My first encounter with Moïra Mikolajczak was a couple of years ago. As I was writing a review on oxytocin and trust, I stumbled upon her work in Psychological Science. I was intrigued by her finding, that giving intranasal oxytocin to human subjects made them “trust” a computer more than it made them trust a human. This result contradicted a previous high profile publication claiming that oxytocin’s effects were specific to interactions between humans. I asked Moïra to share her data.
Apart from the data, Moïra also shared her recent adventures as a behavioral oxytocin researcher in humans. After what had probably been beginners’ luck, her lab could not replicate some of their initial findings. They had also failed to detect several of the effects expected from prominent behavioral oxytocin theories. She had just got back from a conference where she desperately tried to discuss her findings with several high-profile figures in the field. None were willing to share information about the amount of unpublished null findings in their labs.
The conversation with Moïra made me angry. Apart from socializing and drinking, the point of going to conferences is having researchers talk to each other about their work. True, in some cases scientists might have fears of getting scooped by others. But this is not the case for null results. Sharing your failures with other researchers is especially important: it can save them the time, money and frustration of chasing non-existing effects.
The chat with Moïra also made me hopeful. I was fortunate to meet an oxytocin researcher who was committed to finding the truth and understood the importance of transparent, collaborative scientific conduct. It sparked collaboration with Moïra and two of her colleagues in the university of Louvain, Anthony Lane and Olivier Luminet. Our project is published in this week’s special issue on oxytocin in the journal of Neuroendocrinology.
Moïra’s lab conducted quite a few oxytocin studies over the past decade. The experiments were methodologically similar to most other works in the field with respect to sample size and oxytocin administration procedures. But only one type of studies was publishable. Positive results were greeted with enthusiasm by editors and reviewers and found their homes in top journals. Negative (or “null”) results got rejected time after time and were sent to the file drawer.
In one case, a high impact journal published a suspiciously large behavioral effect of oxytocin found in a single blind study (i.e., the experimenter interacting with the subjects knew what the hypothesis was, and which subjects received oxytocin / placebo) conducted in Moïra’s lab. Her group failed to replicate their own findings twice, with larger samples and using a double blind protocol. The same exact journal rejected their (failed) replication paper.
Moïra saw a publication bias rapidly emerging in front of her own eyes and it became obvious that her publication profile no longer reflected what was really going on in the lab. She made a decision to clear her lab’s file drawer, and publish all of her lab’s studies in a single article. The numbers below summarize her lab’s behavioral oxytocin research.[1]
Only a single task out of 25 produced a main effect of intranasal oxytocin: the task that failed to replicate twice (mentioned earlier). Five out of 25 experiments (20%) found significant interaction effects. It’s important to keep in mind that the probability of a type I errors is quite high when exploring interactions, unless the p-values are corrected for multiple hypothesis testing. None of the interaction effects survived such correction.
Our newly published paper summarizes the results obtained in Moïra’s lab in three meta-analyses that test the overall effects of intranasal oxytocin on (1) affective, (2) behavioral and (3) cognitive variables in isolation. Neither of these meta-analyses found a reliable effect. Finally, we meta-analyzed the studies based on their relation to three prominent theories: (1) oxytocin is an “affiliation” hormone; (2) oxytocin enhances saliency of social stimuli; (3) oxytocin facilitates approach behaviors. We could not reject the null hypothesis in either case.
To date, it is unclear how many unpublished oxytocin studies are lying in other labs’ file drawers. Keeping in mind that the average statistical power in behavioral oxytocin literature in humans is extremely low (12%-16%), that seminal works has failed to replicate, and given the uncertainty surrounding the physiological effects of intranasal oxytocin administration (and whether the substance gets to brain regions involved in cognition and behavior), I find it hard to believe that Moïra’s lab is an outlier. It is possible that hundreds (if not thousand) unpublished intranasal oxytocin studies are still lying in many labs’ file drawers.
Moïra’s lab has set exemplary standards of scientific transparency. I hope that other researchers will adhere to these standards and release their unpublished oxytocin data as soon as possible – and turn oxytocin research into a transparent scientific endeavor. This is crucial for estimating the true effects of oxytocin administration on various behavioral outcomes. Oxytocin has dramatic influences on social behaviors of animals, and despite all of the methodological difficulties some of the effects may reflect real phenomena. Opening the oxytocin file drawer will also save time, money and frustration for many oxytocin researchers.
[1] Some dependent variables were estimated using more than a single behavioral paradigm, and some studies included more than a single task – a practice that is common in many labs, which goal is maximizing the knowledge gained from each subject that is going through a pharmacological treatment.
Pingback: Opening the oxytocin file drawer, one lab at a ...
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Many thanks, A lot of write ups!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
canadian pharmacy without prescription
canadian viagra
discount prescription drugs online
canadian online pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Wonderful write ups, Thanks a lot!
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
mexican pharmacies online canadian pharmacy online canadian pharmacy 365 canadian pharmacy online
canada online pharmacy
northwest pharmacy
compare rx prices
best online canadian pharcharmy
canadian pharmacy no prescription needed
medication costs
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Point certainly utilized..
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
walmart pharmacy price check canadian online pharmacies northwestpharmacy aarp approved canadian online pharmacies
pharmacy price comparison
canadian discount pharmacy
pharmacy drug store
mexican pharmacy online
pharmacy cost comparison
drugs online
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Very good information. Regards.
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
prescription price comparison online pharmacies canada cheap prescription drugs online canadian online pharmacies
northwestpharmacy
canadadrugs.com pharmacy
no 1 canadian pharcharmy online
canadian prescriptions
online pharmacy without a prescription
web medical information
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You actually expressed this really well.
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
drugs online aarp approved canadian online pharmacies online canadian discount pharmacy global pharmacy canada
online pharmacy no prescription needed
canadian prescription drugs
pharmacies in canada
prescription cost
pharmacy prescription
canadian online pharmacies
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Helpful stuff. Regards!
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
medical information online london drugs canada mail order pharmacies canadian pharmacies online
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa
canadian pharmacies online prescriptions
discount prescription drug
online prescription drugs
pharmacy cost comparison
canada pharmacy online reviews
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Point clearly used..
https://nicktambone.com/
buy online prescription drugs canadian online pharmacies prescription drugs without doctor approval canadian viagra
canada drugs pharmacy
pain meds online without doctor prescription
no prescription pharmacy
international pharmacy
24 hour pharmacy
pharmacy price comparison
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Thanks! I value it!
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
prescription drug cost canadianpharmacy canada pharmacy canada pharmacy
canada pharmacies without script
online pharmacy without prescription
canada pharmacy
canadian pharmacies that ship to us
canadian pharmacy no prescription
walmart pharmacy price check
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You mentioned this well!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
prescription price comparison online pharmacies canada canadian drugstore aarp approved canadian online pharmacies
best canadian pharmacies
mexican pharmacies online
medication costs
drugstore online
canada pharmacies
24 hour pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Lovely postings, Thanks!
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
my canadian pharmacy canadian online pharmacy online pharmacy without a prescription canadian pharmacies-24h
prescription price comparison
canadian drug store
costco pharmacy pricing
compare prescription prices
mexican pharmacy online medications
no prescription pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Well spoken indeed! !
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
rx price comparison north west pharmacy canada canadian rx pharmacy online online pharmacies of canada
best canadian online pharmacy
canadian pharmacy without prescription
mail order pharmacies
top rated canadian pharmacies online
canadian pharmacy viagra
pharmacies near me
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
This is nicely put. !
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
canadian pharmacy viagra trust pharmacy canada online pharmacies canada canada online pharmacies
ed meds online
canadian pharmacy without prescription
canadian pharcharmy online
canadian pharmacies that ship to us
best price prescription drugs
legitimate online pharmacies
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Many thanks! Good stuff.
