IntroductionCognitive deficits are a prominent, disabling component of schizophrenia and current pharmacological treatments have demonstrated limited efficacy in their amelioration. Oxytocin – though it has shown promise as a novel antipsychotic in multiple clinical trials – has as-yet poorly characterized effects on cognition, with some evidence indicating an amnestic profile. MethodAs part of a previously reported trial of chronic adjunctive oxytocin in schizophrenia, we measured its effect on two cognitive tests: the CVLT (California Verbal Learning Test) and the LNS (Letter Number Sequence). Tests were performed at baseline and after 3weeks of treatment. ResultsWe found no evidence for an amnestic effect and, in fact, significantly better performance with oxytocin on several subtests of the CVLT; namely total Recall trials 1–5 (p=0.027), short delayed free recall (p=0.032) and total recall discrimination (p=0.020). In contrast we found no difference between placebo and oxytocin on LNS performance. ConclusionsThis is the first report we are aware of documenting a beneficial effect of oxytocin on cognition in schizophrenia. Though from a small sample (n=15), these data both offset past concerns about oxytocin's amnestic effects, and may auger another potential benefit in addition to the already-demonstrated salutary effects on other components of the illness.