Genetic variation in the oxytocin system and its link to social motivation in human infants

PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY

卷:131

Article

Krol, Kathleen M.^1,2  Namaky, Nauder¹  Monakhov, Mikhail, V^3,4  San Lai, Poh⁵  Ebstein, Richard^4,6  Grossmann, Tobias^1,2 

[1] Univ Virginia, Dept Psychol, 485 McCormick Rd, Charlottesville, VA 22904 USA

[2] Max Planck Inst Human Cognit & Brain Sci, Leipzig, Germany

[3] Baylor Coll Med, Dept Neurosci, Houston, TX 77030 USA

[4] Natl Univ Singapore, Dept Psychol, Singapore, Singapore

[5] Natl Univ Singapore, Dept Pediat, Singapore, Singapore

[6] Southwestern Univ Finance & Econ, China Ctr Behav Econ & Finance, Chengdu, Peoples R China

关键词: Frontal asymmetry;    Oxytocin;    FNIRS;    Eyetracking;    Infant;    Emotion;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.psyneuen.2021.105290

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Frontal brain asymmetry has been linked to motivational processes in infants and adults, with left lateralization reflecting motivation to approach and right lateralization reflecting motivation to withdraw. We examined the hypothesis that variability in infants' social motivation may be linked to genetic variation in the oxytocin system. Eleven-month-old infants' brain responses and looking preferences to smiling and frowning individuals were assessed in conjunction with a polymorphism in CD38 (rs3796863) linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and reduced oxytocin. Frontal brain asymmetry and looking preferences differed as a function of CD38 genotype. While non-risk A-allele carriers displayed left lateralization to smiling faces (approach) and a heightened looking preference for the individual who smiled, infants with the CC (ASD risk) genotype displayed withdrawal from smiling faces and a preference for the individual who frowned. Findings demonstrate that the oxytocin system is linked to brain and behavioral markers of social motivation in infancy.

【 授权许可】

Free