The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT), originally known for its role in inducing uterine
contractions has been shown to be involved in many of the social capacities that seem to
change with age, such as emotion detection and identification, enhanced social memory,
empathy, and trust. Thus, age-related changes in the OXT system may underlie differences
between young and older adults in socioemotional functioning. Research on the effects of
oxytocin in aging is very scarce; therefore, the purpose of this research project is to
determine the effects of oxytocin on socioemotional aging. The aim of this research is to
examine the behavioral and neural effects of OXT on decisions of trust in social
interactions, perceptions of facial trustworthiness, the ability to read faces, and levels of
empathy with other people in samples of young and older adults.