The impact of intranasal oxytocin administration and social observation on time perception and task execution in a simple motor task

Most everyday tasks allow for considerable freedom in task performance. Besides taking physical constraints into account, we also rely on social cues to ascertain that our performance is acceptable. The presence of an observer influences performance, and oxytocin, a neuropeptide, enhances social sensitivity. This study examined the modulatory effects of intranasal oxytocin administration and the audience effect on motor adaptation and time estimation performance in a simple timing task. 18 adult male participants performed a time-interval production task using a force-sensitive device under oxytocin versus placebo, with or without an observer. The results showed that participants produced longer time intervals when oxytocin was administered, while the presence of an observer led to a shortening of the time intervals and a decrease in applied force indicating altered motor planning. Notably, under observation, the effects of oxytocin were enhanced, manifested as a further reduction of planned force application. Motor adaptation (the reduction of applied force) was more marked with successive repetitions, and with the presence of an auditory action-effect. Anxiety levels were positively correlated with the prolongation of timing intervals and force increase, aligning with the literature on anxiety’s impact on motor performance. This shows that oxytocin and social observation independently and interactively affect time perception and motor performance, thus demonstrating oxytocin’s influence on cognitive processes beyond purely social behaviors. The present study also demonstrates how force application patterns may serve as readouts of social cue utilization behavior in simple everyday tasks.