title: CD 38 expression, attachment style and habituation of arousal in relation to trust-related oxytocin release.
abstract: Oxytocin plays an important role in human attachment, trust, social perception, memory, and fear regulation. Evidence suggests that CD38, a regulator of oxytocin release, may also be critical in these processes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the predictors of plasma oxytocin level measured after a task requiring intimate trust (secret sharing), modeling psychotherapeutic processes, and a neutral social interaction. Results revealed that peripheral CD38 expression positively predicted both trust-related and trust-unrelated oxytocin levels. In addition, habituation of arousal, as measured by skin conductance response, and attachment anxiety also emerged as predictors of oxytocin level in the trust-related condition. These results suggest that CD38 plays a general role in oxytocin secretion, whereas habituation of arousal and attachment anxiety are specifically related to situations involving intimate trust.
authors: National Psychiatry Center, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Imre
authors: I
authors: Kiss
authors: Einat
authors: E
authors: Levy-Gigi
authors: Szabolcs
authors: S
authors: Kéri
mesh_terms: D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D006185:Habituation, Psychophysiologic / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012059:Rejection, Psychology; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin; D051997:ADP-ribosyl Cyclase 1