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Cited by 52Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAttachment and Relationship DynamicsOlfactory and Sensory Function Studies

Could intranasal oxytocin be used to enhance relationships? Research imperatives, clinical policy, and ethical considerations

Open access
Wudarczyk, Olga A., Earp, Brian D., Guastella, Adam, Savulescu, Julian·2013·Current Opinion in Psychiatry
DOI 10.1097/yco.0b013e3283642e10PMC PMC3935449
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Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Well-functioning romantic relationships are important for long-term health and well being, but they are often difficult to sustain. This difficulty arises (in part) because of an underlying tension between our psychobiological natures, culture/environment, and modern love and relationship goals. One possible solution to this predicament is to intervene at the level of psychobiology, enhancing partners' interpersonal connection through neurochemical modulation. This article focuses on a single, promising biobehavioral sub-system for such intervention: the attachment system, based largely upon the expression of the neuropeptide oxytocin. Could the exogenous administration of oxytocin - under the right conditions - be used to facilitate relational or marital well being? RECENT FINDINGS: If so, it would require considerable forethought. Recent research complicates the popular image of oxytocin as a universal social enhancer or 'love hormone' and shows that it may exert a variety of different effects, at different dosages, on different people, under different circumstances. Accordingly, we discuss what is known about oxytocin, including its 'good' and 'bad' effects on human behavior and on higher-order functional processes. SUMMARY: Building upon animal-model, human preclinical, and clinical findings, we outline a proposal for the use of oxytocin in the therapeutic neuroenhancement of contemporary romantic relationships. Highlighting key targets for future research along the way, we then conclude by discussing some of the clinical and ethical considerations that would pertain to the implementation of this knowledge in applied settings.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

The paper argues that intranasal oxytocin may hold promise as an adjunctive neuroenhancement for romantic relationships, but its effects are person- and context-dependent and can be prosocial or antisocial. It calls for large-scale trials and ethical/clinical safeguards before any applied use.

Key findings

  • Oxytocin has been linked to potentially pro-relationship effects, including reduced anxiety/stress, increased trust, eye contact, mind-reading, empathy, positive relationship memories, social attention/recognition/appraisals, and improved communication. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study of heterosexual couples discussing conflict, oxytocin increased the ratio of positive to negative communication behaviors and facilitated a more rapid reduction in cortisol levels.
  • The paper cautions against the “love hormone” image: oxytocin can increase envy and schadenfreude, reduce cooperation with strangers, and increase in-group favoritism/ethnocentrism while potentially magnifying out-group prejudice. Effects vary by personality and context; for example, patients with borderline personality disorder may show decreased trust and cooperativeness under oxytocin, and anxiously attached individuals may recall their mothers as less close and caring.
  • The authors propose oxytocin as an adjunctive therapeutic agent in marriage counseling, with pre-screening for risk factors, administration under trained professional guidance, autonomous agreement by both partners, and the option for either partner to terminate treatment.
  • The paper cites relationship-related figures: at least 20% (up to 72%) of husbands and at least 10% (up to 54%) of wives commit adultery; half or more of marriages end in divorce; only 37% of couples claim to be very happy in marriage. It also notes current oxytocin dosages range from 18 to 40 IU, from single administrations to up to 182, with 24 IU most widely used for historical reasons.

Methods

  • Design: narrative review and conceptual/ethical proposal, not a primary empirical study.
  • Data or sample: no original sample; the paper draws on animal-model, human preclinical, and clinical findings, plus prior conceptual work on relationship neuroenhancement.
  • Main analysis: synthesis of oxytocin research on social attachment and behavior, development of a rationale for oxytocin-based relationship therapy, identification of research targets, and discussion of clinical policy and ethical considerations.

Limitations

  • Paper-stated: most studies to date have been restricted to males; mechanisms of oxytocin action are not well understood; dosing and safety guidelines are lacking; long-term administration is understudied; many studies use small samples and correlative designs; ecological validity “outside the lab” is largely unknown; and oxytocin needs study in conjunction with psychological/behavioral therapies and other pharmacological agents.
  • Paper-stated: ethical and clinical-policy concerns include avoiding coercion, ensuring both partners autonomously consent, determining healthy versus unhealthy relationships worth sustaining, and protecting vulnerable parties such as children.
  • Evident from the text: as a review/opinion article, it presents no new empirical data, and its proposal for oxytocin-based relationship therapy remains untested and speculative.

