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Cited by 78Neuroendocrine regulation and behaviorAging and Gerontology ResearchNeurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior

Oxytocin and socioemotional aging: current knowledge and future trends

Open access
Ebner, Natalie C., Maura, Gabriela M., MacDonald, Kai, Westberg, Lars, Fischer, Håkan·2013·Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
DOI 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00487PMC PMC3755210
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Abstract

The oxytocin (OT) system is involved in various aspects of social cognition and prosocial behavior. Specifically, OT has been examined in the context of social memory, emotion recognition, cooperation, trust, empathy, and bonding, and-though evidence is somewhat mixed-intranasal OT appears to benefit aspects of socioemotional functioning. However, most of the extant data on aging and OT is from animal research and human OT research has focused largely on young adults. As such, though we know that various socioemotional capacities change with age, we know little about whether age-related changes in the OT system may underlie age-related differences in socioemotional functioning. In this review, we take a genetic-neuro-behavioral approach and evaluate current evidence on age-related changes in the OT system as well as the putative effects of these alterations on age-related socioemotional functioning. Looking forward, we identify informational gaps and propose an Age-Related Genetic, Neurobiological, Sociobehavioral Model of Oxytocin (AGeNeS-OT model) which may structure and inform investigations into aging-related genetic, neural, and sociocognitive processes related to OT. As an exemplar of the use of the model, we report exploratory data suggesting differences in socioemotional processing associated with genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) in samples of young and older adults. Information gained from this arena has translational potential in depression, social stress, and anxiety-all of which have high relevance in aging-and may contribute to reducing social isolation and improving well-being of individuals across the lifespan.

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This review integrates evidence on oxytocin (OT) and socioemotional aging and proposes an Age-Related Genetic, Neurobiological, Sociobehavioral Model of Oxytocin (AGeNeS-OT). It also reports exploratory fMRI/genetic data linking OXTR rs237887 to facial emotion processing in young and older adults, while concluding that human OT aging research remains scarce and inconclusive.

Key findings

  • Evidence on age-related changes in the OT system is mixed: some studies report stability, others report change, with peripheral OT levels often comparable but central OT measures sometimes differing; the review states current evidence does not allow a firm conclusion about existence or direction of age-related OT changes.
  • The proposed AGeNeS-OT model argues for examining interactions among OT-related genes (OXT, OXTR, CD38), brain systems (e.g., amygdala, frontal cortex, brainstem, ventral tegmental area), and sociobehavioral outcomes across age.
  • In the exploratory fMRI analysis, OXTR rs237887 AA carriers showed greater left anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) activity for Happy > Angry faces than GA/GG carriers [F(1, 51) = 6.51, p = 0.014, η²p = 0.11]; this effect was more pronounced in older adults [F(1, 26) = 3.09, p = 0.035, η²p = 0.16] than young adults [F(1, 23) = 2.38, p = 0.136, η²p = 0.09]. Right ACC showed a comparable pattern [F(1, 51) = 6.34, p = 0.015, η²p = 0.11].
  • AA carriers were faster at labeling happy expressions (M = 1111 ms, SD = 171 ms) than G-allele carriers (M = 1212 ms, SD = 173 ms; F(1, 50) = 4.26, p = 0.044, η²p = 0.08); right ACC recruitment correlated with happy-face accuracy in G-allele carriers (r = 0.35, p = 0.049) but not AA carriers (r = 0.05, p = 0.838). A cited 10-day intranasal OT trial in older men (mean age 80) reported improved dispositional gratitude, slower physical-functioning decline, and decreased fatigue, with no changes in mood, cardiovascular states, or social activity/engagement.

Methods

  • Review using a genetic-neuro-behavioral approach, synthesizing literature on socioemotional aging and OT and proposing the AGeNeS-OT model.
  • Exploratory secondary data analysis: young [n = 25, 12 females, M = 25.1 years, SD = 3.6, range 20–31] and older [n = 29, 17 females, M = 68.3 years, SD = 2.8, range 65–74] healthy adults underwent 3T fMRI while identifying happy, neutral, and angry facial emotions; participants were genotyped for 14 OXTR SNPs.
  • fMRI data analyzed with SPM5; T-contrasts were Happy > Angry and Angry > Happy, with ROIs in bilateral medial frontal gyrus and anterior cingulate gyrus at p < 0.05, FDR corrected; follow-up F- and t-tests examined 14 OXTR SNPs across the total sample and separately by age group.

Limitations

  • Stated: human OT research has almost exclusively studied young adults; OT-aging research is scarce, mostly from non-human species, and marked by methodological differences that make meta-analysis not feasible; a theoretical framework for age-related OT hypotheses was previously lacking.
  • Stated: the exploratory secondary analysis was largely exploratory and requires replication in a larger independent sample; the cited older-adult OT trial lacked a young comparison group and did not extensively explore other socioemotional domains; broader caveats include inconsistent effects from small homogeneous samples, individual differences, context and early-life experience, and sex-specific effects with most studies in men.
  • Evident from the text: genotype subgroups were small (AA carriers: n = 10 young, n = 10 older; GA/GG carriers: n = 15 young, n = 19 older), follow-up tests were conducted across 14 SNPs at p < 0.05 without stated correction, and the cross-sectional age comparisons cannot establish aging-related change.

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

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.3389/fnhum.2013.00487

Cites

203 of 203 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

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

Claims the paper makes

0 of 106 cited sources checked · 0 supported · 0 flagged

  • Findingown data

    Exploratory data suggest differences in socioemotional processing associated with genetic variation in OXTR in samples of young and older adults.

    “we report exploratory data suggesting differences in socioemotional processing associated with genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) in samples of young and older adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingcitation

    A theoretical framework for generating hypotheses regarding age-related differences in the oxytocin system is entirely lacking.

    “a theoretical framework for generating hypotheses regarding age-related differences in the OT system (including changes in endogenous OT physiology, function, and differential response to exogenous OT) is entirely lacking (cf. Huffmeijer et al., 2012).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Huffmeijer et al., 2012

      Not checked in the free run.

  • Findingreasoning

    Current evidence does not allow yet a firm conclusion of the existence or direction of age-related changes in the oxytocin system.

    “current evidence does not allow yet a firm conclusion of the existence or direction of age-related changes in the OT system, leaving the question open to empirical examination.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Findingcitation

    Only one very recent study explicitly examined the effects of intranasal oxytocin in a group of older men (mean age of 80 years) focusing on oxytocin's effects on social engagement and physical health.

    “only one very recent study explicitly examined the effects of intranasal OT in a group of older men (mean age of 80 years) focusing on OT's effects on social engagement and physical health (Barraza et al., 2013).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Barraza et al., 2013

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  • Findingnone given

    Current studies have almost exclusively been conducted with young adults.

    “current studies have almost exclusively been conducted with young adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim
  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim. 11
  • May combine two claims. 29

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Findingreasoning

    Little is known about whether age-related changes in the oxytocin system may underlie age-related differences in socioemotional functioning.

    “we know little about whether age-related changes in the OT system may underlie age-related differences in socioemotional functioning.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Most extant data on aging and oxytocin is from animal research, and human oxytocin research has focused largely on young adults.

    “However, most of the extant data on aging and OT is from animal research and human OT research has focused largely on young adults.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Studies conducted to date are characterized by large methodological differences in terms of species examined, oxytocin parameters measured, brain regions targeted, etc., which makes a direct comparison difficult and a meta-analytic approach not feasible.

    “studies conducted to date are characterized by large methodological differences in terms of species examined, OT parameters measured, brain regions targeted, etc., which makes a direct comparison difficult and a meta-analytic approach not feasible.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingreasoning

    Research on oxytocin and aging is scarce and inconclusive.

    “research on OT and aging is scarce and inconclusive.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Some studies suggest no noticeable effects of aging on the oxytocin system, whereas other studies report age-related change.

