A randomized placebo-controlled intranasal oxytocin study on first impressions and reactions to social rejection

Oxytocin is central to pair-bonding in non-human animals. We assessed effects of intranasal oxytocin on bond formation between two opposite-sex strangers. In a double-blind placebo-controlled design, 50 pairs of one man and one woman received oxytocin or placebo spray intranasally. After treatment, they played a social interaction game, followed by tasks designed to measure first impressions of the opposite-sex co-participant, and a virtual ball-tossing game (cyberball), designed to measure reactions to rejection by the co-participant. We found no evidence that intranasal oxytocin can improve first impressions of an opposite-sex stranger, and some Bayesian support against this hypothesis. For rejection sensitivity, we observed a sex-and-context-dependent drug effect on post-ostracism mood ratings, consistent with recent studies indicating that interindividual variation and social context can interact with intranasal oxytocin effects. Further research is needed to determine the generalisability of these findings, i.e. if oxytocin can improve first impressions in humans under different conditions.