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

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1097/yco.0b013e3283642e10

Cites

76 of 76 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Claims the paper makes

17 of 79 cited sources checked · 2 supported · 1 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

  • Findingcitation
    § Introduction

    None of these findings demonstrate that elevated oxytocin levels in humans directly induce greater feelings of love or interpersonal attachment, whether in the maternal-infant or adult-romantic case.

    “While none of these findings demonstrate that elevated oxytocin levels in humans directly induce greater feelings of love or interpersonal attachment—whether in the maternal-infant or adult-romantic case [45]—they do point to a clear association between oxytocin and attachment that seems to mirror what has been observed in other species.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
  • Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Mothers who observe photographs of their own infants compared against matched controls show heightened activation in brain areas rich in oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine neuroreceptors.

    “Mothers who observe photographs of their own infants compared against matched controls show heightened activation in brain areas rich in oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine neuroreceptors [41, 42].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [41] source

      The Subjects section describes male participants who viewed threatening faces and scenes after receiving oxytocin or placebo, not mothers viewing photographs of their infants. The Results report reduced amygdala activation under oxytocin; no passage found in our copy addresses the claimed maternal response or the three receptor-rich brain areas (searched: infant photographs, mother, dopamine). (LLM, conf=0.77)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [42] source
  • Interpretationcitation
    § Introduction

    Neuroimaging studies in humans have largely substantiated the view that human attachment relies on conserved hormonal machinery.

    “Neuroimaging studies in humans have largely substantiated this view.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim2 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [41] source

      The Introduction (page unavailable) describes oxytocin as evolutionarily preserved and important for prosocial behavior across species. The Discussion (page unavailable) reports that oxytocin affects human brain circuitry involved in social processing, but the study tested responses to fearful stimuli, not attachment. It therefore supports a conserved hormonal role in social cognition without directly establishing that human attachment relies on it. (LLM, conf=0.86)

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    • cites [42] source
    • cites [43] source

      The Abstract (page unavailable) reports that oxytocin, implicated in attachment in non-human mammals, increased trust in humans. This supports a related role for oxytocin in human social behavior, but the study used a behavioral trust game, not neuroimaging, and did not establish that human attachment relies on conserved hormonal machinery. (LLM, conf=0.84)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [44] source
  • Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    The brain-level attachment system is maintained in large part by the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin.

    “Our particular focus will be on the brain-level attachment system [30], maintained (in large part) by the neuropeptides oxytocin and vasopressin [31, 32].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 3 sources checked
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    • cites [31] source

      The Introduction (page unavailable) identifies the oxytocinergic system as contributing to the maintenance of maternal behavior, and the Discussion links oxytocin to brain pathways involved in attachment. The paper does not establish the attributed role for vasopressin; it instead names dopaminergic reward processing alongside oxytocin. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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    • cites [32] source
  • Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Gottman has demonstrated that the ratio of positive to negative communication behaviors is strongly predictive of long-term relationship survival.

    “and Gottman [72] has demonstrated that the ratio of positive to negative communication behaviors is strongly predictive of long-term relationship survival [73, 74].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim3 of 3 sources checked
    • cites [72] source

      The Conclusions and discussion section reports how oxytocin affected trust, betrayal aversion, and cooperation in an experiment; it does not address whether communication patterns predict relationship survival. Searches for Gottman, positive-to-negative communication ratios, and relationship survival found no supporting passage in our copy. Page numbers were not available. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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    • cites [73] source

      The Results (Omnibus Analysis) and Discussion report an association between social relationships and people's mortality, not between communication behaviors and a relationship's survival. Searches for Gottman, positive-to-negative communication ratios, and relationship survival found no passage addressing the attributed claim. (LLM, conf=0.78)

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    • cites [74] source

      Our copy’s Abstract discusses social connection and loneliness, while the Results examine inflammatory responses to acute stress. Searches for Gottman, positive-to-negative communication ratios, and relationship stability found no passage addressing whether communication behaviors predict long-term relationship survival. (LLM, conf=0.76)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • May combine two claims. 29
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 15

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    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Oxytocin has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress; boost trust, eye-contact, mind-reading, and empathy; heighten the availability of positive relationship memories; and improve social attention, recognition, appraisals, and encoding/retrieval of memories with social content.

