Oxytocin increases trust in humans

Oxytocin-induced elevation of ADP-ribosyl cyclase activity, cyclic ADP-riboseor Ca2+ concentrations is involved in autoregulation of oxytocin secretionin the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary in male mice

“…The positive feedback mechanism of OT release plays a critical and physiological role in causing uterus contraction during labor and triggering milk release from the breast tissue when infants are nursed (Moos et al, 1984;Neumann et al, 1994 and1996). A recent series of studies showed that nasal infusion of OT increases trust (Kosfeld et al, 2005), mind-reading (Domes et al, 2007), and generosity (Zak et al, 2007) in humans,…”

Seeing is believing: Trustworthiness as a dynamic belief

“…In our study, it appears that participants believe trustworthy faces predict a higher probability of reciprocation, and therefore facial trustworthiness may serve as a risk signal which influences the amount of money an individual expects to be sent back. However, there is likely something unique to the social nature of this signal as it is able to be selectively manipulated (compared to pure risk) using a hormone induction (Kosfeld, Heinrichs, Zak, Fischbacher, & Fehr, 2005). This hormone, known as oxytocin, acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and is likely mediating the effect on trust via the amygdala (Baumgartner, Heinrichs, Vonlanthen, Fischbacher, & Fehr, 2008).…”

Combining oxytocin administration and positive emotion inductions: Examining social perception and analytical performance

“…Studies with other peptides (e.g., vasopressin) administered intranasally have found that they are absorbed within 30 min, as assessed by peptide levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (Born et al, 2002). Other experimental work with intranasal oxytocin in humans has consistently utilized an absorption period ranging between 40 and 50 min (Heinrichs et al, 2003;Kosfeld et al, 2005;Shamay-Tsoory et al, 2009). In our study, behavioral testing did not begin until at least 45 min post-administration and continued for approximately 45 additional minutes.…”

“…Initial work on OT administration suggested that it may promote more positive social behavior, such as greater trust and generosity (Kosfeld et al, 2005;Zak et al, 2007), and more accurate social perception (Bartz et al, 2010a;Domes et al, 2007;Guastella et al, 2010). There has been less examination of the effects of OT on cognitive processes, but one study found that OT administration promoted greater holistic thinking and creative performance, but decreased analytical reasoning (De Dreu et al, 2013).…”