title: No laughing matter: intranasal oxytocin administration changes functional brain connectivity during exposure to infant laughter.
abstract: Infant laughter is a rewarding experience. It activates neural reward circuits and promotes parental proximity and care, thus facilitating parent-infant attachment. The neuropeptide oxytocin might enhance the incentive salience of infant laughter by modulating neural circuits related to the perception of infant cues. In a randomized controlled trial with functional magnetic resonance imaging we investigated the influence of intranasally administered oxytocin on functional brain connectivity in response to infant laughter. Blood oxygenation level-dependent responses to infant laughter were measured in 22 nulliparous women who were administered oxytocin and 20 nulliparous women who were administered a placebo. Elevated oxytocin levels reduced activation in the amygdala during infant laughter and enhanced functional connectivity between the amygdala and the orbitofrontal cortex, the anterior cingulate, the hippocampus, the precuneus, the supramarginal gyri, and the middle temporal gyrus. Increased functional connectivity between the amygdala and regions involved in emotion regulation may reduce negative emotional arousal while enhancing the incentive salience of the infant laughter.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Madelon M E
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Riem
authors.forename: Marinus H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: van IJzendoorn
authors.forename: Mattie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tops
authors.forename: Maarten A S
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Boksem
authors.forename: Serge A R B
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rombouts
authors.forename: Marian J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bakermans-Kranenburg
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007223:Infant; D007845:Laughter; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010120:Oxytocics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012201:Reward; D018433:Twin Studies as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin; D010100:Oxygen