Neuropeptide Effects on Behavior and the Brain

With colleagues from UCLA, our lab has been analyzing data from two large randomized controlled trials in which participants received intranasal administration of oxytocin, vasopressin, or placebo. The goal of this project is to examine the behavioral and neural effects of oxytocin and vasopressin administration while engaged in a variety of social processes.

Relevant publications

Straccia, M. A., Teed, A. R., Katzman, P. L., Tan, K. M., Parrish, M. H., Irwin, M. R., Eisenberger, N. I., Lieberman, M. D., & Tabak, B. A. (in press). Null results of oxytocin and vasopressin administration on mentalizing in a large fMRI sample: evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Psychological Medicine.

Tabak, B. A., Teed, A. R., Castle, E., Dutcher, J. M., Meyer, M. L., Bryan, R., Irwin, M. R., Lieberman, M.D., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2019). Null results of oxytocin and vasopressin administration across a range of social cognitive and behavioral paradigms: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 107, 124-132.

Tabak, B. A., Meyer, M. L., Dutcher, J. M., Castle, E., Irwin, M. R., Lieberman, M. D., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2016). Oxytocin, but not vasopressin, impairs social cognitive ability among individuals with higher levels of social anxiety: A randomized controlled trial. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 11, 1272-1279.

Tabak, B. A., Meyer, M. L., Castle, E., Dutcher, J. M., Irwin, M. R., Han, J. H., Lieberman, M. D., & Eisenberger, N. I. (2015). Vasopressin, but not oxytocin, increases empathic concern among individuals who received higher levels of paternal warmth: A randomized controlled trial. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 51, 253-261.