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
legitimate online pharmacies online pharmacies canada drugs from canada canadian pharmacies without an rx
canadapharmacyonline.com
canadian pharmacy meds
canadian drug
online pharmacy no prescription
buying drugs canada
no prescription online pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Many thanks. Ample write ups!
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
best non prescription online pharmacies canada online pharmacies canada pharmacies without script canada pharmaceuticals online
web medical information
pharmacy tech
canadian pharmacy no prescription needed
canadian pharmacies online prescriptions
canadian pharmacy reviews
walmart pharmacy price check
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Many thanks! Terrific stuff.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
canadian pharmacies that are legit mexican pharmacies shipping to usa prescription drugs canada canada pharmacy online
canadapharmacy
buying drugs canada
no 1 canadian pharcharmy online
canadian pharmacy online
<a href="http://www.nationwidemarketing.com/blog/?form2mailerror&inquiry=Business+Development&fname=Petercow&lname=Petercow&email=jimmiepak%40gmail.com&company=google&phone1=87912173887&phone2=89332399719&phone3=84774926858&comments=+Thanks%21+Lots+of+material%21++http://canadianpharmacymim.com/+discount+pharmaceuticals+%3Ca+href=%22https://nicktambone.com//%22%3Eglobal+pharmacy+canada%3C/a%3E+canadadrugs+%3Ca+href=http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com//%3Eglobal+pharmacy+canada%3C/a%3E?form2mailerror&inquiry=Business Development&fname=Howardcoesy&lname=Howardcoesy&email=zittel020eejf@songwriter.net&company=google&phone1=85525158785&phone2=81878496328&phone3=88679584849&comments= Effectively expressed truly! . https://nicktambone.com/ canadian prescriptions global pharmacy canada canada pharmacy no prescription mexican pharmacies shipping to usa canadian drugs canadian pharmacy canadian pharmacy reviews canada pharmacy walmart pharmacy price check canadian pharmacies online prescriptions“>canadian pharmacies that ship to us
online rx pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You said it perfectly.!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
drugs for sale trust pharmacy canada canada pharmacy mexican pharmacies shipping to usa
pharmacy drug store
canada pharmacies
prescription drug cost
canadian drugstore online
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa
canada pharmacy online reviews
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You actually suggested it really well!
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
mexican pharmacies canada pharmacy canadian pharmacies shipping to usa canadian drugs
canada drugs
us pharmacy no prior prescription
legitimate canadian mail order pharmacies
buy drugs online
best online pharmacy
mexican pharmacies shipping to usa
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Thanks. I appreciate this.
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
best canadian prescription prices canada drugs online canadian pharmacy viagra brand canada pharmaceuticals online
meds online
discount prescription drug
online pharmacy without a prescription
best canadian mail order pharmacies
canada pharmacies without script
prescription drug
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You mentioned this effectively!
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
cheap prescription drugs london drugs canada canadian pharmacy north west pharmacy canada
canadian prescription drugstore
prescription drug assistance
pharmacy online
canada pharmacies
canadian drugstore online
online discount pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You actually suggested it wonderfully.
http://canadianpharmacysilo.com/
canadian drugstore online canada drugs online canadian pharmacy no prescription online pharmacies of canada
canadadrugs
discount drugs online pharmacy
prescription drugs canada
the canadian pharmacy
legitimate canadian mail order pharmacies
cialis online
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You actually mentioned it really well!
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
canadian family pharmacy canada online pharmacies ed meds online canadian pharmacy
buy online prescription drugs
canadian pharmacy no prescription
canadian pharmacy no prescription needed
online canadian discount pharmacy
prescription prices comparison
prescription drugs without prior prescription
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Kudos, I value it.
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
canadian pharmacy uk delivery aarp approved canadian online pharmacies internet pharmacy northwest pharmacy
drugs from canada
canadian rx
mexican pharmacy online medications
canadian drug
online canadian pharmacy
discount prescription drugs online
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Many thanks, Good stuff.
