Oxytocin increases amygdala reactivity to threatening scenes in females.
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Oxytocin increases amygdala reactivity to threatening scenes in females. / Lischke, Alexander; Gamer, Matthias; Berger, Christoph; Grossmann, Annette; Hauenstein, Karlheinz; Heinrichs, Markus; Herpertz, Sabine C; Domes, Gregor.
in: PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINO, Jahrgang 37, Nr. 9, 9, 2012, S. 1431-1438.Publikationen: SCORING: Beitrag in Fachzeitschrift/Zeitung › SCORING: Zeitschriftenaufsatz › Forschung › Begutachtung
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Oxytocin increases amygdala reactivity to threatening scenes in females.
AU - Lischke, Alexander
AU - Gamer, Matthias
AU - Berger, Christoph
AU - Grossmann, Annette
AU - Hauenstein, Karlheinz
AU - Heinrichs, Markus
AU - Herpertz, Sabine C
AU - Domes, Gregor
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is well known for its profound effects on social behavior, which appear to be mediated by an OT-dependent modulation of amygdala activity in the context of social stimuli. In humans, OT decreases amygdala reactivity to threatening faces in males, but enhances amygdala reactivity to similar faces in females, suggesting sex-specific differences in OT-dependent threat-processing. To further explore whether OT generally enhances amygdala-dependent threat-processing in females, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a randomized within-subject crossover design to measure amygdala activity in response to threatening and non-threatening scenes in 14 females following intranasal administration of OT or placebo. Participants' eye movements were recorded to investigate whether an OT-dependent modulation of amygdala activity is accompanied by enhanced exploration of salient scene features. Although OT had no effect on participants' gazing behavior, it increased amygdala reactivity to scenes depicting social and non-social threat. In females, OT may, thus, enhance the detection of threatening stimuli in the environment, potentially by interacting with gonadal steroids, such as progesterone and estrogen.
AB - The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) is well known for its profound effects on social behavior, which appear to be mediated by an OT-dependent modulation of amygdala activity in the context of social stimuli. In humans, OT decreases amygdala reactivity to threatening faces in males, but enhances amygdala reactivity to similar faces in females, suggesting sex-specific differences in OT-dependent threat-processing. To further explore whether OT generally enhances amygdala-dependent threat-processing in females, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in a randomized within-subject crossover design to measure amygdala activity in response to threatening and non-threatening scenes in 14 females following intranasal administration of OT or placebo. Participants' eye movements were recorded to investigate whether an OT-dependent modulation of amygdala activity is accompanied by enhanced exploration of salient scene features. Although OT had no effect on participants' gazing behavior, it increased amygdala reactivity to scenes depicting social and non-social threat. In females, OT may, thus, enhance the detection of threatening stimuli in the environment, potentially by interacting with gonadal steroids, such as progesterone and estrogen.
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Female
KW - Double-Blind Method
KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
KW - Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
KW - Cross-Over Studies
KW - Administration, Intranasal
KW - Functional Neuroimaging
KW - Facial Expression
KW - Amygdala/drug effects/physiology
KW - Emotions/drug effects/physiology
KW - Eye Movements/drug effects/physiology
KW - Fear/drug effects/physiology
KW - Oxytocin/pharmacology
KW - Adult
KW - Humans
KW - Female
KW - Double-Blind Method
KW - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
KW - Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
KW - Cross-Over Studies
KW - Administration, Intranasal
KW - Functional Neuroimaging
KW - Facial Expression
KW - Amygdala/drug effects/physiology
KW - Emotions/drug effects/physiology
KW - Eye Movements/drug effects/physiology
KW - Fear/drug effects/physiology
KW - Oxytocin/pharmacology
M3 - SCORING: Journal article
VL - 37
SP - 1431
EP - 1438
JO - PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINO
JF - PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINO
SN - 0306-4530
IS - 9
M1 - 9
ER -
