title: Evaluating self- vs. other-owned objects: the modulatory role of oxytocin.
abstract: Previous research has shown that the neuropeptide oxytocin promotes various prosocial sentiments, such as trust, generosity and cooperation. Here we investigate whether it plays a role in evaluating self- vs. other-owned objects. Brain potentials were recorded in participants who judged the ownership of objects that were described in either positive or negative terms. Results showed that self-owned objects framed by positive adjectives elicited more positive-going brain responses than those framed by negative adjectives, irrespective of oxytocin or placebo being administrated. Negatively described other-owned objects evoked more positive-going responses than positively described other-owned objects, but the opposite pattern was found with the administration of oxytocin. Thus, oxytocin abolishes other-derogation but does not affect self-enhancement in object evaluation, consistent with the proposal that oxytocin enhances affilliative and approach motivations during social interaction.
authors.affiliation: Center for Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Department of Psychology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
authors.forename: Yin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010067:Ownership; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin