Oxytocin attenuates amygdala responses to emotional faces regardless of valence
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Oxytocin attenuates amygdala responses to emotional faces regardless of valence. / Domes, Gregor; Heinrichs, Markus; Gläscher, Jan; Büchel, Christian; Braus, Dieter F; Herpertz, Sabine C.
in: BIOL PSYCHIAT, Jahrgang 62, Nr. 10, 15.11.2007, S. 1187-90.Publikationen: SCORING: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift/Zeitung › SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz › Forschung › Begutachtung
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Oxytocin attenuates amygdala responses to emotional faces regardless of valence
AU - Domes, Gregor
AU - Heinrichs, Markus
AU - Gläscher, Jan
AU - Büchel, Christian
AU - Braus, Dieter F
AU - Herpertz, Sabine C
PY - 2007/11/15
Y1 - 2007/11/15
N2 - BACKGROUND: Oxytocin is known to reduce anxiety and stress in social interactions as well as to modulate approach behavior. Recent studies suggest that the amygdala might be the primary neuronal basis for these effects.METHODS: In a functional magnetic resonance imaging study using a double-blind, placebo-controlled within-subject design, we measured neural responses to fearful, angry, and happy facial expressions after intranasal application of 24 IU oxytocin compared with placebo.RESULTS: Oxytocin reduced right-sided amygdala responses to all three face categories even when the emotional content of the presented face was not evaluated explicitly. Exploratory whole brain analysis revealed modulatory effects in prefrontal and temporal areas as well as in the brainstem.CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a modulatory role of oxytocin on amygdala responses to facial expressions irrespective of their valence. Reduction of amygdala activity to positive and negative stimuli might reflect reduced uncertainty about the predictive value of a social stimulus and thereby facilitates social approach behavior.
AB - BACKGROUND: Oxytocin is known to reduce anxiety and stress in social interactions as well as to modulate approach behavior. Recent studies suggest that the amygdala might be the primary neuronal basis for these effects.METHODS: In a functional magnetic resonance imaging study using a double-blind, placebo-controlled within-subject design, we measured neural responses to fearful, angry, and happy facial expressions after intranasal application of 24 IU oxytocin compared with placebo.RESULTS: Oxytocin reduced right-sided amygdala responses to all three face categories even when the emotional content of the presented face was not evaluated explicitly. Exploratory whole brain analysis revealed modulatory effects in prefrontal and temporal areas as well as in the brainstem.CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a modulatory role of oxytocin on amygdala responses to facial expressions irrespective of their valence. Reduction of amygdala activity to positive and negative stimuli might reflect reduced uncertainty about the predictive value of a social stimulus and thereby facilitates social approach behavior.
KW - Adult
KW - Amygdala
KW - Brain Mapping
KW - Double-Blind Method
KW - Emotions
KW - Facial Expression
KW - Functional Laterality
KW - Humans
KW - Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
KW - Male
KW - Oxygen
KW - Oxytocin
KW - Pattern Recognition, Visual
KW - Photic Stimulation
U2 - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.03.025
DO - 10.1016/j.biopsych.2007.03.025
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
C2 - 17617382
VL - 62
SP - 1187
EP - 1190
JO - BIOL PSYCHIAT
JF - BIOL PSYCHIAT
SN - 0006-3223
IS - 10
ER -