Cited by 201Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorOlfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them

Open access
Gao, Shan, Becker, Benjamin, Luo, Lizhu, Geng, Yayuan, Zhao, Weihua, Yin, Yu, Hu, Jiehui, Gao, Zhao +4 more·2016·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Abstract

Significance: To interpret and respond appropriately to social cues is a fundamental aspect of human nature that becomes impaired in many mental disorders. The past decade has witnessed unprecedented excitement across neuroscience, psychology, and psychiatry regarding the role of oxytocin in human social cognition and its potential therapeutic use. There is also a considerable long-established public interest in behavioral sex differences and the molecular and brain mechanisms responsible. The current findings provide the first mechanistic explanation, to our knowledge, for how this key social molecule has evolved sex-dependent actions on amygdala function to influence the salience and attractiveness of positive social attributes in women but negative ones in men.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Intranasal oxytocin produced sex- and valence-dependent changes in amygdala responses during social impression formation: it enhanced left amygdala reactivity to people who praised others in women but to people who criticized others in men. These neural effects were accompanied by opposite likeability effects, with oxytocin increasing women’s overall likeability ratings and tending to decrease men’s.

Key findings

  • In a whole-brain mixed-effect ANOVA, a significant treatment × sex interaction occurred in the left amygdala for social criticism vs. praise (k = 262, P_FWE = 0.001). Oxytocin enhanced left amygdala responses to criticizing vs. praising others in males (t35 = 3.1, P = 0.004, d = 1.02) but attenuated them in females (t35 = −3.18, P = 0.003, d = 1.09).
  • Separate extraction showed greater amygdala reactivity in men to those who criticized others (t35 = 3.22, P = 0.003, d = 1.04) and in women to those who praised them (t35 = 2.45, P = 0.019, d = 0.82). No such effect was found for the parallel object-directed condition.
  • Oxytocin altered left amygdala–right insula functional connectivity in a treatment × sex interaction (t70 = 4.19, P_FWE = 0.009): it increased coupling in males (t35 = 3.59, P = 0.001, d = 1.18) but reduced it in females (t35 = −2.29, P = 0.03, d = 0.76) for criticizing vs. praising others. Connectivity for criticizing people in males and praising people in females was associated with likeability ratings after controlling for anxiety and mood (OXT males criticizing: r = 0.62, P = 0.02; OXT females praising: r = 0.5, P = 0.04).
  • Likeability ratings showed main effects of valence (F2,140 = 213.51, P < 0.001, η²P = 0.75) and target (F1,70 = 35.83, P < 0.001, η²P = 0.34); faces paired with criticism were rated lowest (3.83 ± 0.1) and praise highest (6 ± 0.09). A treatment × sex interaction (F1,70 = 7.08, P = 0.01, η²P = 0.09) showed oxytocin increased females’ overall likeability ratings (F1,70 = 4.25, P = 0.04, η²P = 0.06) and tended to decrease males’ (F1,70 = 2.89, P = 0.09, η²P = 0.04).

Methods

  • Double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design: 80 healthy right-handed volunteers (age 19–27 y; M ± SD, 22.8 ± 1.7 y) were recruited; data from 6 were lost, leaving 37 females (OXT n = 21) and 37 males (OXT n = 18) in final analyses. Participants self-administered intranasal oxytocin (24 IU) or placebo and underwent fMRI after 45 min.
  • During fMRI, participants completed a first-impression task in which neutral faces were paired with statements describing criticizing or praising people or nonsocial objects; faces were later presented alone and rated for likeability.
  • fMRI data were analyzed with SPM8/DPARSF using a whole-brain mixed-effect ANOVA with treatment and sex as between-subject factors and valence as a within-subject factor, plus generalized psychophysiological interaction (gPPI) functional connectivity analysis focused on amygdala coupling with salience-network regions.

Limitations

  • The paper does not include a dedicated limitations section. It notes that sex-dependent salience effects of oxytocin may be influenced by emotional experience and contextual factors, citing a trauma study, and that the observed effects were social-specific, with no object-directed or face-alone effects.
  • Evident from the text: the final sample was 74 healthy, right-handed young adults (19–27 y), excluding smokers, medication users, pregnant women, and oral-contraceptive users, which limits generalizability.
  • Evident from the text: the study used a single 24-IU intranasal oxytocin dose and one post-treatment time point, with no dose-response or longer-term behavioral follow-up; the male likeability decrease was only marginal (P = 0.09).

