Cited by 195Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAction Observation and SynchronizationNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 56 of the 56 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; none of the 36 sources its claims cite is checked for support yet.

Oxytocin receptor gene variation predicts empathic concern and autonomic arousal while perceiving harm to others

Open access
Smith, Karen E., Porges, Eric C., Norman, Greg J., Connelly, Jessica J., Decety, Jean·2014·Social Neuroscience

Abstract

Recent research indicates that the neuropeptide oxytocin and the gene for the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) have been implicated in the modulation of various social behaviors, including those related to empathy and sensitivity to others. In this study, we examine the hypothesis that genetic variation in OXTR is associated with autonomic reactions when perceiving others in distress. We also explore the possibility that individual disposition in empathic concern would differ by OXTR genotype. To address these questions, 51 male participants (18-35 years of age), genotyped for OXTR rs53576, viewed a social interaction containing high levels of individual distress and apparent physical pain. Electrodermal activity, a measure of sympathetic nervous system activity, was collected during the presentation of the stimuli. Participants also completed a self-report dispositional measure of empathy prior to starting the study and provided ratings of arousal while viewing the stimuli. OXTR variant rs53576 GG individuals showed increased levels of sympathetic and subjective arousal in response to the stimuli compared to A allele carriers. GG homozygotes also expressed greater levels of empathic concern. These findings support the importance of the oxytocin receptor variation in emotional and physiological reactions to the affective experiences of other conspecifics.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In 51 male participants, OXTR rs53576 GG homozygotes showed greater dispositional empathic concern and higher sympathetic and subjective arousal while viewing an MMA fight than A allele carriers. The findings support a role for oxytocin receptor variation in emotional and physiological reactions to others’ distress, though the study has notable sample and design limitations.

Key findings

  • Empathic concern was the only IRI factor showing a significant genotype difference: GG participants scored higher than A allele carriers (GG: mean = 20.96, SD = 4.894; A carriers: mean = 17.89, SD = 3.935; t(49) = −2.480, p = .017).
  • GG individuals showed increased electrodermal activity while viewing the fight compared with A allele carriers (significant main effect of genotype: F(1,26) = 5.838, p = .023). Baseline EDA did not differ between groups, but by the end of the fight GG had higher EDA (GG: mean = 0.06, SD = 0.03; AA/AG: mean = 0.05, SD = 0.02; t = −2.427, p = .03).
  • GG individuals reported higher subjective arousal during the fight than A allele carriers (F(1,45) = 7.259, p = .010), with a trend toward a genotype-by-time interaction (F(4,45) = 2.078, p = .062).
  • Dispositional empathic concern was not significantly related to changes in EDA or subjective arousal across rounds.

Methods

  • Fifty-one males aged 18–35 of mixed race were recruited from the Chicago area, genotyped for OXTR rs53576, and completed the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) before viewing a 28-minute, five-round Mixed Martial Arts fight.
  • Genotype distribution was 27 G/G (48.2%), 21 A/G (37.5%), and 8 A/A (14.3%), consistent with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (χ² = 1.3, df = 2, p = 0.52); A/A and A/G were combined as A allele carriers.
  • Electrodermal activity was recorded during the fight, subjective arousal was rated after each round, and analyses used independent-sample t-tests, repeated-measures ANOVAs, and regressions/simple slope analyses; recording artifacts left 28 participants with complete SCR data.

Limitations

  • The paper states a small EDA sample (n = 28), a multiethnic sample despite evidence that OXTR allele frequencies and behavioral correlates vary across ethnicities, reliance on self-report empathy rather than direct empathic responses to the stimuli, evaluation of only one OXTR SNP, use of an MMA fight that includes violent competition as well as pain/distress, and a male-only sample.
  • The paper also notes that the lack of relationship between dispositional empathic concern and arousal might be clarified by measuring empathy and empathic concern specifically toward the fighters during the stimuli.
  • Evident from the text: the overall sample was modest (51 participants), genotype groups were uneven, and the EDA analysis excluded many participants, limiting statistical power and generalizability.

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

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1080/17470919.2013.863223

Cites

56 of 56 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

12 tests recomputed · 0 with the reported and recomputed p on opposite sides of .05

Verification

Claims the paper makes

22 Not checked yet · 11 Own result · 10 Own method · 5 Own interpretation · 1 No basis given

Verify all 36 references — free account

Show all 18 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 29
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 9
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 1
31 of 31
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The MMA fight video is an evocative social stimulus that elicits empathic concern and/or autonomic arousal in response to others' distress and pain.

    “MMA is a popular full contact combat sport similar to boxing and was chosen because it is an evocative social stimulus with fighters exhibiting high levels of pain and distress.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Autonomic and subjective arousal while viewing the MMA fight reflects sensitivity to the distress and pain of others rather than a general response to violence or competition.

    “It is also important to note that the stimuli, an MMA fight, does not only contain high levels of pain and distress, but also involves a violent competition.”
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Claims other papers make about this one

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

Statistics that don’t add up

Each reported p-value recomputed from its test statistic and degrees of freedom.

2 of 2

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.

  • Doesn’t add upF(1, 26) = 0.897reported p = .253 · recomputed p = .352

    “F(1,26) = 0.897, p = .253”

  • Doesn’t add upF(4, 45) = 2.078reported p = .062 · recomputed p = .099

    “F(4, 45) = 2.078, p = .062”

  • Consistentt(49) = -2.48reported p = .017 · recomputed p = .017

    “t(49) = −2.480, p = .017”

  • ConsistentF(5, 27) = 8.893reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(5, 27) = 8.893, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(27) = 4.831reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “t(27) = 4.831, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(27) = 3.275reported p = .003 · recomputed p = .003

    “t(27) = 3.275, p = .003”

  • Consistentt(27) = 4.172reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “t(27) = 4.172, p < .001”

  • Consistentt(27) = 2.29reported p = .03 · recomputed p = .030

    “t(27) = 2.290, p = .030”

  • Consistentt(27) = 2.326reported p = .028 · recomputed p = .028

    “t(27) = 2.326, p = .028”

  • ConsistentF(1, 26) = 5.838reported p = .023 · recomputed p = .023

    “F(1,26) = 5.838, p = .023”

  • ConsistentF(2.678, 46) = 7.881reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(2.678, 46) =7.881, p < .001”

  • ConsistentF(1, 46) = 15.541reported p < .001 · recomputed p < .001

    “F(1, 46) = 15.541, p < .001”

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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.

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Citations

Cites

Show all 56 references

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Davis M. H., 1980, JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 10, 177

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Metadata

Authors
Smith, K. E., Porges, E. C., Norman, G. J., Connelly, J. J., & Decety, J.
Affiliations
University of Chicago (US)
Venue
Social Neuroscience
Published
2013-12-03
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
1-9
ISSN
  • 1747-0919 (ISSN-L)
  • 1747-0927
OpenAlex
W2118534560
Cited by
195
References
56
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 44 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 28 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 30 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 8
FWCI
17.96
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Social Neuroscience (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH84934-01A1, R01MH084934)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
oxytocin receptor, rs53576, empathic concern, autonomic arousal, electrodermal activity, sympathetic nervous system, pain perception, empathy, genetic polymorphism
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Arousal, Autonomic Nervous System, Empathy, Galvanic Skin Response, Genotype, Humans, Male, Perception, Regression Analysis, Social Behavior, Receptors, Oxytocin, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Young Adult, Self Report

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