors, from promoting trust, generosity and cooperation 21,22,46,47 to aggravating mistrust and aggressive behavior 48,49 .”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 6 sources checked
    • cites [21] Ma, Y., Shamay-Tsoory, S., Han, S. & Zink, C. F. Oxytocin and social adaptation: Insights from neuroimaging studies of healthy and clinical populations. Trends Cogn. Sci. 20, 133–145 (2016). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [22] Zink, C. F. & Meyer-Lindenberg, A. Human neuroimaging of oxytocin and vasopressin in social cognition. Horm. Behav. 61, 400–409 (2012). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [46] Aydogan, G. et al. Oxytocin promotes altruistic punishment. Soc. Cogn. Affect. Neurosci. 12, 1740–1747 (2017). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [47] Yan, X., Yong, X., Huang, W. & Ma, Y. Placebo treatment facilitates social trust and approach behavior. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 115, 5732–5737 (2018). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [48] Ne’eman, R., Perach-Barzilay, N., Fischer-Shofty, M., Atias, A. & Shamay-Tsoory, S. G. Intranasal administration of oxytocin increases human aggressive behavior. Horm. Behav. 80, 125–131 (2016). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [49] Radke, S. & de Bruijn, E. R. The other side of the coin: oxytocin decreases the adherence to fairness norms. Front. Hum. Neurosci. 6, 193 (2012). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    More sensitive changes in neural responses have often been observed in previous studies of prosocial behavior.

    “More sensitive changes in neural responses have often been observed in previous studies of prosocial behavior 43 .”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [43] Hein, G., Morishima, Y., Leiberg, S., Sul, S. & Fehr, E. The brain’s functional network architecture reveals human motives. Science 351, 1074–1078 (2016). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The amygdala plays a critical role in allocating attention to other people and in integrating social information and social emotions into decision-making.

    “This is consistent with studies showing that the amygdala plays a critical role in allocating attention to other people 7 and in integrating social information 42 and social emotions 13 into decision-making.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [7] Chang, S. W. et al. Neural mechanisms of social decision-making in the primate amygdala. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 112, 16012–16017 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [42] Mosher, C. P., Zimmerman, P. E. & Gothard, K. M. Neurons in the monkey amygdala detect eye contact during naturalistic social interactions. Curr. Biol. 24, 2459–2464 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [13] Bickart, K. C., Dickerson, B. C. & Barrett, L. F. The amygdala as a hub in brain networks that support social life. Neuropsychologia 63, 235–248 (2014). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing), S4 (based).

    Interpretationnone given

    One possible account is that social desirability or social pressure prevents prosocials from engaging in more self-centered performance.

    “In the current study, one possible account is that social desirability or social pressure prevents prosocials from engaging in more self-centered performance.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Oxytocin may increase prosociality by shifting reference-points to more prosocial allocations and increasing the weights of outcomes for others, possibly through amplifying the amygdala representation of social value distance.

    “While individualists focus on self-interest and personal goals when making decisions 3,4 , oxytocin may increase prosociality by shifting reference-points to more prosocial allocations and increasing the weights of outcomes for others, possibly through amplifying the amygdala representation of social value distance.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    It is not likely to be a ceiling effect, as there is no oxytocin effect on increasing prosociality even when prosocials employ a more 'self-centered' reference-point in a competitive context.

    “This is also not likely to be a ceiling effect, as there is no oxytocin effect on increasing prosociality even when prosocials employ a more”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Study design and conductown data

    Our planned sample size of 125 participants was a decent sample size compared to the average across oxytocin-fMRI studies.

    “Thus, our planned sample size of 125 participants was a decent sample size compared to the average across oxytocin-fMRI studies.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    Seemingly contradictory oxytocin effects may be moderated by poorly understood individual and contextual differences.