    “Whereas some studies suggest no noticeable effects of aging on the OT system (Fliers et al., 1985; Zbuzek et al., 1988; Wierda et al., 1991; Arletti et al., 1995), other studies report age-related change (Fliers and Swaab, 1983; Melis et al., 1992, 1995; Arsenijevic et al., 1995; Parker et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Fliers et al., 1985

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Zbuzek et al., 1988

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    • cites Wierda et al., 1991

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  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    A large majority of studies conducted so far refer to men exclusively, even though there are growing indications that some of oxytocin's effects may differ by sex.

    “a large majority of studies conducted so far refer to men exclusively, even though there are growing indications that some of OT's effects may differ by sex (Savaskan et al., 2008; Guastella et al., 2009; Domes et al., 2010; Marsh et al., 2010; cf. MacDonald, 2012).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Savaskan et al., 2008

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    • cites Guastella et al., 2009

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    • cites Domes et al., 2010

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  • May combine two claims.

    Findingnone given

    Some effects associated with oxytocin are inconsistent and come from small, homogeneous samples, creating a need for replication of key findings in larger, more representative samples.

    “some of the effects associated with OT are inconsistent and come from small, homogeneous samples, creating a need for replication of key findings in larger, more representative samples.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    Some studies reporting comparability of the oxytocin system across older and young subjects refer to peripheral oxytocin levels, whereas several studies documenting age-related change relate to central oxytocin levels.

    “some of the studies reporting comparability of the OT system across older and young subjects refer to peripheral OT levels (Fliers and Swaab, 1983; Zbuzek et al., 1988; Melis et al., 1992), whereas several of the studies documenting age-related change relate to central OT levels (Fliers and Swaab, 1983; Melis et al., 1992; Arsenijevic et al., 1995; Parker et al., 2010).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Fliers and Swaab, 1983

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Zbuzek et al., 1988

      Not checked in the free run.

    • cites Melis et al., 1992

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  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    The results for left and right mPFC pointed in the same direction but were not significant.

    “In addition, the results for left [F(1, 51) = 3.24, p = 0.078, η2p = 0.06] and right [F(1, 51) = 1.29, p = 0.261, η2p = 0.03] mPFC pointed in the same direction but were not significant.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingown data

    Greater recruitment of right ACC in individuals carrying a G-allele was positively correlated with accuracy in reading happy faces but uncorrelated in AA-genotype carriers.

    “greater recruitment of right ACC in individuals carrying a G-allele was positively correlated (r = 0.35; p = 0.049) with accuracy in reading happy faces but uncorrelated in AA-genotype carriers (r = 0.05; p = 0.838).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Findingcitation

    This study did not include a comparison group of young adults and did not extensively explore oxytocin's effects on other aspects of socioemotional functioning.

    “this study did not include a comparison group of young adults and did not extensively explore OT's effects on other aspects of socioemotional functioning.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

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

    Premisenone given

    Various socioemotional capacities change with age.

    “though we know that various socioemotional capacities change with age”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisenone given

    Intranasal oxytocin appears to benefit aspects of socioemotional functioning, though the evidence is somewhat mixed.

    “though evidence is somewhat mixed-intranasal OT appears to benefit aspects of socioemotional functioning.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • Probably not a substantial claim: may not pass S4 (based). May combine two claims.

    Interpretationnone given

    Information gained from research on oxytocin and aging has translational potential in depression, social stress, and anxiety and may contribute to reducing social isolation and improving well-being across the lifespan.

    “Information gained from this arena has translational potential in depression, social stress, and anxiety-all of which have high relevance in aging—and may contribute to reducing social isolation and improving well-being of individuals across the lifespan.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    The majority of older adults are well-adjusted emotionally and report relatively high levels of affective well-being and emotional stability.

