Intranasal Oxytocin: Myths and Delusions

• Published in: Biological psychiatry (1969) Vol. 79; no. 3; pp. 243 - 250
• Main Authors: Leng, Gareth, Ludwig, Mike
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.02.2016
• Subjects: Administration, Intranasal; Blood-brain barrier; Brain - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Hypothalamus; Oxytocin; Oxytocin - administration & dosage; Psychiatric/Mental Health; Social Behavior; Social behaviors; Vasopressin; Hypothalamus; Blood-brain barrier; Oxytocin; Humans; Vasopressin; Social behaviors

Despite widespread reports that intranasal application of oxytocin has a variety of behavioral effects, very little of the huge amounts applied intranasally appears to reach the cerebrospinal fluid. However, peripheral concentrations are increased to supraphysiologic levels, with likely effects on d...