    “Specifically, oxytocin has been shown to reduce anxiety and stress [52-54]; boost trust [55-57**], eye-contact [58], mind-reading [59], and empathy [60]; heighten the availability of positive relationship memories [61, 62]; and improve social attention, recognition, and appraisals, as well as the encoding and retrieval of memories with social content [63**].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 5 sources checked
    • cites [52]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

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    • cites [54] source

      Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 1 partially supported, 1 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

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    • cites [55-57**]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [58] source

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

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Relationship failure (break up or divorce) often results in prolonged periods of depression, permanent damage to life satisfaction, and long-lasting collateral harm to children.

    “with outright relationship failure (in the form of break up or divorce) often resulting in prolonged periods of depression [20], permanent damage to life satisfaction [21], and long-lasting collateral harm to children when they are involved as well [22, 23].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 4 sources checked
    • cites [20] source
    • cites [21] source
    • cites [22] source

      Section 3.1 discusses parental separation after divorce and oxytocin responses, but not the claimed effects of relationship failure. Section 2.2 discusses oxytocin and depression without linking depression to breakups or divorce. Searches for relationship dissolution, life satisfaction, and long-term harm to children found no passage supporting those claims. (LLM, conf=0.76)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
    • cites [23] source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    This effect is amplified for mothers who exhibit a secure attachment style compared to those who are insecurely attached, and correlates with oxytocin levels in the blood.

    “This effect is amplified for mothers who exhibit a secure attachment style compared to those who are insecurely attached, and correlates with oxytocin levels in the blood [43].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [43] source

      The LETTERS section reports that intranasal oxytocin increased trust in a monetary trust game. Searches for maternal attachment and blood or plasma oxytocin found no passage comparing securely and insecurely attached mothers or correlating the effect with blood oxytocin levels. No page numbers are available in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.78)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Natural selection did not shape basic mating strategies nor underlying brain chemistry to foster life-long, monogamous matrimony in the modern world, but rather to promote reproductive success of progenitors in the Pleistocene.

    “Natural selection did not shape our basic mating strategies—nor our underlying brain chemistry—to foster life-long, monogamous matrimony in the modern world, but rather to promote the reproductive success of our progenitors in the environment of the Pleistocene [2, 3].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim1 of 2 sources checked
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  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S3 (load-bearing). May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Oxytocin is present in a large number of animal species from reptiles to mammals and is intimately associated with social, sexual, and reproductive behaviors including mating and childbirth.

    “The neuropeptide oxytocin is present in a large number of animal species from reptiles—in the form of vasotocin, an evolutionary precursor—to mammals, encompassing the primates, and is intimately associated with social, sexual, and reproductive behaviors including mating and childbirth.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [34] source

      The Introduction links oxytocin to childbirth, mate attachment, and social recognition; §2A also discusses its release during mating. Our copy does not establish its presence across species from reptiles to primates or identify vasotocin as an evolutionary precursor. (LLM, conf=0.86)

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Oxytocin produced by the hypothalamus plays a dual role: as a hormone in the peripheral bloodstream controlling milk letdown, uterine contraction, and cervical dilation; and as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system influencing social, behavioral, and motivational states via receptors in the hippocampus, amygdala, nucleus accumbens, and elsewhere.

    “Produced by the hypothalamus, oxytocin plays a dual role in modulating a wide range of essential processes: it acts as a hormone when released into the peripheral bloodstream, controlling functions such as milk letdown, uterine contraction, and cervical dilation during parturition in females; and it acts as a neurotransmitter when released into the central nervous system, influencing social, behav”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim1 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [34] source

      Split into 2 atoms — 0 confirmed, 2 partially supported, 0 disputed, 0 misattributed, 0 unverifiable. Expand the claim to see per-atom verdicts.

      Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

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

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Only 37% of couples claim to be very happy in their marriage.

    “While achieving relationship satisfaction is a primary goal for most individuals, only 37% of couples claim to be very happy in their marriage [24].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [24] source

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

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Relationship discord is the most frequent cause of emotional distress.

    “In contrast, relationship discord has been found to be the most frequent cause of emotional distress [19]”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [19] source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation
    § Introduction

    Since oxytocin can strengthen the encoding of positive social stimuli to make them more salient, it might facilitate interpersonal intimacy by making the encoding of positive social cues more rewarding and memorable.

