Oxytocin Reduces the Attractiveness of Silver-Tongued Men for Women During Mid-Cycle

Zhao Gao, Xiaole Ma, Xinqi Zhou, Fei Xin, Shan Gao, Juan Kou, Benjamin Becker, Keith M Kendrick, Zhao Gao, Xiaole Ma, Xinqi Zhou, Fei Xin, Shan Gao, Juan Kou, Benjamin Becker, Keith M Kendrick

Abstract

In humans, the neuropeptide oxytocin promotes both attraction toward and bonds with romantic partners, although no studies have investigated whether this extends to the perceived attractiveness of flirtatious language. In a within-subject, randomized double-blind placebo-controlled behavior and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) paradigm (https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT03144115), 75 women rated the attractiveness of either a male face alone or paired with a verbal compliment which varied in terms of topic (women or landscapes) and figurativeness (novel or conventional metaphors or literal expressions). Subjects were tested in fertile and luteal phases of their cycle and on both occasions received either 24 IU intranasal oxytocin or placebo. Results showed that, whereas under placebo women in the fertile phase rated the facial attractiveness of men producing novel metaphorical compliments higher than in their luteal phase, following oxytocin treatment they did not. Correspondingly, under oxytocin the faces of individuals producing novel metaphorical compliments evoked greater responses in brain regions involved in processing language (middle frontal gyrus) and cognitive and emotional conflict (posterior middle cingulate and dorsal anterior cingulate) but reduced functional connectivity between the dorsal anterior cingulate and right orbitofrontal and medial frontal gyri. Thus, sex hormones and oxytocin may have opposite effects in regulating mate selection in women during their fertile phase. Novel metaphorical compliments convey a greater sexual than bonding intention and thus while sex hormones at mid-cycle may promote attraction to individuals communicating sexual rather than bonding intent, oxytocin may bias attraction away from such individuals through increasing cognitive and emotional conflict responses toward them.

Keywords: attractiveness; mate choice; menstrual cycle; metaphor; oxytocin.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Copyright © 2022 Gao, Ma, Zhou, Xin, Gao, Kou, Becker and Kendrick.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Experiment design. (A) Flow chart of study protocol. (B) A trial of a face paired with a compliment using a conventional metaphor targeting appearance condition (“face + CMA”) during fMRI. (C) A trial presenting a face alone (“face alone” condition) during fMRI.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Topic × figurativeness of men’s compliments × treatment interaction affects attractiveness ratings (n = 62). *p < 0.05, two-tailed t-test. Bars indicate M ± SE.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Women’s menstrual cycle × figurativeness of men’s compliments × treatment interaction affects attractiveness ratings (n = 62). **p < 0.01, two-tailed t-test. Bars indicate M ± SE.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Cycle × figurativeness interaction effect on attractiveness ratings independent of treatment (n = 62). **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, two-tailed t-test. Bars indicate M ± SE.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Treatment difference for novel metaphorical compliments based on cycle contrasts (fertile > luteal) in activated brain regions: left MFG, dACC, pMCC (n = 62). (A) The t map of the post hoc independent t-test effect showed three activated clusters peaking at the left MFG (x = –30, y = 32, z = 26; t60 = 5.13), dACC (x = 9, y = –28, z = 29; t60 = 4), and pMCC (x = 24, y = 26, z = 26; t60 = 4.39). Parameter estimates were extracted using the peak MNI coordinates. (B) Extraction based on the fertile > luteal contrast revealed that oxytocin significantly increased activation in the identified regions relative to placebo, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, two-tailed t-test. Bars indicate M ± SE. L, left; R, right; MFG, middle frontal gyrus; dACC, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex; pMCC, posterior middle cingulate cortex.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Functional connectivity analysis with dACC seed for novel metaphorical compliments based on cycle contrasts (fertile > luteal) (n = 62). (A) The t map of functional connectivity of dACC seed with right OFG (x = 21, y = 53, z = –1; t60 = 5.40) and right MFG (x = 39, y = 29, z = 44; t60 = 4.32). Parameter estimates were extracted using the peak MNI coordinates. (B) Extraction based on the fertile > luteal contrast revealed that oxytocin significantly decreased the functional connectivity of dACC seed with right OFG and right MFG relative to placebo, *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, two-tailed t-test. Bars indicate M ± SE. L, left; R, right; dACC, dorsal anterior cingulate cortex; OFG, orbital frontal gyrus; MFG, middle frontal gyrus.

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