This record provides bibliographic details and links to the original research. An editorial study breakdown is not available.
What the researchers found
Intranasal oxytocin administration in women significantly enhanced resting-state functional connectivity between corticostriatal networks involved in reward, emotion, social communication, language, and pain processing, with an effect size of 1.39 standard deviations above placebo. This connectivity increase correlated with higher autistic traits.
Why it matters
Understanding how oxytocin affects brain connectivity in women can guide future research on social and emotional disorders, including autism, and help tailor treatments based on individual traits.
How the study worked
A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design was used with 26 typically developing women. Resting-state fMRI data were collected 40 minutes after intranasal oxytocin or placebo administration. Independent components analysis assessed connectivity changes, and gene expression analysis of oxytocin receptors was performed on brain tissue data.
What this study cannot tell us
The sample size was relatively small and limited to typically developing women, which may reduce generalizability. The study did not include men or clinical populations, and the evidence strength is not clearly established.
Read the original research
Intranasal oxytocin enhances intrinsic corticostriatal functional connectivity in women.
Translational psychiatry, 7(4), e1099
Citation
Bethlehem, R A I; Lombardo, M V; Lai, M-C; Auyeung, B; Crockford, S K; Deakin, J; Soubramanian, S; Sule, A; Kundu, P; Voon, V; Baron-Cohen, S. (2017). Intranasal oxytocin enhances intrinsic corticostriatal functional connectivity in women.. Translational psychiatry, 7(4), e1099. https://doi.org/10.1038/tp.2017.72