    “Since oxytocin can strengthen the encoding of positive social stimuli to make them more salient, it might facilitate interpersonal intimacy by making the encoding of positive social cues more rewarding and memorable [69].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [69] source

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S1 (asserted).

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    The well-documented fragility of modern marriages may trace in large part to deeply-rooted disparities between human psychobiology, the modern environment, and widespread cultural and ethical ideals concerning love and relationships.

    “Earp, Sandberg, and Savulescu [1*] argued that the well-documented fragility of modern marriages may trace (in large part) to a set of deeply-rooted disparities: between human psychobiology, the modern environment, and widespread cultural and ethical ideals concerning love and relationships.”
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    • cites [1*]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

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    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    At least 20% (and up to 72%) of husbands and at least 10% (and up to 54%) of wives commit adultery.

    “It is now estimated that at least 20% (and up to 72%) of husbands and at least 10% (and up to 54%) of wives commit adultery [7, 8]”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [7] source
    • cites [8] source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Initial clinical studies have shown that oxytocin administration may be useful as an adjunctive treatment for depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, although further research is needed to confirm the reliability of these preliminary findings.

    “Initial clinical studies have also shown that oxytocin administration may be useful as an adjunctive treatment for depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia, although further research is needed to confirm the reliability of these preliminary findings [51*].”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [51*]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

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

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Young and Wang's neurobiological model of rodent pair bonding holds that concurrent activation of oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine receptor neurons during mating results in a conditioned partner preference, with oxytocin and vasopressin facilitating social cue processing and dopamine signaling reward.

    “They argued that the concurrent activation of oxytocin, vasopressin, and dopamine receptor neurons during mating activities results in the formation of a conditioned partner preference. Specifically, oxytocin and vasopressin facilitate the processing of social cues necessary for partner recognition while dopamine plays a reinforcing role by signalling reward.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [38] source

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Ditzen et al. showed that oxytocin can facilitate positive communication-and reduce stress levels-in romantic couples engaged in an argument.

    “In a seminal study, Ditzen et al. [70] showed that oxytocin can facilitate positive communication—and reduce stress levels—in romantic couples engaged in an argument.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [70] source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given
    § Introduction

    The latest evidence suggests that endogenously boosting oxytocin levels may result in prosocial, bond-enhancing outcomes for some individuals (or couples) under the right set of circumstances; but it may also lead to antisocial, adverse outcomes if certain dispositional and situational considerations are not taken into account.

    “As we discuss in the following section, the latest evidence suggests that endogenously boosting oxytocin levels may result in prosocial, bond-enhancing outcomes for some individuals (or couples) under the right set of circumstances; but it may also lead to antisocial, adverse outcomes if certain dispositional and situational considerations are not taken into account.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    A sizeable percentage of couples fail to achieve significant gains from couple therapy or show significant deterioration afterward.

    “However, “research also indicates that a sizeable percentage of couples fail to achieve significant gains from couple therapy or show significant deterioration afterward” [28, p. 317].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [28] source

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    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    In autism, oxytocin administration increases eye-contact, emotion understanding, and the effectiveness of decision-making in social contexts.

    “For example, in the case of autism—a disorder known for its symptomatic social deficits—oxytocin administration increases eye-contact [49], emotion understanding [50], and the effectiveness of decision-making in social contexts [49].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [49] source
    • cites [50] source

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Introduction

    In a relationship context, oxytocin's effects could increase partner approachability and cooperativeness, increase mutual understanding and perspective-taking, and increase positive relationship reflections.

    “In a relationship context, these effects could (1) increase partner approachability and cooperativeness [56, 64*], (2) increase mutual understanding and perspective-taking, thereby enhancing interpersonal learning in the therapeutic process, and (3) increase positive relationship reflections, which are likely to be associated with successful therapy outcomes [65, 66].”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Oxytocin increased the ratio of positive to negative communication behaviors and facilitated a more rapid reduction in cortisol levels after the conflict.

    “Oxytocin increased the ratio of positive to negative communication behaviors and facilitated a more rapid reduction in cortisol levels after the conflict.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [70] source

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

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Despite the earnest desire of a majority of individuals to enter into life-long relationships, marital dissatisfaction is common, and positive, healthy relationships are often difficult to sustain.

