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document
Effects of a common variant in the CD38 gene on social processing in an oxytocin challenge study : possible links to autism . The intranasal application of oxytocin ( OT ) has been shown to influence behavioral and neural correlates of social processing . These effects are probably mediated by genetic variations within the OT system . One potential candidate could be the CD38 gene , which codes for a transmembrane protein engaged in OT secretion processes . A common variation in this gene ( rs3796863 ) was recently found to be associated with autism spectrum disorders ( ASD ) . Using an imaging genetics approach , we studied differential effects of an intranasal OT application on neural processing of social stimuli in 55 healthy young men depending on their CD38 gene variant in a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design . Genotype had a significant influence on both behavioral and neuronal measures of social processing . Homozygotic risk allele carriers showed slower reaction times ( RT ) and higher activation of left fusiform gyrus during visual processing of social stimuli . Under OT activation differences between genotypes were more evident ( though not statistically significantly increased ) and RT were accelerated in homozygotic risk allele carriers . According to our data , rs3796863 mainly influences fusiform gyrus activation , an area which has been widely discussed in ASD research . OT seems to modulate this effect by enhancing activation differences between allele groups , which suggests an interaction between genetic makeup and OT availability on fusiform gyrus activation . These results support recent approaches to apply OT as a pharmacological treatment of ASD symptoms .
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Intervention_Pharmacological
oxytocin
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Intervention_Pharmacological
oxytocin ( OT )
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Intervention_Pharmacological
OT application
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Intervention_Control
placebo-controlled
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Intervention_Pharmacological
OT
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Intervention_Pharmacological
pharmacological treatment
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Outcome_Mental
social processing
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Outcome_Mental
behavioral and neural correlates of social processing .
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Outcome_Mental
neural processing of social stimuli
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Outcome_Mental
behavioral and neuronal measures of social processing .
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Outcome_Mental
slower reaction times ( RT )
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Outcome_Mental
higher activation of left fusiform gyrus
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Outcome_Mental
social stimuli
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Outcome_Mental
activation differences
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Outcome_Mental
rs3796863 mainly influences fusiform gyrus activation
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Outcome_Mental
activation differences
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Outcome_Physical
genetic makeup
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Outcome_Physical
OT availability
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Outcome_Mental
fusiform gyrus activation