'Love hormone' oxytocin may play wider role in social interaction than previously thought

[Celebration]

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-09-hormone-oxytocin-wider-role-social.html

Oxytocin is the focus of intense scrutiny for its apparent roles in establishing trust between people, and has been administered to children with autism spectrum disorders in clinical trials. The new study, to be published Sept. 12 in Nature, pinpoints a unique way in which oxytocin alters activity in a part of the brain that is crucial to experiencing the pleasant sensation neuroscientists call "reward." The findings not only provide validity for ongoing trials of oxytocin in autistic patients, but also suggest possible new treatments for neuropsychiatric conditions in which social activity is impaired.

"People with autism-spectrum disorders may not experience the normal reward the rest of us all get from being with our friends," said Robert Malenka, MD, PhD, the study's senior author. "For them, social interactions can be downright painful. So we asked, what in the brain makes you enjoy hanging out with your buddies?"

Some genetic evidence suggests the awkward social interaction that is a hallmark of autism-spectrum disorders may be at least in part oxytocin-related. Certain variations in the gene that encodes the oxytocin receptor - a cell-surface protein that senses the substance's presence - are associated with increased autism risk.

[BainsBane]

1. I wonder if introverts also may not experience

the same level of reward that extroverts do?

[Celebration]

2. sure

probably a matter of degree............

[abelenkpe]

3. Was thinking the same thing. :)

[HuckleB]

4. This is very preliminary stuff.

Interesting, but the question of validity and repeatability is massive.