Deakin University
Browse

Oxytocin enhances resting-state connectivity between amygdala and medial frontal cortex

Download (146.46 kB)
Version 2 2024-06-05, 05:13
Version 1 2019-08-07, 08:46
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-05, 05:13 authored by CS Sripada, KL Phan, I Labuschagne, R Welsh, PJ Nathan, Amanda WoodAmanda Wood
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) plays an important role in complex socio-Affective behaviours such as affiliation, attachment, stress and anxiety. Previous studies have focused on the amygdala as an important target of OXT's effects. However, the effects of OXT on connectivity of the amygdala with cortical regions such as medial frontal cortex, an important mediator of social cognition and emotion regulation, remain unexplored. In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design, 15 volunteers received intranasal OXT or placebo prior to resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. OXT significantly increased connectivity between both amygdalae and rostral medial frontal cortex (rmFC), while having only negligible effects on coupling with other brain regions. These results demonstrate that OXT is a robust and highly selective enhancer of amygdala connectivity with rmFC, a region critical to social cognition and emotion regulation, and add to our understanding of the neural mechanisms by which OXT modulates complex social and cognitive behaviours.

History

Journal

International journal of neuropsychopharmacology

Volume

16

Pagination

255-260

Location

Oxford, Eng.

Open access

  • Yes

ISSN

1461-1457

eISSN

1469-5111

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2012, CINP

Issue

2

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Usage metrics

    Research Publications

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC