There is an ongoing debate whether the neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) modulates pain
processing in humans. This study differentiates behavioral and neuronal OT effects on pain
perception and pain anticipation by using a Pavlovian conditioning paradigm. Forty-six
males received intranasally administered OT in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-
controlled group design. Although OT exerted no direct effect on perceived pain, OT was
found to modulate the blood oxygen level-dependent response in the ventral striatum for …