This study investigates the effects of oxytocin on amygdala function in humans using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The researchers administered oxytocin or a placebo intranasally to 15 healthy male participants and measured amygdala activation in response to fear-inducing visual stimuli. Results showed that oxytocin significantly reduced amygdala activation and decreased functional coupling between the amygdala and brainstem regions involved in fear responses. These findings suggest that oxytocin modulates social cognition and fear processing by influencing amygdala function, providing a potential mechanism for its therapeutic effects in disorders such as social phobia and autism. The study also highlights the importance of the amygdala in social and emotional processing and opens avenues for further research on the neural circuits involved in these processes.This study investigates the effects of oxytocin on amygdala function in humans using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The researchers administered oxytocin or a placebo intranasally to 15 healthy male participants and measured amygdala activation in response to fear-inducing visual stimuli. Results showed that oxytocin significantly reduced amygdala activation and decreased functional coupling between the amygdala and brainstem regions involved in fear responses. These findings suggest that oxytocin modulates social cognition and fear processing by influencing amygdala function, providing a potential mechanism for its therapeutic effects in disorders such as social phobia and autism. The study also highlights the importance of the amygdala in social and emotional processing and opens avenues for further research on the neural circuits involved in these processes.