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
canadian meds canadian viagra canada meds canadian viagra
meds online
canadian pharmacies without prescriptions
online canadian pharmacies
discount pharmacy online
online canadian pharmacy
approved canadian pharmacies online
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Excellent data. Appreciate it!
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
canadian pharmacies shipping to usa northwest pharmacy canada pharmacy online canada drugs
prescription drugs canada
best online pharmacy stores
prescription without a doctor’s prescription
overseas pharmacy forum
canadian pharmacies that ship to us
best canadian prescription prices
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Great information. Thank you.
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
prescription online canadian pharmaceuticals online canada drug prices northwestpharmacy
trust pharmacy canada
rx online
canada pharmacies without script
pharmacy cost comparison
drugs online
buying prescription drugs canada
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You definitely made the point.
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
pharmacy prices compare canada pharmacy online online rx pharmacy canadian cialis
canadian online pharmacies prescription drugs
online pharmacies canada
online pharmacy without prescription
canadian prescription drugstore
canada drug pharmacy
most reliable canadian pharmacies
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You made the point.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
legitimate canadian mail order pharmacies canadian pharmacies that ship to us canada online pharmacy canada drug
northwest pharmacy
canada online pharmacies
cheap prescription drugs online
online canadian discount pharmacy
canadapharmacyonline com
compare prescription prices
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Regards. Loads of postings.
https://nicktambone.com/
canadian drugstore aarp approved canadian online pharmacies pharmacy prices canadian online pharmacies
online drugs
online drugs
canadian rx
canada drug prices
drugs online
canada pharmacies online prescriptions
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Kudos, Ample data.
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
meds online canada pharmacy online pharmacy canada pharmaceutical online ordering
canada pharmacies online prescriptions
safe canadian online pharmacies
cheap prescription drugs
web medical information
prescription drug price comparison
us pharmacy no prior prescription
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Many thanks, A lot of forum posts.
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
walgreens pharmacy global pharmacy canada northwest pharmacy canada canadian viagra
buying drugs canada
northwest pharmacy
walgreens pharmacy
canadian meds
internet pharmacy
discount pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
This is nicely expressed. !
http://talahicc.com/
medical information online canadian cialis pharmacy near me canadian drugs
safe canadian online pharmacies
cheap prescription drugs
canadian drug stores online
canada drug
onlinecanadianpharmacy.com
canada drugs online
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You reported this really well.
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
online discount pharmacy canadian pharmacies canada drugs northwest pharmacy
canada meds
internet pharmacy
canadian online pharmacy
buy online prescription drugs
pharmacies near me
best canadian prescription prices
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Fantastic information, Cheers.
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
drug stores near me canadian online pharmacies canadian prescription drugs canadian viagra
best canadian mail order pharmacies
pharmacy online
canadian pharcharmy online
canadian pharmacy uk delivery
canadian pharmacy no prescription
canadadrugs.com pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Amazing material. Regards!
https://nicktambone.com/
canadianpharmacy canadian cialis get prescription online canadian pharcharmy
canadian drugstore
canadian pharcharmy online
online pharmacy no prescription needed
canadian pharmacies online
pharmacies near me
us pharmacy no prior prescription
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Thanks a lot! Valuable stuff!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
buying prescription drugs canada canada pharmaceutical online ordering canada pharmacies without script canadian pharmacies-24h
canadian mail order pharmacies
canadian online pharmacies prescription drugs
reputable canadian mail order pharmacies
online drugstore
price prescription drugs
legitimate online pharmacies
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Kudos. I appreciate this!
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
canada drug canadianpharmacy canadian discount pharmacy canadian pharmaceuticals online
top rated online canadian pharmacies
canada pharmacy no prescription
online pharmacy
price prescription drugs
canadian prescriptions
candrugstore com
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Good info. Regards.
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
buying drugs canada canadian drugs drug stores near me global pharmacy canada
buy drugs online
canadapharmacy com
canadadrugs.com pharmacy
online pharmacy without a prescription
canada drugs
prescription online
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You said it very well..
