Using EEG to Measure the Neural Effects of Oxytocin Administration: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Elisabeth Deilhaug1,2,3, Matthijs Moerkerke4,5, Alina I Sartorius6
1Unit for Brain Disorders, Department of Rare Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Psychophysiology
|June 10, 2026
Summary
Oxytocin administration shows small but significant effects on brain activity measured by electroencephalography (EEG). These findings, based on meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials, highlight EEG
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Electroencephalography (EEG) is a valuable tool for studying oxytocin's neural mechanisms due to its cost-effectiveness and temporal precision.
- Previous EEG studies on oxytocin have produced inconsistent results, attributed to variations in methodology, dosage, and participant samples.
- Understanding oxytocin's electrophysiological effects is crucial for elucidating its role in social cognition and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the effects of oxytocin administration on various EEG measures using meta-analysis.
- To synthesize findings from randomized controlled trials examining oxytocin's impact on neural correlates of social/cognitive processing and exploratory neural activity.
- To identify potential moderators influencing oxytocin's electrophysiological effects.
Main Methods:
- Conducted two multilevel random effects meta-analyses on data from 28 randomized controlled trials (1361 participants).
- Synthesized 161 effect sizes related to social/cognitive processing and exploratory neural activity (e.g., microstates).
- Performed moderator analyses to explore the influence of EEG measurements and participant demographics.
Main Results:
- Small, statistically significant effect sizes were found for oxytocin administration on both social/cognitive EEG measures (Hedges' g = 0.14) and exploratory neural activity (Hedges' g = 0.28).
- Significant heterogeneity was observed across studies (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001), indicating variability in findings.
- EEG measurement types and the proportion of female participants significantly moderated oxytocin's effects on neural activity.
Conclusions:
- Oxytocin administration appears to modulate a range of EEG-based neural activity markers, although effect sizes are small.
- Substantial heterogeneity across studies necessitates careful consideration of design, paradigms, and participant characteristics.
- Further research is required to clarify context-specific effects and neurobiological mechanisms of oxytocin.
