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The Journal of Neuroscience, January 7, 2009, 29(1):38-42; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4260-08.2009

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Brief Communications
Oxytocin Makes a Face in Memory Familiar

Ulrike Rimmele,^1,2 Karin Hediger,¹ Markus Heinrichs,¹ and Peter Klaver³

¹Department of Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, University of Zurich, 8050 Zurich, Switzerland, ²Department of Psychology, New York University, New York, New York 10003, and ³Magnetic Resonance Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland

Correspondence should be addressed to Ulrike Rimmele, Department of Psychology, New York University, 6 Washington Place, Room 863, New York, NY 10003. Email: ur228{at}nyu.edu

Social recognition is the basis of all social interactions. Here, we show that, in humans, the evolutionarily highly conserved neuropeptide oxytocin, after intranasal administration, specifically improves recognition memory for faces, but not for nonsocial stimuli. With increased oxytocin levels, previously presented faces were more correctly assessed as "known," whereas the ability of recollecting faces was unchanged. This pattern speaks for an immediate and selective effect of the peptide strengthening neuronal systems of social memory.

Key words: oxytocin; social; face; recognition; memory; neuropeptide

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Received Sept. 6, 2008; revised Nov. 12, 2008; accepted Nov. 24, 2008.

Correspondence should be addressed to Ulrike Rimmele, Department of Psychology, New York University, 6 Washington Place, Room 863, New York, NY 10003. Email: ur228{at}nyu.edu

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