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
canadian pharmacy viagra brand online pharmacies canada canadian online pharmacy canadian online pharmacies
legitimate canadian mail order pharmacies
medication costs
canadian mail order pharmacies
discount prescription drug
top rated canadian pharmacies online
drug stores near me
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You actually reported it superbly.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
northwest pharmacy canada pharmaceuticals online rx online canadian online pharmacies
canadian drug store
prescription cost
mexican pharmacy online
board of pharmacy
best canadian online pharmacy
no prior prescription required pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Very good stuff, Thanks a lot.
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
mexican pharmacies northwest pharmacy prescription drug assistance canada pharmacy online
compare rx prices
discount pharmacy online
buy cialis
best price prescription drugs
best canadian mail order pharmacies
canadian discount pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Thank you. A lot of advice.
http://canadianpharmaciescubarx.com/
drug stores near me canada drug best canadian online pharmacy canadian pharmacy online
best online pharmacy
rx online
approved canadian pharmacies online
discount pharmacy
reputable canadian mail order pharmacies
meds online
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
You actually reported this perfectly!
http://canadianpharmaciesnnm.com/
trust pharmacy canada trust pharmacy canada prescription pricing canadian pharcharmy
online pharmacy
overseas pharmacies
best online pharmacy stores
online drugs
canada pharmacy no prescription
canadian prescription
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Wow lots of superb information!
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
pharmacies near me mexican pharmacies shipping to usa prescription drugs prices aarp approved canadian online pharmacies
canadian viagra
canadian pharmacy
online pharmacies canada
cheap drugs online
prescription drug
canada pharmacies online pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
With thanks, Very good stuff!
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
the canadian pharmacy canadian pharmacy online canadian online pharmacies canadian pharmacy online
online pharmacy no prescription
canadian meds
canada pharmacy online
prescription drug
medical information online
canadian pharmacy online canada
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Lovely facts, Regards!
http://canadianpharmacymim.com/
canadian online pharmacy canadian pharmacies that ship to us canada pharmacy online no script canadian pharmacies-24h
canada pharmacies
onlinecanadianpharmacy.com
pharmacy online store
compare rx prices
canadian prescription drugs
canadian mail order pharmacies
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Kudos. Plenty of facts.
http://canadianpharmacyntx.com/
prescription drugs prices online pharmacies of canada pharmacies in canada canadian online pharmacies
pharmacy online store
canadian pharmacy no prescription needed
mexican pharmacies shipping to usa
prescription drugs without prior prescription
best online canadian pharcharmy
canadian pharmacy uk delivery
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
This is nicely expressed. .
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
medical information online canadian pharmaceuticals online mexican pharmacies online trust pharmacy canada
no prescription pharmacy
medication costs
approved canadian pharmacies online
canada drug
canadadrugs.com pharmacy
rx price comparison
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Amazing data. Many thanks.
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
buying prescription drugs canada canadian online pharmacy pharmacy drug store canadian pharmacies that ship to us
24 hour pharmacy
top rated canadian pharmacies online
online canadian pharmacy
online pharmacy without a prescription
rx online
costco pharmacy pricing
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Thanks a lot! I enjoy this!
http://canadianonlinepharmacynnm.com/
compare rx prices online pharmacies canada pain meds online without doctor prescription canada online pharmacies
drug stores near me
prescription drugs online without
pharmacy price compare
canadian discount pharmacy
canadian pharmacy 365
canada drugs
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Whoa all kinds of very good material!
http://www.canadianpharmacymsn.com/
meds online canadian online pharmacies canadian cialis canada pharmacy
best online pharmacy
discount pharmacy
canadian drugs without prescription
canadian pharmacy reviews
rx online
canada drug pharmacy
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
Cheers! I value it!
http://talahicc.com/
canada pharmacies online prescriptions aarp approved canadian online pharmacies canada pharmacy no prescription canadian pharmacy online
best price prescription drugs
canada pharmacy no prescription
online pharmacies canada
northwest pharmacy
northwest pharmacy
canadian cialis