Promoting social behavior with oxytocin in high-functioning autism spectrum disorders

Social adaptation requires specific cognitive and emotional competences. Individuals with high-functioning autism or with Asperger syndrome cannot understand or engage in social situations despite preserved intellectual abilities. Recently, it has been suggested that oxytocin, a hormone known to promote mother-infant bonds, may be implicated in the social deficit of autism. We investigated the behavioral effects of oxytocin in 13 subjects with autism. In a simulated ball game where participants interacted with fictitious partners, we found that after oxytocin inhalation, patients exhibited stronger interactions with the most socially cooperative partner and reported enhanced feelings of trust and preference.…

• FF
  Fondation FondaMental
• FO
  Fondation Orange
• IN
  Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale
• FD
  Fondation de France
• CN
  Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique