Intranasal oxytocin reduced amygdala activation to threatening stimuli in healthy humans, visualized by fMRI — providing neural imaging proof that oxytocin dampens the brain's fear response.
Key findingIntranasal oxytocin attenuated amygdala reactivity to threatening facial expressions measured by fMRI in healthy humans, providing the first neural im
What the researchers found
Intranasal oxytocin attenuated amygdala reactivity to threatening facial expressions measured by fMRI in healthy humans, providing the first neural imaging evidence for oxytocin's anxiolytic mechanism through direct fear-circuit modulation.
Why it matters
Relevant for oxytocin, anxiety-mood, neuroprotection.
How the study worked
RCT study on oxytocin, anxiety-mood.
What this study cannot tell us
See abstract.
How to read the evidence
strong evidence.
When this study was published
Published in 2005.
The bigger picture
Advances peptide research with clinical implications.
Questions still open
- Further research needed.
- Clinical translation to evaluate.
Common questions
What was studied?
What was found?
Read the original research
Oxytocin modulates neural circuitry for social cognition and fear in humans.
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 25(49), 11489-93
Citation
Kirsch, Peter; Esslinger, Christine; Chen, Qiang; Mier, Daniela; Lis, Stefanie; Siddhanti, Sarina; Gruppe, Harald; Mattay, Venkata S; Gallhofer, Bernd; Meyer-Lindenberg, Andreas. (2005). Oxytocin modulates neural circuitry for social cognition and fear in humans.. The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 25(49), 11489-93.