    “Seemingly contradictory oxytocin effects may be moderated by poorly understood individual and contextual differences 21,24 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [21] Ma, Y., Shamay-Tsoory, S., Han, S. & Zink, C. F. Oxytocin and social adaptation: Insights from neuroimaging studies of healthy and clinical populations. Trends Cogn. Sci. 20, 133–145 (2016). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [24] Ma, Y., Liu, Y., Rand, D. G., Heatherton, T. F. & Han, S. Opposing oxytocin effects on intergroup cooperative behavior in intuitive and reflective minds. Neuropsychopharmacology 40, 2379–2387 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Our finding of distinct oxytocin effects on the social reference-point for prosocials and individualists provides evidence for the underlying computational and neural basis for oxytocin's effect on prosociality and helps reconcile conflicting results in the literature.

    “Our finding of distinct oxytocin effects on the social reference-point for prosocials and individualists provides evidence for the underlying computational and neural basis for oxytocin's effect on prosociality and helps reconcile conflicting results in the literature.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Interpretationown data

    These insights and the identification of a selective effect of oxytocin on prosociality in individualists may have implications for treating neuropsychiatric disorders with social deficits, including autism and sociopathy.

    “These insights and the identification of a selective effect of oxytocin on prosociality in individualists may have implications for treating neuropsychiatric disorders with social deficits, including autism and sociopathy.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    We conducted an additional behavioral experiment for the replication of the oxytocin effect using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, within-subjects crossover design.

    “We conducted an additional behavioral experiment for the replication of the oxytocin effect using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, within-subjects crossover design.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductown data

    The G*Power calculation suggested that 40 participants (20 for each group) were required to detect a reliable effect (α = 0.05, β = 0.80 for a within (oxytocin vs. placebo)-between (prosocial vs. individualist) interaction).

    “The G*Power calculation suggested that 40 participants (20 for each group) were required to detect a reliable effect (α = 0.05, β = 0.80 for a within (oxytocin vs. placebo)-between (prosocial vs. individualist) interaction).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The sample size of 116 participants (after removal of subjects due to technical issues and excessive head movement) was adequate to reveal reliable effects, exceeding the 104 participants needed for 80% power.

    “Moreover, the sample size of 116 participants (after removal of subjects due to technical issues and excessive head movement) was adequate to reveal reliable effects, exceeding the 104 participants needed for 80% power.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    Our results reveal a neural mechanism that underlies social value representations, providing new insight into the processes that influence human social decisions.

    “Taken together, our results reveal a neural mechanism that underlies social value representations, providing new insight into the processes that influence human social decisions.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Study design and conductown data

    The sample size of the oxytocin-replication experiment was predetermined based on the effect size (Cohen's d = 0.45) from our original finding in the fMRI study.

    “The sample size was predetermined based on the effect size (Cohen's d = 0.45) from our original finding in the fMRI study.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    A concern in previous studies is that post hoc explorations of different modulations by individual differences risk inflating the rate of Type I errors.

    “A concern in previous studies is that post hoc explorations of different modulations by individual differences risk inflating the rate of Type I errors 50 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [50] Nave, G., Camerer, C. & McCullough, M. Does oxytocin increase trust in humans? A critical review of research. Perspect. Psychol. Sci. 10, 772–789 (2015). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted), S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    We doubled the estimated sample size, aiming to enroll 40 participants per group, with corresponding power equal to 98%.

    “To obtain a better sense of the robustness of the original findings, we doubled the estimated sample size, aiming to enroll 40 participants per group, with corresponding power equal to 98%.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The sample size of the fMRI study was determined prior to data collection.

    “The sample size of the fMRI study was determined prior to data collection.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    We conducted sample size estimation using G*Power 3.1 to determine the number of participants sufficient to detect a reliable effect.

    “We conducted sample size estimation using G*Power 3.1 52 to determine the number of participants sufficient to detect a reliable effect.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [52] Zhang, H., Gross, J., De Dreu, C. & Ma, Y. Oxytocin promotes coordinated out-group attack during intergroup conflict in humans. eLife, 8, e40698 (2019). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Study design and conductreasoning

    The current study examined only a single a priori specified modulator as we screened participants for social disposition before the oxytocin experiment, which allowed us to specifically test for different effects of oxytocin in prosocials and individualists.