    “Despite the earnest desire of a majority of individuals to enter into life-long relationships [11], marital dissatisfaction is common, and positive, healthy relationships are often difficult to sustain.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [11] source

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

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Half or more of marriages end in divorce.

    “and that half or more of marriages end in divorce [1*, 9, 10].”
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    • cites [1*, 9, 10]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

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    Interpretationreasoning
    § Introduction

    Some couples may benefit from trust-enhancing interventions, while other couples may be put at risk.

    “While some couples may benefit from trust-enhancing interventions, for example, other couples may be put at risk as we noted above.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Several studies have reported that individuals who are given intranasal oxytocin do not report feelings of euphoria or any sort of conscious knowledge of being administered the drug as compared to a placebo.

    “At the same time, however, several studies have reported that individuals who are given intranasal oxytocin do not report feelings of euphoria or any sort of conscious knowledge of being administered the drug as compared to a placebo [84].”
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    • cites [84]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

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    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Shamay-Tsoory and colleagues have shown that in addition to promoting empathy and generosity, oxytocin can increase feelings of envy and schadenfreude.

    “For example, Shamay-Tsoory and colleagues [77] have shown that in addition to promoting empathy and generosity, oxytocin can increase feelings of envy and schadenfreude.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [77]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

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    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Many recent studies of oxytocin's therapeutic potential involve small numbers of patients and are simply correlative.

    “Many recent studies “involve small numbers of patients and are simply correlative. Going forward it is important that … research involves sufficient patient numbers and employs experimental designs that rigorously test [oxytocin’s] therapeutic potential” [51*, p. 436].”
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    • cites 51*

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

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    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Individuals who are anxiously attached have been shown to be likelier to remember their own mothers as being less close and caring.

    “In addition, individuals who are anxiously attached have been shown to be likelier to remember their own mothers as being less close and caring [81].”
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    • cites [81]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Introduction

    In some situations, oxytocin administration might diminish one's ability to recognize the risks associated with trusting one's partner, who might then go on to break one's trust again.

    “In this situation, oxytocin-administration might diminish one’s ability to recognize the risks associated with trusting one’s partner, who might then go on to break one’s trust again.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationcitation
    § Introduction

    These results suggest that oxytocin may ultimately turn out to be a "double-edged sword" - capable of "promoting bonds with familiar individuals, but promoting unfriendly behavior toward strangers."

    “These results suggest that oxytocin may ultimately turn out to be “double-edged sword” – capable of “promoting bonds with familiar individuals, but promoting unfriendly behavior toward strangers” [75*, p. 269].”
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    • cites [75*, p. 269]

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    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    DeDreu et al. demonstrated that oxytocin can increase in-group favoritism (ethnocentrism) while at the same time potentially magnifying out-group prejudice.

    “And DeDreu et al. [79] demonstrated that oxytocin can increase in-group favoritism (ethnocentrism) while at the same time potentially magnifying out-group prejudice.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [79]

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    Interpretationreasoning
    § Supplementary Material

    Intranasal oxytocin may hold promise for the therapeutic neuroenhancement of modern relationships.

    “Intranasal oxytocin may hold promise for the therapeutic neuroenhancement of modern relationships.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Supplementary Material

    Oxytocin has 'good' and 'bad' effects that may be different for different individuals and couples depending upon a range of personal, interpersonal, and contextual factors.

    “Oxytocin has “good” and “bad” effects, however, that may be different for different individuals and couples depending upon a range of personal, interpersonal, and contextual factors.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    DeClerck, Boone, and Kiyonari found that people behave more cooperatively under the influence of oxytocin when interacting with familiar targets, but less cooperatively if the target is a stranger.

    “DeClerck, Boone, and Kiyonari [78] found that people behave more cooperatively under the influence of oxytocin when interacting with familiar targets, but less cooperatively if the target is a stranger.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites [78]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

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    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    Oxytocin seems to improve empathic accuracy only in less-socially proficient individuals, whereas it has no effect for those who are already well-attuned to social information.

    “And oxytocin seems to improve empathic accuracy only in less-socially proficient individuals, whereas it has no effect for those who are already well-attuned to social information [69].”
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    • cites [69] source

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    Premisenone given
    § Conclusion

    Neurochemical interventions designed to promote interpersonal health and well-being as a complement to existing therapeutic strategies have gone largely unexplored.

