Oxytocin induces long-lasting adaptations within amygdala circuitry in autism: a treatment-mechanism study with randomized placebo-controlled design.
Kaat AlaertsSylvie BernaertsJellina PrinsenClaudia DillenJean SteyaertNicole WenderothPublished in: Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (2020)
Intranasal administration of the neuropeptide oxytocin (IN-OT) is increasingly explored as a potential treatment for targeting the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). To date, however, the impact of multiple-dose IN-OT treatment on human neural circuitry is largely unknown, and also the possibility that long-term IN-OT use may induce long-lasting neural adaptations remains unexplored. Using a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, between-subject design (including 38 adult men with ASD), this treatment-mechanism study showed that 4 weeks of daily oxytocin administration (24 IU/day) significantly altered intrinsic (resting-state fMRI) functional connectivity of the amygdala to core regions of the "social brain" (particularly orbitofrontal cortex and superior temporal sulcus) up to 4 weeks and 1 year post treatment. The neural adaptations in functional coupling of the amygdala to the orbitofrontal cortex were associated with reduced feelings of avoidance toward others and-at the trend level-reduced repetitive behaviors. These observations contribute to a deeper mechanistic understanding of the neural substrates that underlie behavioral effects of multiple-dose IN-OT treatment, and provide initial insights into the long-lasting neural consequences of chronic IN-OT use on amygdala circuitry. Future studies are however warranted to further elucidate the long-term impact of IN-OT treatment on human neural circuitry and its behavioral consequences.
Keyphrases
- functional connectivity
- resting state
- autism spectrum disorder
- placebo controlled
- healthcare
- clinical trial
- drug delivery
- randomized controlled trial
- multiple sclerosis
- young adults
- radiation therapy
- open label
- physical activity
- attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
- mental health
- brain injury
- blood brain barrier
- gestational age
- room temperature
- stress induced
- pluripotent stem cells