    “The current study examined only a single a priori specified modulator as we screened participants for social disposition before the oxytocin experiment, which allowed us to specifically test for different effects of oxytocin in prosocials and individualists.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Study design and conductcitation

    The TD and SVO tasks were conventional measurements of one's stable disposition in social value orientation.

    “In the behavioral session, all participants provided demographic information and completed the triple dominance (TD) 5 and social value orientation (SVO) 28 tasks, which were conventional measurements of one's stable disposition in social value orientation.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [5] Van Lange, P. A. M. The pursuit of joint outcomes and equality in outcomes: an integrative model of social value orientation. J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 77, 337–349 (1999). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [28] Murphy, R. O., Ackermann, K. A. & Handgraaf, M. Measuring social value orientation. Judgm. Decis. Mak. 6, 771–781 (2011). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Study design and conductreasoning

    To encourage genuine responses and minimize the influences of social norms or social pressure, the preference ratings were unknown to the other player.

    “To encourage genuine responses and minimize the influences of social norms or social pressure, the preference ratings were unknown to the other player.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Study design and conductcitation

    Parametric regressors were not orthogonalized in the design matrix, ensuring that parameter estimates were not confounded by spurious correlations due to signals related to other regressors.

    “Parametric regressors were not orthogonalized in the design matrix, ensuring that parameter estimates were not confounded by spurious correlations due to signals related to other regressors 59 .”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [59] Fehr, E. & Fischbacher, U. The nature of human altruism. Nature 425, 785–791 (2003). source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning

    Only participants who were consistently classified by the TD and SVO tasks were deemed qualified (either 'prosocial' or 'individualist').

    “To ensure a reliable measure of social disposition, only participants who were consistently classified by the TD and SVO tasks were deemed”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Study design and conductnone given

    We controlled for decision times for all fMRI analyses.

    “We controlled for decision times for all fMRI analyses.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Study design and conductcitation

    The contribution participants made in the public goods game and the dictator game have been separately used as indicators of the levels of cooperation and altruism-two key characteristics of prosocial behaviors.

    “The contribution participants made in these two games have been separately used as indicators of the levels of cooperation and altruism -two key characteristics of prosocial behaviors 24,[55][56][57] .”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites 24,[55][56][57]

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    The duration of the fMRI scanning and the post-scan test were carefully controlled within the time frame of the oxytocin peak response in the brain.

    “The duration of the fMRI scanning and the post-scan test were carefully controlled within the time frame of the oxytocin peak response in the brain 54 .”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [54] Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A. & Lang, A.-G. Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behav. Res. Method 41, 1149–1160 (2009). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Study design and conductnone given

    Participants in each pair were scanned in sequence and randomly treated with oxytocin or placebo.

    “Participants in each pair were scanned in sequence and randomly treated with oxytocin or placebo.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Study design and conductnone given

    In the oxytocin experiment, participants received oxytocin or placebo in two separate sessions with a 5-7-day washout period, and the order of treatments was counterbalanced.

    “In the oxytocin experiment, participants received either oxytocin or placebo intranasally in two separate sessions, with a 5-7-day washout period between two sessions.The order of oxytocin and placebo treatment was counterbalanced across participants.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Study design and conductnone given

    The oxytocin-fMRI and oxytocin-replication experiments were double-blind.

    “The oxytocin-fMRI and oxytocin-replication experiments were double-blind, i.e., both participants and experimenters were blind to experimental conditions (both treatment and social disposition conditions).”
    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

    Two participants (1.6%) were excluded due to technical issues during scanning, leaving 125 participants in the behavioral analysis.

    “Two participants (1.6%) were excluded due to technical issues during scanning, leaving 125 participants in the behavioral analysis”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Study design and conductown data

    Two participants did not show up for the second session, leaving 80 participants in the final data analysis.