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

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1073/pnas.1602620113

Cites

47 of 47 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Claims the paper makes

0 of 38 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data
    § Results

    A whole-brain fMRI mixed-effect ANOVA yielded a significant treatment × sex interaction in the left amygdala for social criticism vs. praise (k = 262, FWE corrected P = 0.001).

    “This yielded a significant treatment × sex interaction in the left amygdala for social criticism vs. praise ( k = 262, familywise error (FWE) corrected P FWE = 0.001)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them

    Intranasal oxytocin treatment produced sex- and valence-dependent increases in amygdala activation when women viewed individuals identified as praising others but in men those who criticize them.

    “Here we show that intranasal oxytocin treatment produces sex- and valence-dependent increases in amygdala activation when women view individuals identified as praising others but in men those who criticize them.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § Results

    Oxytocin enhanced in males but attenuated in females left amygdala responses to criticizing vs. praising other people.

    “Extraction of parameter estimates from this cluster revealed that OXT enhanced in males ( t 35 = 3.1, P = 0.004, Cohen ' s d = 1.02) but attenuated in females ( t 35 = -3.18, P = 0.003, Cohen ' s d = 1.09) left amygdala responses to criticizing vs. praising other people”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § Results

    No such oxytocin effect was found in the parallel object-directed condition.

    “Importantly, no such effect was found in the parallel object-directed condition”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingown data
    § Results

    A functional connectivity analysis revealed a treatment × sex interaction for left amygdala coupling with the right insula (t70 = 4.19, PFWE = 0.009).

    “A functional connectivity analysis revealed a treatment × sex interaction for left amygdala coupling with the right insula ( t 70 = 4.19, P FWE = 0.009)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims. 17
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 4
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them

    Women subsequently showed increased liking for the faces of these individuals, whereas in men it was reduced.

    “Women subsequently show increased liking for the faces of these individuals, whereas in men it is reduced.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    Oxytocin increased left amygdala-right insula coupling strength in males but reduced it in females for criticizing vs. praising others.

    “Extracted parameter estimates further demonstrated that OXT increased coupling strength in males ( t 35 = 3.59, P = 0.001, Cohen ' s d = 1.18) but reduced it in females ( t 35 = -2.29, P = 0.03, Cohen ' s d = 0.76) for criticizing vs. praising others”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    Male ratings were generally lower than female ones following oxytocin but not placebo.

    “Moreover, male ratings were generally lower than female ones following OXT ( F 1, 70 = 6.83, P = 0.01, η 2 P = 0.09) but not PLC.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    Faces paired with criticism were rated lowest and those paired with praise were rated highest.

    “The likeability of faces paired with criticism was rated lowest [mean ( M ) ± SE, 3.83 ± 0.1] and those paired with praise was rated highest (6 ± 0.09).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    A significant treatment × sex interaction in likeability ratings revealed that oxytocin relative to placebo increased females' overall likeability ratings, whereas in males it tended to decrease them.

    “In line with the fMRI findings, a significant treatment × sex interaction was found ( F 1, 70 = 7.08, P = 0.01, η 2 P = 0.09), revealing that whereas OXT relative to PLC increased females ' overall likeability ratings ( F 1, 70 = 4.25, P = 0.04, η 2 P = 0.06), in males it tended to decrease them ( F 1, 70 = 2.89, P = 0.09, η 2 P = 0.04)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    Men showed greater amygdala reactivity to those who criticized others, whereas women showed greater reactivity to those who praised them.

    “with greater reactivity in men to those who criticized others ( t 35 = 3.22, P = 0.003, Cohen ' s d = 1.04) but in women to those who praised them ( t 35 = 2.45, P = 0.019, Cohen ' s d = 0.82)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data
    § Results

    For criticizers, left amygdala-right insula connectivity was weaker in females but stronger in males; for praisers, connectivity was stronger in females but weaker in males.

    “with connectivity being weaker in females ( t 35 = -2.74, P = 0.01, Cohen ' s d = 0.9) but stronger in males ( t 35 = 2.49, P = 0.02, Cohen ' s d = 0.81) for criticizers, and for praisers, in contrast, stronger in females ( t 35 = 2.03, P = 0.05, Cohen ' s d = 0.68) but weaker in males ( t 35 = -2.15, P = 0.04, Cohen ' s d = 0.71)”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them

    Individuals paired with positive valence characteristics are rated as more likeable and approachable, and the opposite occurs for those with negative information.