    “neurochemical interventions designed to promote interpersonal health and well-being as a complement to existing therapeutic strategies have gone largely unexplored.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S2 (checkable), S4 (based).

    Interpretationreasoning
    § Introduction

    Within certain partnerships, an instinctive unwillingness to suffer repeated betrayals of trust could be vital for protecting the health and well-being of the individual so betrayed.

    “Yet within certain partnerships, an instinctive unwillingness to suffer repeated betrayals of trust could be vital for protecting the health and well-being of the individual so betrayed.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

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

    Premisecitation
    § Introduction

    The dose that has been most widely used (24 IU) was chosen for historical reasons, and it remains unclear whether another optimal dose exists or whether someone who does not respond to lower doses of oxytocin nasal spray may subsequently respond to a higher dose.

    “Yet “the dose that has been most widely used (24 IU) [was] chosen for historical reasons, [and] it remains unclear whether another optimal dose exists or whether someone who does not respond to lower doses of oxytocin nasal spray may subsequently respond to a higher dose” [63**, p. 417].”
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    • cites [63**]

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    Premisecitation
    § Conclusion

    Inflammation may contribute to coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and Alzheimer's disease.

    “Research has shown that this type of inflammation may contribute to such ills as coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease [88, 89].”
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    • cites [88]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [89]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation
    § Conclusion

    Relationship dysfunction as well as social isolation and outright loneliness are threatening to health, and can lead to such outcomes as depression, illness, elevated levels of latent herpes virus reactivation, and even inflamed immune responses.

    “By contrast, relationship dysfunction as well as social isolation and outright loneliness are threatening to health, and can lead to such outcomes as depression, illness, elevated levels of latent herpes virus reactivation, and even inflamed immune responses.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites [88]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

    • cites [89]

      Couldn’t be matched to a paper in Crossref, so it can’t be checked.

38 of 38

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Oxytocin acting on the neural substrates of attachment could serve as an adjunctive therapeutic agent in marriage counseling.

    “Building upon the work of other researchers [33], we shall postulate that oxytocin— by acting on the neural substrates of attachment—could serve as an adjunctive therapeutic agent in marriage counseling, so long as certain ethical and clinical-policy considerations are taken into account.”

  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The problematic out-group or stranger-driven effects of oxytocin are unlikely to occur in a counseling setting because romantic partners are not strangers to each other.

    “Hence, it seems reasonable to hypothesize, at least these types of problematic out-group or stranger-driven effects would be unlikely to occur in a counseling setting.”
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.

  • Citation points outside the cited article's page range

    Minor

    The quotation is attributed to page 296 of reference 75, but the reference lists the article as spanning pages 267-269.

  • Nasal oxytocin is described as both endogenous and exogenous

    Minor

    The paper describes the effect of administering oxytocin by nasal spray as an endogenous boost, but later explicitly defines administration by nasal spray as exogenous.

2 of 2

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

5 of the 81 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Declerck, 2010, Oxytocin and cooperation under conditions of uncertainty: the modulating role of incentives and social information., Horm Behav, 57, 368, 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2010.01.006 · DOI · Paper page

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Related

Authors
Wudarczyk, O. A., Earp, B. D., Guastella, A., & Savulescu, J.
Affiliations
  • University of Oxford (GB)
  • The University of Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
  • Wudarczyk, Olga A.
  • Earp, Brian D.
ORCID
Venue
Current Opinion in Psychiatry
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Published
2013-09
Volume
26
Issue
5
Pages
474-484
ISSN
0951-7367 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1097/yco.0b013e3283642e10
PMC
PMC3935449
OpenAlex
W2080370159
Cited by
52
References
81
Citations by year
2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2
FWCI
11.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Current Opinion in Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (submittedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (submittedVersion)
  • RWTH Publications (RWTH Aachen) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Sensory Systems › Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
Keywords
intranasal oxytocin, romantic relationships, marital well-being, attachment system, cognitive enhancement, human connection, clinical policy
MeSH terms
Administration, Intranasal, Animals, Ethics, Medical, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Love, Neuropeptides

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 2026-10-08.

Classified by jev-1.13-20260917 (gold-guideline-v0.2) on 2026-10-08.

Cited sources are checked by gpt-6-sol.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

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

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

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