    “The majority of older adults are well-adjusted emotionally and report relatively high levels of affective well-being and emotional stability as documented in cross-sectional (Carstensen et al., 2000) as well as longitudinal (Carstensen et al., 2011) studies”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Carstensen et al., 2000

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    • cites Carstensen et al., 2011

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

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin is synthesized in magnocellular neurosecretory cells of the paraventricular nuclei and supraoptic nuclei of the hypothalamus and released through the posterior pituitary gland into the periphery.

    “It is synthesized in magnocellular neurosecretory cells of paraventricular nuclei (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) of the hypothalamus and released through the posterior pituitary gland into the periphery (Insel, 2010).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Insel, 2010

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Older compared to young adults are less proficient at detecting lies, mediated by deficits in emotion recognition.

    “older compared to young adults are less proficient at detecting lies, mediated by deficits in emotion recognition (Ruffman et al., 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Ruffman et al., 2012

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    One common finding is an age-related decrease in amygdala activation during the perception of emotional stimuli (especially negative stimuli) accompanied by an age-related increase in activity in a number of lateral prefrontal and medial prefrontal cortex regions.

    “one common finding is an age-related decrease in amygdala activation during the perception of emotional stimuli (especially negative stimuli) accompanied by an age-related increase in activity in a number of lPFC and mPFC regions (Iidaka et al., 2002; Gunning-Dixon et al., 2003; Fischer et al., 2005, 2010; Tessitore et al., 2005; but see Mather and Carstensen, 2005; Wright et al., 2006; Ebner et a”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Iidaka et al., 2002

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    • cites Gunning-Dixon et al., 2003

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    • cites Fischer et al., 2005

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

    Premisecitation

    The dorsomedial prefrontal cortex is involved in complex processing and cognitive and emotional control.

    “This association comports with previous evidence that dmPFC is involved in complex processing and cognitive and emotional control (Amodio and Frith, 2006).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Amodio and Frith, 2006

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  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Interpretationreasoning

    Changes in socioemotional function may also be linked with age-related alterations in neuroendocrine function.

    “it may be that changes in socioemotional function are also linked with age-related alterations in neuroendocrine function.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    When processing faces, older adults spend less time viewing the eye region and more time viewing the mouth.

    “when processing faces, spend less time viewing the eye region and more time viewing the mouth (Firestone et al., 2007).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Firestone et al., 2007

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin is a nine amino acid peptide with peripheral and central functions.

    “OT is a nine amino acid peptide, with peripheral and central functions (Gimpl and Fahrenholz, 2001).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Gimpl and Fahrenholz, 2001

      Not checked in the free run.

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Effects of oxytocin are dependent on context and influenced by early life experiences.

    “there is increasing evidence suggesting that the effects of OT are dependent on context (Domes et al., 2007b) and influenced by early life experiences (see MacDonald, 2012, for a review).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Domes et al., 2007b

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    • cites MacDonald, 2012

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Older adults are more avoidance-oriented and less approach-oriented than young adults.

    “there is robust evidence that older adults are more avoidance-oriented and less approach-oriented than young adults (Ebner et al., 2006; Freund, 2006; Nikitin et al. in revision).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Ebner et al., 2006

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    • cites Freund, 2006

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    • cites Nikitin et al. in revision

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    Oxytocin is also released into the brain by magnocellular dendrites and by oxytocin-releasing neurons projecting to specific brain regions such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and striatum.

    “OT is also released into the brain by magnocellular dendrites (Leng and Ludwig, 2006) and by OT-releasing neurons projecting to specific brain regions such as the amygdala, hippocampus, and striatum (Kimura et al., 1992; Landgraf and Neumann, 2004; Knobloch et al., 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Leng and Ludwig, 2006

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    • cites Kimura et al., 1992

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    • cites Landgraf and Neumann, 2004

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

    Premisecitation

    OXTR rs237887 has previously been associated with susceptibility for ASD, prosocial behavior, and face recognition.

