The influence of oxytocin administration on responses to infant faces and potential moderation by OXTR genotype
Open accessAbstract
Rationale Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is associated with increases in social affiliative behaviors, particularly toward infants. However, no previous study has investigated healthy adults' responses to infant faces following oxytocin administration. In addition, given that preliminary evidence suggests that a single-nucleotide polymorphism of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene, rs53576, may influence behaviors associated with parental sensitivity, we assessed whether such responses vary according to OXTR rs53576 genotype.Objectives The present study assessed the effects of intranasally administered oxytocin and OXTR genotype on human adults' preferences for infant faces.Methods A double-blind, between-groups design was used, with 57 genotyped volunteers randomly assigned to receive intranasally administered oxytocin or placebo. Fifty minutes following the administration of oxytocin or placebo, participants viewed infants' and adults' faces showing neutral expressions and assessed how appealing they found each face.Results Infants' faces were more strongly preferred following oxytocin inhalation relative to placebo. When participants were separated according to genotype, this effect was only observed for participants homozygous for the rs53576G allele. Parallel effects were not seen for adults' faces.Conclusions The present results are consistent with the hypothesis that acute oxytocin administration increases sensitivity to reward-relevant features of infants and/or reduces sensitivity to their aversive properties. The results are also consistent with suggestions of more efficient oxytocinergic function in rs53576G homozygotes.
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Some individuals show heterogeneous responses to oxytocin, which may involve interaction with OXTR genetic polymorphisms.
“Some individuals have heterogeneous responses to OXT (22, 23), which may involve interaction with OXTR genetic polymorphisms (24–27).”
From Variation in the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Predicts Brain Region–Specific Expression and Social Attachment (2016) · cites this paper as [24]
Several studies suggest that oxytocin effects on behavior and brain function are modulated by OXTR genotype.
“Several studies indeed suggest that oxytocin effects on behavior54–56 and brain function57–59 are modulated by OXTR genotype.”
From Randomized clinical trial shows no substantial modulation of empathy-related neural activation by intranasal oxytocin in autism (2021) · cites this paper as [54]
The genetic background of the oxytocin system might influence efficacy of oxytocin administration.
“the genetic background of oxytocin system might influence efficacy of oxytocin administration.19, 20”
From Oxytocin efficacy is modulated by dosage and oxytocin receptor genotype in young adults with high-functioning autism: a 24-week randomized clinical trial (2016) · cites this paper as [20]
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- Authors
- Marsh, A. A., Yu, H. H., Pine, D. S., Gorodetsky, E. K., Goldman, D., & Blair, R. J. R.
- Affiliations
- Georgetown University (US)
- National Institute of Mental Health (US)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (US)
- Corresponding author
- Marsh, Abigail A.
- Venue
- Psychopharmacology
- Published
- 2012-07-05
- Volume
- 224
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 469-476
- ISSN
- 0033-3158 (ISSN-L)
- 1432-2072
- PMC
- PMC3500580
- OpenAlex
- W2149100699
- Cited by
- 87
- References
- 58
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 13.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Psychopharmacology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (Z99 MH999999)
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (Z01AA000301, K24AA000301)
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Keywords
- oxytocin, infant face preference, rs53576, parental sensitivity, social affiliation, intranasal oxytocin, facial attractiveness
- MeSH terms
- Administration, Intranasal, Adolescent, Adult, Choice Behavior, Double-Blind Method, Face, Female, Genotype, Humans, Male, Oxytocin, Reward, Receptors, Oxytocin, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Young Adult
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