title: Oxytocin modulation of amygdala functional connectivity to fearful faces in generalized social anxiety disorder.
abstract: The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) is thought to attenuate anxiety by dampening amygdala reactivity to threat in individuals with generalized social anxiety disorder (GSAD). Because the brain is organized into networks of interconnected areas, it is likely that OXT impacts functional coupling between the amygdala and other socio-emotional areas of the brain. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to examine the effects of OXT on amygdala functional connectivity during the processing of fearful faces in GSAD subjects and healthy controls (HCs). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo (PBO)-controlled, within-subjects design, 18 HCs and 17 GSAD subjects performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging task designed to probe amygdala response to fearful faces following acute intranasal administration of PBO or OXT. Functional connectivity between the amygdala and the rest of the brain was compared between OXT and PBO sessions using generalized psychophysiological interaction analyses. Results indicated that within individuals with GSAD, but not HCs, OXT enhanced functional connectivity between the amygdala and the bilateral insula and middle cingulate/dorsal anterior cingulate gyrus during the processing of fearful faces. These findings suggest that OXT may have broad pro-social implications such as enhancing the integration and modulation of social responses.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA [2] Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Gorka
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA [2] Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [2] School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Izelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Labuschagne
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA [2] Mental Health Service, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
authors.forename: Avinash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hosanagar
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK [2] Child Neuropsychology, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [3] Southern Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [2] Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Pradeep J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA [2] Department of Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA [3] Mental Health Service Line, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA.
authors.forename: K Luan
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Phan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000679:Amygdala / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001931:Brain Mapping; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005145:Face; D005149:Facial Expression; D000066499:Facial Recognition / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010121:Oxytocin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012938:Social Perception
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D010121:Oxytocin