    “OXTR rs237887 has previously been associated with susceptibility for ASD (Liu et al., 2010), prosocial behavior (Israel et al., 2009, but see Apicella et al., 2010), and face recognition (Lori et al., 2012).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Liu et al., 2010

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    • cites Israel et al., 2009

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    • cites Lori et al., 2012

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  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationown data

    This study provides some first indication of a role of OXTR rs237887 in reading positive compared to negative facial expressions, with some variation as a function of the age of the participant.

    “our study provides some first indication of a role of OXTR rs237887 in reading positive compared to negative facial expressions, with some variation as a function of the age of the participant.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Study design and conductown data

    OXTR rs237887 AA carriers and GA/GG carriers were comparable in chronological age, education, cognitive status, and affective variables.

    “OXTR rs237887 AA carriers (n = 10 young participants; n = 10 older participants) and GA/GG carriers (n = 15 young participants; n = 19 older participants) were comparable in terms of chronological age, level of education, cognitive status”
    • Also stated in: § Oxytocin and socioemotional aging: age-related genetic, neurobiological, sociobehavioral model of oxytocin · plain
      “and affective variables (Geriatric Depression Scale; Brink et al., 1982; Gottfries, 1997; State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; Spielberger et al., 1970).”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    No changes in mood, cardiovascular states, or social activity and engagement patterns were observed across the study interval.

    “No changes in mood, cardiovascular states, or social activity and engagement patterns were observed across the study interval.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Barraza et al., 2013

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisenone given

    Each of these levels and their functional interactions are influenced by the aging process.

    “Furthermore, each of these levels and their functional interactions are influenced by the aging process.”
    Quote in the paperNot a substantial claim

  • May combine two claims.

    Interpretationreasoning

    These characteristics may be adaptive in some contexts but maladaptive in others.

    “These characteristics may be adaptive in some contexts (e.g., social interactions within close relationships) but maladaptive in others (e.g., putting aging adults at greater susceptibility to fraud).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim

  • Classified as probably not a substantial claim.

    Premisecitation

    There is broad evidence of preferential processing of positive over negative information in older compared to young adults.

    “given broad evidence of preferential processing of positive over negative information in older compared to young adults (Mather and Carstensen, 2005).”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Mather and Carstensen, 2005

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    On average, older adults can be described as highly positive, trustworthy, and prosocial.

    “on average, older adults can be described as highly positive, trustworthy, and prosocial.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 3 sources checked
    • cites Carstensen, 2006

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    • cites Carstensen et al., 2011

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    • cites Castle et al., 2012

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  • May combine two claims.

    Premisecitation

    In the oxytocin group, there was a slower decline in physical functioning and decreased self-reported fatigue than the placebo group.

    “the OT group had a slower decline in physical functioning and decreased self-reported fatigue than the placebo group.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 1 sources checked
    • cites Barraza et al., 2013

      Not checked in the free run.

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

    Premisecitation

    This exploratory, secondary data analysis was based on the group's previous finding of increased activation in vmPFC during emotion identification of happy compared to angry faces and increased dmPFC activity to angry compared to happy faces in both young and older adults.

    “This exploratory, secondary data analysis was based on our group's previous finding of increased activation in ventromedial PFC (vmPFC) during emotion identification of happy compared to angry faces and increased dorsomedial PFC (dmPFC) activity to angry compared to happy faces (Ebner et al., 2012; see also Keightley et al., 2007) in both young and older adults.”
    Quote in the paperSubstantial claim0 of 2 sources checked
    • cites Ebner et al., 2012

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    • cites Keightley et al., 2007

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35 of 35

  • The paper relies on this without support.

    This is the first study that considers young and older participants in a genetic-neuro-behavioral examination of facial emotion processing.

    “To our knowledge this is the first study that considers young and older participants in a genetic-neuro-behavioral examination of facial emotion processing, as suggested in the AGeNeS-OT model.”
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?

  • Growing evidence suggests developmental change and aging effects on the OT system.

