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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 30, 2026

Assessing Cellular Stress and Inflammation in Discrete Oxytocin-secreting Brain Nuclei in the Neonatal Rat Before and After First Colostrum Feeding
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Oxytocin increases trust in humans.

Michael Kosfeld1, Markus Heinrichs, Paul J Zak

  • 1University of Zurich, Institute for Empirical Research in Economics, Blumlisalpstrasse 10, CH-8006 Zurich, Switzerland.

Nature
|June 3, 2005
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Summary

Intranasal oxytocin administration significantly increases human trust, enhancing social interactions. This neuropeptide specifically boosts willingness to accept social risks, not general risk-taking.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Social Psychology
  • Economics

Background:

  • Trust is fundamental for societal functioning, economic exchange, and political stability.
  • While trust's importance is recognized, its biological underpinnings in humans remain largely unexplored.
  • Oxytocin, a neuropeptide vital for social bonding in mammals, is a candidate for mediating human trust.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the biological basis of trust in humans.
  • To determine if intranasal oxytocin administration influences human trust levels.
  • To differentiate the effect of oxytocin on social risk-taking versus general risk-bearing.

Main Methods:

  • Human participants received intranasal oxytocin or a placebo.
  • Trust was assessed through behavioral economic games measuring willingness to engage in social interactions.
  • Risk-taking propensity was evaluated to distinguish specific effects on social trust.

Main Results:

  • Intranasal oxytocin administration led to a significant increase in trust among participants.
  • Oxytocin's effect was specific to social risk-taking, not a general increase in risk tolerance.
  • Increased trust mediated by oxytocin enhanced the benefits derived from social interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Oxytocin plays a crucial role in the biological basis of human trust.
  • Oxytocin specifically modulates the willingness to engage in interpersonal social risks.
  • These findings support oxytocin's function in promoting prosocial behaviors and social affiliation.