Oxytocin Modulates Neural Circuitry for Social

Cognition and Fear in Humans

Peter Kirsch, Christine Esslinger, Qiang Chen, Daniela Mier, Stefanie Lis, Sarina Siddhanti, Harald
Gruppe, Venkata S. Mattay, Bernd Gallhofer, and Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg
The Journal of Neuroscience, December 7, 2005
INTRODUCTION

Oxytocin The Amygdala

• Mediates prosocial behavior • Processes fear and anxiety
• Released during stress → • Increased activation →
Regulates anxiety and fear connected to social avoidance
response and phobia

In animals: Oxytocin reduces fear and modulates aggression by acting on

the Amygdala
HYPOTHESIS
Theoretical: Operational:
Oxytocin would reduce
Threatening
amygdala activation in visual
stimuli
humans.
Less
activation
of the
Amygdala
Oxytocin
(administered
intranasally)
METHOD

Completed questionnaires Intranasal application of

15 males (mean age 26.7) to determine levels of OT or placebo (27 IU)
behavioral characteristics *double blind

Presented with
Once again completed
FMRI imaging angry/afraid faces,
questionnaires to
*50 minutes after drug fearful/threatening scenes
determine levels of
application and simple shapes
behavioral characteristics
(control)

Differences in Amygdala activation between OT and placebo group were analyzed

RESULTS

Amygdala activation: with OT < with placebo

When stimuli = faces → the effect was more pronounced (not
significant)
RESULTS

Amygdala activation: with OT < with placebo

When stimuli = faces → the effect was more pronounced (not
significant)
Functional connectivity of Amygdala to brain areas responsible for
fear response: OT < placebo
RESULTS

Amygdala activation: with OT < with placebo

When stimuli = faces → the effect was more pronounced (not
significant)
Functional connectivity of Amygdala to brain areas responsible for
fear response: OT < placebo
Placebo vs. OT → no effect on behavioral testing
DISCUSSION
Small sample
Only males
Oxytocin → mediates fear and anxiety through the Amygdala → by
reducing activation + reducing connectivity to fear response areas
No previous evidence for OT receptors on the Amygdala
Oxytocin = a possible treatment for social fear (anxiety, autism)