    “There is a growing body of evidence suggesting developmental change and effects of aging on the OT system (Arsenijevic, Dreifuss, Vallet, Marguerat, & Tribollet, 1995; Barraza et al., 2013; Campbell, Ruffman, Murray, & Glue, 2014; Ebner et al., 2013, 2015, 2016; Keck et al., 2000; Melis, Mauri, & Argiolas, 1995; Parker, Hoffman, Hyde, Cummings, & Maestripieri, 2010).”

    From Associations between oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) methylation, plasma oxytocin, and attachment across adulthood (2019) · cites this paper as Ebner et al., 2013

Statistics that don’t add up

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

  • Statistic does not fit its p-value and effect size: F(1, 26) = 3.09, p = .035

    Minor

    The paper reports p = .035 here; recomputing from the test statistic and its degrees of freedom gives p = .091. The partial eta squared printed with it (ηp² = .16) corresponds to F ≈ 4.95 and p = .035, which fits the reported p-value and not the statistic: the statistic appears to be the misprint.

    Reported p = .035 · recomputed p = .091

1 of 1

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) = 3.09reported p = .035 · recomputed p = .091

    “F(1, 26) = 3.09, p = .035”

  • ConsistentF(1, 51) = 6.51reported p = .014 · recomputed p = .014

    “F(1, 51) = 6.51, p = .014”

  • ConsistentF(1, 23) = 2.38reported p = .136 · recomputed p = .137

    “F(1, 23) = 2.38, p = .136”

  • ConsistentF(1, 51) = 6.34reported p = .015 · recomputed p = .015

    “F(1, 51) = 6.34, p = .015”

  • ConsistentF(1, 51) = 3.24reported p = .078 · recomputed p = .078

    “F(1, 51) = 3.24, p = .078”

  • ConsistentF(1, 51) = 1.29reported p = .261 · recomputed p = .261

    “F(1, 51) = 1.29, p = .261”

  • ConsistentF(1, 50) = 4.26reported p = .044 · recomputed p = .044

    “F(1, 50) = 4.26, p = .044”

7 of 7

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.

  • Figure 3A and 3B are cited in reverse

    Minor

    The text cites Figure 3A for oxytocin's effects, but the caption labels 3A as the age effect and 3B as the oxytocin effect. The text likewise cites 3B for age-related deficits.

1 of 1

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

1 of the 204 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Lezak M. D. (1995). Neuropsychological Assessment, 3rd Edn. New York, NY: Oxford University Press
  2. Lori A. Lee I. Cubells J. F. Binder E. B. Lehtimäki T. Puura K. (2012). Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) fine mapping of the AVPR1A and OXTR loci reveals an OXTR association with a social memory endophenotype in probands with autism and their family members, in Conference Presentation at American Society of Human Genetics (San Fransisco, CA).
  3. Westberg L. Walum H. (2013). Oxytocin and vasopressin gene variation and the neural basis of prosocial behavior, in The Oxford Handbook of Molecular Psychology, ed Canli T. (New York, NY: Oxford University Press).

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Authors
Ebner, N. C., Maura, G. M., MacDonald, K., Westberg, L., & Fischer, H.
Affiliations
  • University of Florida (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • University of Gothenburg (SE)
  • Stockholm University (SE)
Corresponding author
Ebner, Natalie C.
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2013
Volume
7
Pages
487-487
ISSN
1662-5161 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fnhum.2013.00487
PMC
PMC3755210
OpenAlex
W2145263118
Semantic Scholar
bf4a3eaf06093d44ca1c5ac8553ca8b7ab60bc41
Cited by
78
References
204
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6
FWCI
10.51
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Human Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • University of Florida (UL1TR000064)
  • Vetenskapsrådet
  • National Institutes of Health (UL1TR000064, TR000064)
  • National Institute on Aging (P30AG028740)
  • National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (TR000064)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
Keywords
oxytocin, aging, oxytocin receptor gene, social cognition, prosocial behavior, emotion recognition, social memory, trust, empathy, intranasal oxytocin, depression, social stress, anxiety, social isolation, well-being

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.

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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