# Nasal dominance potentiates intranasal oxytocin’s anxiolytic effects

## TL;DR

This study shows that delivering oxytocin to the dominant nostril enhances its stress-reducing effects in female adolescents.

## Contribution

The study introduces the novel concept that nasal dominance influences the effectiveness of intranasal oxytocin.

## Key findings

- Intranasal oxytocin significantly reduces stress compared to placebo.
- Oxytocin delivered to the dominant nostril results in greater stress reduction.
- Nasal dominance may optimize the anxiolytic effects of oxytocin.

## Abstract

The nasal cycle is a phenomenon whereby alterations in airflow alternate between left and right nostrils. During a nostril’s decongested – or dominant – state, the contralateral nostril is congested, or non-dominant. Intranasal oxytocin may elicit anxiolytic effects. To date, no study has investigated whether there is an optimal nasal pathway for oxytocin’s effects. Forty-four female adolescents aged 16 to 17 years were included in this exploratory study investigating effects of nasal dominance on intranasal oxytocin delivery. We show that intranasal oxytocin significantly reduces stress relative to placebo (p = 0.012, ηp2 = 0.145) and greater stress reduction occurs when oxytocin is delivered to the dominant, rather than non-dominant, nostril (p = 0.034, ηp2 = 0.113). We postulate that oxytocin administration may reduce stress and be most effective in the context of anxiolysis when administered to the dominant nostril. Further research investigating whether other intranasal psychotropic drugs have nostril-specific effects might benefit clinical practice.