title: Memory response to oxytocin predicts relationship dissolution over 18 months.
abstract: Oxytocin is known for its role in pair bonding in non-human animals. To examine the role of oxytocin in human romantic bonding, we examined its effect on recall of memories of past and current romantic experiences as predictors of relationship dissolution.
  
  
  
  In a placebo-controlled, within-subject, randomized experiment, 48 participants (24♀; 16 single) self-administered intranasal oxytocin and completed an autobiographical memory test. Participants in a current romantic relationship reported on their relationship status 18 months later.
  
  
  
  Participants in a relationship recalled fewer memories of past romantic partners following oxytocin administration relative to placebo. Participants who responded to oxytocin by recalling more conflict memories of their current romantic partner, relative to placebo, were more likely to have ended their relationship over 18 months than those who did not show this response.
  
  
  
  These results suggest that the memory response to an intranasal oxytocin challenge may represent an index of relationship outcome over time.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Human Development, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Human Development, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kalogeropoulos
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Human Development, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Human Development, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark Anthony
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research in Human Development, Department of Psychology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada. Electronic address: mark.ellenbogen@concordia.ca.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ellenbogen
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012919:Social Behavior; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Autobiographical memory; Intranasal oxytocin; Relationship dissolution; Romantic relationships; Self-referential processing