    “Two participants did not show up for the second session.Thus, 80 participants (40 prosocials, mean age, 22.08 ± 3.47 years; 40 individualists; mean age, 21.54 ± 2.42 years) were included in the final data analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Study design and conductown data

    Prosocials and individualists did not differ in their ratings on the first impression, likeability and attractiveness of the online partner.

    “Prosocials and individualists did not differ in their ratings on the first impression, likeability and attractiveness of the online partner (independent-samples t test, impression: t 313 = 1.03, p = 0.305; likeability: t 313 = 0.98, p = 0.328; attractiveness: t 313 = 0.73, p = 0.465.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
    • The authors state this as an assumption: Data distribution was assumed to be normal but this was not formally tested.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductcitation

    Only male participants were recruited for the oxytocin-fMRI and behavioral oxytocin-replication experiments to avoid potential confounds of sex differences in oxytocin effects.

    “For the oxytocin-fMRI and behavioral oxytocin-replication experiments, we recruited only male participants to avoid potential confounds of sex differences in oxytocin effects 21,51 , consistent with previous studies examining oxytocin effects on social cognition.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [21] Ma, Y., Shamay-Tsoory, S., Han, S. & Zink, C. F. Oxytocin and social adaptation: Insights from neuroimaging studies of healthy and clinical populations. Trends Cogn. Sci. 20, 133–145 (2016). source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [51] Gao, S. et al. Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 113, 7650–7654 (2016). source

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Study design and conductown data

    An additional 9 participants (7.2%) were excluded from further fMRI analysis due to excessive head movement during scanning (> 3 mm), leaving 116 participants for fMRI data analysis.

    “An additional 9 participants (7.2%) were excluded from further fMRI analysis due to excessive head movement during scanning (> 3 mm), leaving 116 participants for fMRI data analysis.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Study design and conductnone given

    Data analysis was not performed blind to the conditions of the experiments.

    “Data analysis was not performed blind to the conditions of the experiments.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductnone given

    Participants recruited in the fMRI experiment were randomly assigned to intranasal oxytocin or placebo in a double-blind placebo-controlled between-subjects design.

    “Participants recruited in the fMRI experiment were randomly assigned to the intranasal administration of oxytocin or placebo in a double-blind placebo-controlled between-subjects design.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
79 of 79

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The angle between any two potential allocations is both necessary and sufficient to quantify their relationship.

    “The angle between any two potential allocations is both necessary and sufficient to quantify their relationship.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    It remains unclear how the difference between potential and preferred self-other allocations is computed and represented in the brain and how these computations and neural representations are related to social decision-making.

    “It remains unclear how the difference between potential and preferred self-other allocations is computed and represented in the brain and how these computations and neural representations are related to social decision-making.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Whether and how oxytocin modulates the basic computations of social preference and social value representations remains largely unexplored.

    “Whether and how oxytocin modulates the basic computations of social preference and social value representations remains largely unexplored.”

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The variable nature of oxytocin effects on prosociality is increasingly recognized.

    “The variable nature of oxytocin effects on prosociality is increasingly recognized.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Data distribution was assumed to be normal but this was not formally tested.

    “Data distribution was assumed to be normal but this was not formally tested.”
5 of 5

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?

  • The effect found in discrimination of both negative and positive states supports evidence of a generalized role of OXT in modulating CeA function in response to socially communicated salient information.

    “The effect we found in the discrimination of both negative and positive states, however, supports the evidence of a generalized role of OXT in modulating CeA function in the response to socially communicated salient information, similar to evidence in humans [70,90,92,106,107].”

    From Oxytocin Signaling in the Central Amygdala Modulates Emotion Discrimination in Mice (2019) · cites this paper as [107]

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.

  • Consistentt(59) = 2.33reported p = .023 · recomputed p = .023

    “t(59)=2.33,p = .023”

  • Consistentt(78) = 1.86reported p = .067 · recomputed p = .067

    “t(78)=1.86,p = .067”

  • ConsistentF(1, 121) = 6.35reported p = .013 · recomputed p = .013

    “F(1,121)=6.35,p = .013”

  • Consistentt(57) = 2.21reported p = .031 · recomputed p = .031

    “t(57)=2.21,p = .031”

  • Consistentt(64) = -1.54reported p = .13 · recomputed p = .128

    “t(64)=-1.54,p = .13”

  • ConsistentF(1, 78) = 6.73reported p = .011 · recomputed p = .011

    “F(1,78)=6.73,p = .011”

  • ConsistentF(1, 64) = 0.856reported p = .358 · recomputed p = .358

    “F(1,64)=0.856, p = .358”

  • ConsistentF(1, 64) = 1.33reported p = .254 · recomputed p = .253

    “F(1,64)=1.33,p = .254”

  • ConsistentF(1, 57) = 8.56reported p = .005 · recomputed p = .005

    “F(1,57)=8.56,p = .005”

  • ConsistentF(1, 57) = 0.018reported p = .894 · recomputed p = .894

    “F(1,57)=0.018,p = .894”

  • ConsistentF(1, 121) = 5.28reported p = .023 · recomputed p = .023

    “F(1,121)=5.28,p = .023”

  • ConsistentF(1, 121) = 0.697reported p = .406 · recomputed p = .405

    “F(1,121)=0.697,p = .406”

  • ConsistentF(1, 58) = 11.21reported p = .0014 · recomputed p = .001

    “F(1, 58)=11.210,p = .0014”

  • ConsistentF(1, 115) = 6.722reported p = .011 · recomputed p = .011

    “F(1,115)=6.722,p = .011”

  • Consistentt(54) = 2.69reported p = .009 · recomputed p = .009

    “t(54)=2.69,p = .009”

  • Consistentt(58) = 0.067reported p = .95 · recomputed p = .947

    “t(58)=0.067,p = .95”

  • Consistentt(58) = 2.75reported p = .008 · recomputed p = .008

    “t(58) = 2.75, p = .008”

  • Consistentt(58) = -2.46reported p = .017 · recomputed p = .017

    “t(58) = -2.46,p = .017”

  • ConsistentF(1, 115) = 6.722reported p = .011 · recomputed p = .011

    “F(1, 115) = 6.722, p = .011”

19 of 19

Self-check

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

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Stated exclusion rule would remove allocations the study says it included

    Minor

    The Methods say pairs with either outcome at or below zero were excluded. That would exclude the second- and fourth-quadrant allocations, which the paper explicitly says were included to compare self-loss/other-gain with self-gain/other-loss.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Liu, Y., Li, S., Lin, W., Li, W., Yan, X., Wang, X., Pan, X., Rutledge, R. B., & Ma, Y.
Affiliations
  • Beijing Normal University (CN)
  • Peking University (CN)
  • Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging (GB)
Corresponding author
Ma, Yina
ORCID
Venue
Nature Neuroscience
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2019-03-25
Volume
22
Issue
4
Pages
633-641
ISSN
  • 1097-6256 (ISSN-L)
  • 1546-1726
DOI
10.1038/s41593-019-0351-1
OpenAlex
W2924784423
Semantic Scholar
756e1fd5e0b2db81538e3509790d8c7d55a93abb
Cited by
89
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 7
FWCI
14.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations
  • Nature Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • MPG.PuRe (Max Planck Society) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (31771204, 2017XTCX04, 91632118, 31661143039, 31722026)
  • Beijing Normal University (2017XTCX04)
  • Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
  • State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning
  • McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
  • Medical Research Council (MR/N02401X/1)
  • Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2017XTCX04, 2018EYT04)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
Keywords
oxytocin, social values, amygdala, prosocial behavior, reference points, individualism, neuropeptide modulation, social decision-making
MeSH terms
Administration, Intranasal, Adult, Amygdala, Brain Mapping, Decision Making, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Models, Neurological, Oxytocin, Reward, Social Behavior, Social Perception, Young Adult

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 ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review