The influence of oxytocin-based interventions on sleep-wake and sleep-related behaviour and neurobiology: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies

Joel S Raymond; Simone Rehn; Camilla M Hoyos; Michael T Bowen

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.016

The influence of oxytocin-based interventions on sleep-wake and sleep-related behaviour and neurobiology: A systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2021 Dec:131:1005-1026. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.016. Epub 2021 Oct 18.

Authors

Joel S Raymond¹, Simone Rehn², Camilla M Hoyos³, Michael T Bowen⁴

Affiliations

¹ The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
² The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
³ The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
⁴ The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Psychology, Camperdown, NSW, Australia; The University of Sydney, Brain and Mind Centre, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: michael.bowen@sydney.edu.au.

PMID: 34673110
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.016

Abstract

The oxytocin (OXT) system has garnered considerable interest due to its influence on diverse behaviours. However, scant research has considered the influence of oxytocin on sleep-wake and sleep-related behaviour and neurobiology. Consequently, the objective of this systematic review was to assess the extant preclinical and clinical evidence for the influence of oxytocin-based interventions on sleep-wake outcomes. The primary search was conducted on 22/7/2020 using six electronic databases; 30 studies (19 preclinical, 11 clinical) were included based on inclusion criteria. Studies were evaluated for risk of bias using the SYRCLE tool and the Cochrane risk of bias tools for preclinical and clinical studies, respectively. Results indicated manipulation of the OXT system can influence sleep-wake outcomes. Preclinical evidence suggests a wake-promoting influence of OXT system activation whereas the clinical evidence suggests little or no sleep-promoting influence of OXT. OXT dose was identified as a likely modulatory factor of OXT-induced effects on sleep-wake behaviour. Future studies are necessary to validate and strengthen these tentative conclusions about the influence of OXT on sleep-wake behaviour.

Keywords: NREM sleep; Oxytocin; REM sleep; Sleep; Sleep-wake outcomes; Systematic review; Wake.

Publication types

Review
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Neurobiology*
Oxytocin* / pharmacology
Oxytocin* / physiology
Sleep

Substances

Oxytocin