Oxytocin reduces amygdala responses during threat approach. (May 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Radke, Sina; Volman, Inge; Kokal, Idil; Roelofs, Karin; de Bruijn, Ellen R.A.; Toni, Ivan
• Is Part Of: Psychoneuroendocrinology. Volume 79(2017)
• Page Start: 160
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2017-05
• Subjects: Oxytocin -- Amygdala -- Social approach -- Motivation -- Emotion -- fMRI; Psychoneuroendocrinology -- Periodicals; Endocrinology -- Periodicals; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neuropsychoendocrinologie -- Périodiques; 616.8
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.02.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-4530

Abstract

Highlights: Oxytocin has been suggested to facilitate approach-related processing. We tested if oxytocin reduces or enhances amygdala responses during threat approach. Oxytocin decreased amygdala activation specifically during threat approach. This neuroendocrine mechanism is in line with oxytocin's social anxiolytic effects. Abstract: Oxytocin reduces amygdala responses to threatening social stimuli in males and has been suggested to facilitate approach-related processing by either decreasing anxiety or intensifying salience. The current administration study tested whether oxytocin either reduces or enhances amygdala responses during threat approach in a placebo-controlled randomized, double-blind, between-subjects design with 52 healthy males undergoing fMRI during a social approach-avoidance task. Oxytocin decreased amygdala activation during threat approach and not during threat avoidance. This neural effect supports oxytocin's social anxiolytic effects and provides a neuroendocrine mechanism promoting social approach. The findings may yield clinical implications for individuals suffering from dysregulations of social approach such as patients with anxiety disorders.