Oxytocin makes a face in memory familiar.
Social recognition is the basis of all social interactions. Here, we show that, in humans, the evolutionarily highly conserved neuropeptide oxytocin, after intranasal administration, specifically improves recognition memory for faces, but not for nonsocial stimuli. With increased oxytocin levels, previously presented faces were more correctly assessed as "known," whereas the ability of recollecting faces was unchanged. This pattern speaks for an immediate and selective effect of the peptide strengthening neuronal systems of social memory.
Rimmele
Ulrike
U
Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Zurich, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland. ur228@nyu.edu
Hediger
Karin
K
Heinrichs
Markus
M
Klaver
Peter
P
D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
D010121:Oxytocin