    “Individuals paired with positive valence characteristics are rated as more likeable and approachable but the opposite for those with negative information (22).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [22] source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them

    Behavioral studies report that oxytocin facilitates positive social judgments, social approach, kinship recognition, and altruism in women, but negative social judgments, social avoidance, competitor recognition, and selfishness in men.

    “In particular, behavioral studies have reported that whereas OXT tends to facilitate positive social judgments (7), social approach (8), kinship recognition (5), and altruism (9) in women, in men it can facilitate negative social judgments (7), social avoidance (10), competitor recognition (5), and selfishness (9).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [7] source

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    • cites [8] source

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    • cites [5] source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them

    The amygdala plays a key role in processing social salience and controlling approach and avoidance behaviors, which oxytocin has been shown to modulate.

    “Importantly, this region plays a key role in processing social salience (18) and controlling approach and avoidance behaviors (10), which OXT has been shown to modulate (3, 4, 6, 19).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [18] source

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    • cites [10] source

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them

    Recent studies in monkeys and humans suggest that oxytocin has evolved a more extensive role in social cognition in female primates and has become progressively used by males in this domain.

    “Recent studies in both monkeys and humans have suggested that it has not only evolved a more extensive role in social cognition in female primates but also become progressively used by males in this domain (3).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [3] source

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

    Premisecitation
    § Oxytocin, the peptide that bonds the sexes also divides them

    During social interactions, people make rapid judgments about new people that determine whether to approach or avoid and shape future interactions with them.

    “During social interactions, we make rapid judgments about new people that determine whether to approach or avoid and shape our future interactions with them (21).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [21] source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Study design and conductreasoning
    § Materials and Methods

    The partial correlation between likeability and oxytocin-altered functional connectivity was computed controlling for STAI and PANAS scores.

    “The partial correlation between likeability and extraction of OXT-altered functional connectivity was computed controlling for STAI and PANAS scores because OXT might modulate anxiety and mood (45, 46).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [45] Guastella AJ, Howard AL, Dadds MR, Mitchell P, Carson DS (2009) A randomized controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin as an adjunct to exposure therapy for social anxiety disorder. Psychoneuroendocrinology 34(6):917 -923. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [46] Heinrichs M, Baumgartner T, Kirschbaum C, Ehlert U (2003) Social support and oxytocin interact to suppress cortisol and subjective responses to psychosocial stress. Biol Psychiatry 54(12):1389 -1398. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § Discussion

    The findings demonstrate that oxytocin enhances the salience of positive social attributes in women, while making men focus more on negative ones.

    “In summary, our findings demonstrate that whereas OXT enhances the salience of positive social attributes in women, it makes men focus more on negative ones.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing).

    Premisecitation
    § Discussion

    Other studies have reported that oxytocin effects on amygdala responses often occur with concurrent changes in its connections with, and activation of, the insula.

    “Indeed, other studies have also reported that OXT effects on amygdala responses often occur with concurrent changes in its connections with, and activation of, the insula (27 -29).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [27] Rilling JK, et al. (2012) Effects of intranasal oxytocin and vasopressin on cooperative behavior and associated brain activity in men. Psychoneuroendocrinology 37(4): 447 -461. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [28] Striepens N, et al. (2012) Oxytocin facilitates protective responses to aversive social stimuli in males. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 109(44):18144 -18149. source

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    • cites [29] Riem MM, et al. (2012) No laughing matter: Intranasal oxytocin administration changes functional brain connectivity during exposure to infant laughter. Neuropsychopharmacology 37(5):1257 -1266. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data
    § Discussion

    The neuroimaging results provide the first evidence that oxytocin exerts markedly different neural effects in men and women, with greater left amygdala response in women to socially but not nonsocially directed praise and in men to those who criticize others.

    “Importantly, our neuroimaging results provide the first evidence, to our knowledge, that OXT exerts markedly different neural effects in men and women, with greater left amygdala response in women to individuals exhibiting socially but not nonsocially directed praise although in men to those who criticize others.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
    • Rests on an assumption: The neural basis of the opposing sex-dependent behavioral effects of oxytocin has not been established.
  • May combine two claims. The quote only partly states this claim.

    Study design and conductown data
    § Materials and Methods

    Pretests showed that faces were rated emotionally neutral and average in attractiveness and trustworthiness, and that statement categories did not differ in arousal, likelihood, or comprehension.

    “Subjects rated the faces as emotionally neutral ( M ± SD, 4.98 ± 0.15) and average in attractiveness (4.37 ± 0.35) and trustworthiness (4.87 ± 0.32) using 9-point Likert scales.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Discussion

    Previous studies indicate that oxytocin may induce sex-dependent changes in amygdala activation to emotional stimuli, but in opposite directions to the present findings.

    “Previous studies on amygdala responses to fearful faces and fearful/threatening scenes (14 -17, 30) and social risk (31) have also indicated that OXT may induce sex-dependent changes in amygdala activation to emotional stimuli.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 6 sources checked
    • cites [14] source

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    • cites [15] source

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    • cites [16] source

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    • cites [17] source

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    • cites [30] Petrovic P, Kalisch R, Singer T, Dolan RJ (2008) Oxytocin attenuates affective evaluations of conditioned faces and amygdala activity. J Neurosci 28(26):6607 -6615. source

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites [31] Baumgartner T, Heinrichs M, Vonlanthen A, Fischbacher U, Fehr E (2008) Oxytocin shapes the neural circuitry of trust and trust adaptation in humans. Neuron 58(4): 639 -650. source

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductcitation
    § Discussion

    The lack of oxytocin modulation in a face-alone control condition argues against confounding effects of oxytocin on face perception per se or face sex.

    “Additionally, the lack of OXT modulation in a face-alone control condition argues against confounding effects of OXT on face perception per se (25) or face sex (Tables S2 and S3).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [25] source

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19 of 19
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The neural basis of the opposing sex-dependent behavioral effects of oxytocin has not been established.

    “The neural basis of these opposing sex-dependent behavioral effects of OXT has not, however, been established.”
1 of 1

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?

  • Male bias can be observed in much of prior work on oxytocin in humans.

    “This bias can be observed in much of the prior work on oxytocin in humans as well, with some neuroimaging studies indicating potential differences in the oxytocin system between sexes.13, 14, 47, 48, 49”
  • Some neuroimaging studies indicate potential differences in the oxytocin system between sexes.

    “This bias can be observed in much of the prior work on oxytocin in humans as well, with some neuroimaging studies indicating potential differences in the oxytocin system between sexes.13, 14, 47, 48, 49”
  • 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.”
  • OXT treatment decreases amygdala activity in response to negative/fearful emotions and increases activity of cortical and subcortical regions, often in a sex-specific way.

    “As a result of these actions OXT treatment decreases amygdala activity in response to negative/ fearful emotions (Fig. 3) and increases the activity of cortical and subcortical regions, often in a sex-specific way (Gao et al., 2016).”
  • A growing number of findings suggest sex-dependent effects of oxytocin on social cognition.

    “Based on a growing number of findings suggesting sex-dependent effects of OXT on social cognition (Chen et al., 2016; Gao et al., 2016; Luo et al., 2017), the second experiment additionally explored whether OXT differentially affects empathic processing in men and women.”

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.

  • Not confirmedz = 2.41reported p = .008 · recomputed p = .016

    “z = 2.41, p = .008”

  • Not confirmedz = 2.51reported p = .006 · recomputed p = .012

    “z = 2.51, p = .006”

2 of 2

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.

  • Fisher's z P values appear one-tailed despite a two-tailed reporting rule

    Minor

    For z = 2.41 and z = 2.51, the two-tailed normal P values are approximately 0.016 and 0.012, respectively. The reported values, 0.008 and 0.006, are approximately one-tailed P values, contrary to the stated reporting rule.

1 of 1

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Authors
Gao, S., Becker, B., Luo, L., Geng, Y., Zhao, W., Yin, Y., Hu, J., Gao, Z., Gong, Q., Hurlemann, R., Yao, D., & Kendrick, K. M.
Affiliations
  • University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (CN)
  • Sichuan University (CN)
  • Division of Medical Psychology, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Bonn, 53105 Bonn, Germany
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published
2016-06-20
Volume
113
Issue
27
Pages
7650-7654
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
OpenAlex
W2463712686
Cited by
186
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 27 · 2020: 30 · 2019: 32 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 4
FWCI
40.36
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Natural Science Foundation of China (31530032)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
Keywords
oxytocin, sex differences, amygdala activation, social cognition, intranasal oxytocin, social bonding, prosocial behavior, antisocial behavior
MeSH terms
Adult, Amygdala, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Oxytocin, Sex Characteristics, Social Behavior, Young Adult, Sociological Factors

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