title: Oxytocin influences processing of socially relevant cues in the ventral tegmental area of the human brain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Evidence accumulates that the neuropeptide oxytocin plays an important role in mediating social interaction among humans and that a dysfunction in oxytocin-modulated brain mechanisms might lie at the core of disturbed social behavior in neuropsychiatric disease. Explanatory models suggest that oxytocin guides social approach and avoidance by modulating the perceived salience of socially meaningful cues. Animal data point toward the ventral tegmental area (VTA) as the brain site where this modulation takes place.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used functional magnetic resonance imaging and a social incentive delay task to test the hypothesis that oxytocin modulates the neural processing of socially relevant cues in the VTA, hereby facilitating behavioral response. Twenty-eight nulliparous women (not taking any hormones) received intranasal oxytocin or placebo in a double-blind randomized clinical trial with a parallel-group design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxytocin significantly enhanced VTA activation in response to cues signaling social reward (friendly face) or social punishment (angry face). Oxytocin effects on behavioral performance were modulated by individual differences in sociability with enhanced performance in women scoring low but decreased performance in women scoring high on self-reported measures of agreeableness.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide evidence that the VTA is the human brain site where oxytocin attaches salience to socially relevant cues. This mechanism might play an important role in triggering motivation to react at the prospect of social reward or punishment.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors: Sarah E
authors: SE
authors: Groppe
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Gossen
authors: Lena
authors: L
authors: Rademacher
authors: Alexa
authors: A
authors: Hahn
authors: Luzie
authors: L
authors: Westphal
authors: Gerhard
authors: G
authors: Gründer
authors: Katja N
authors: KN
authors: Spreckelmeyer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009042:Motivation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010100:Oxygen; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects; D010551:Personality / Q000187:drug effects; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011678:Punishment; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017557:Ventral Tegmental Area / Q000098:blood supply / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Anticipation; dopamine; faces; mesolimbic system; oxytocin; punishment; salience; social reward