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Oxytocin modulates the cognitive appraisal of the own and others close intimate relationships
Aguilar-Raab, Corina Eckstein, Monika Geracitano, Susanne Prevost, Marie Gold, Ian Heinrichs, Markus Bilderbeck, Amy Ehlert, Ulrike Ditzen, Beate
Aguilar-Raab, Corina
Eckstein, Monika
Geracitano, Susanne
Prevost, Marie
Gold, Ian
Heinrichs, Markus
Bilderbeck, Amy
Ehlert, Ulrike
Ditzen, Beate
Abstract
Close and intimate relationships are important promoters of health. Oxytocin and its association with social cognition have been investigated in a large number of studies, especially highlighting the neuropeptide’s involvement in attachment behavior and intimate relationships. However, mixed findings on exogenous oxytocin application have led to the focus on moderators and mediators, suggesting that the effects are depended on specific factors – namely context and salience. The objective of the current study was to assess the effect of intranasal oxytocin on social appraisal of own and others’ close intimate relationship characteristics. Different characteristics of relationships, including trust or closeness, between romantic couples (unknown and own) were assessed using the Couple Appraisal Task. In a randomized controlled double-blind cross-over within subject design, N = 71 healthy men and women were investigated after receiving first intranasal oxytocin and 2 weeks later placebo, or vice versa. We found an oxytocin-induced increase in the positive appraisal of one’s own overall relationship characteristics but not in the evaluation of the relationship of others. The present study – one of the first of its kind administrating oxytocin in a repeated measures cross-over design – adds further evidence to the mediating role of oxytocin in social cognition, specifically with regard to romantic relationship characteristics.
Keywords
oxytocin, couple relationships, relationship appraisal, social cognition, repeated-measures-cross-over-design
Date
2019
Type
Journal article
Journal
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Book
Volume
13
Issue
Page Range
1-11
Article Number
Article 714
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open