Journal article
Visual systemizing preference in children with autism: A randomized controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin
Development and psychopathology, Vol.30(2), pp.511-521
05/2018
DOI: 10.1017/S0954579417001018
PMCID: PMC5771998
PMID: 28712371
Abstract
Several studies have suggested that the neuropeptide oxytocin may enhance aspects of social communication in autism. Little is known, however, about its effects on nonsocial manifestations, such as restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. In the empathizing–systemizing theory of autism, social deficits are described along the continuum of empathizing ability, whereas nonsocial aspects are characterized in terms of an increased preference for patterned or rule-based systems, called systemizing. We therefore developed an automated eye-tracking task to test whether children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared to matched controls display a visual preference for more highly organized and structured (systemized) real-life images. Then, as part of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study, we examined the effect of intranasal oxytocin on systemizing preferences in 16 male children with ASD, compared with 16 matched controls. Participants viewed 14 slides, each containing four related pictures (e.g., of people, animals, scenes, or objects) that differed primarily on the degree of systemizing. Visual systemizing preference was defined in terms of the fixation time and count for each image. Unlike control subjects who showed no gaze preference, individuals with ASD preferred to fixate on more highly systemized pictures. Intranasal oxytocin eliminated this preference in ASD participants, who now showed a similar response to control subjects on placebo. In contrast, control participants increased their visual preference for more systemized images after receiving oxytocin versus placebo. These results suggest that, in addition to its effects on social communication, oxytocin may play a role in some of the nonsocial manifestations of autism.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Visual systemizing preference in children with autism: A randomized controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin
- Creators
- Lane Strathearn - aUniversity of IowaSohye Kim - bBaylor College of MedicineD. Anthony Bastian - bBaylor College of MedicineJennifer Jung - bBaylor College of MedicineUdita Iyengar - bBaylor College of MedicineSheila Martinez - bBaylor College of MedicineRobin P Goin-Kochel - bBaylor College of MedicinePeter Fonagy - bBaylor College of Medicine
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Development and psychopathology, Vol.30(2), pp.511-521
- DOI
- 10.1017/S0954579417001018
- PMID
- 28712371
- PMCID
- PMC5771998
- NLM abbreviation
- Dev Psychopathol
- ISSN
- 0954-5794
- eISSN
- 1469-2198
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press; New York, USA
- Number of pages
- 11
- Alternative title
- Oxytocin and systemizing preferences in autism; L. Strathearn et al.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 05/2018
- Academic Unit
- Psychiatry; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Iowa Neuroscience Institute; Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics; Neuroscience and Pharmacology
- Record Identifier
- 9984040463302771
Metrics
28 Record Views