BACKGROUND: The ability to "read the mind" of other individuals, that is, to infer their mental state by interpreting subtle social cues, is indispensable in human social interaction. The neuropeptide oxytocin plays a central role in social approach behavior in nonhuman mammals. METHODS: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject design, 30 healthy male volunteers were tested for their ability to infer the affective mental state of others using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) after intranasal administration of 24 IU oxytocin. RESULTS:Oxytocin improved performance on the RMET compared with placebo. This effect was pronounced for difficult compared with easy items. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that oxytocin improves the ability to infer the mental state of others from social cues of the eye region. Oxytocin might play a role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder, which is characterized by severe social impairment.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND: The ability to "read the mind" of other individuals, that is, to infer their mental state by interpreting subtle social cues, is indispensable in human social interaction. The neuropeptide oxytocin plays a central role in social approach behavior in nonhuman mammals. METHODS: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject design, 30 healthy male volunteers were tested for their ability to infer the affective mental state of others using the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) after intranasal administration of 24 IU oxytocin. RESULTS:Oxytocin improved performance on the RMET compared with placebo. This effect was pronounced for difficult compared with easy items. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that oxytocin improves the ability to infer the mental state of others from social cues of the eye region. Oxytocin might play a role in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder, which is characterized by severe social impairment.
Authors: Joseph T Sakai; Thomas J Crowley; Michael C Stallings; Matthew McQueen; John K Hewitt; Christian Hopfer; Nicole R Hoft; Marissa A Ehringer Journal: Psychiatr Genet Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 2.458
Authors: Danielle Bons; Egon van den Broek; Floor Scheepers; Pierre Herpers; Nanda Rommelse; Jan K Buitelaar; Jan K Buitelaaar Journal: J Abnorm Child Psychol Date: 2013-04
Authors: Spencer K Lynn; Elizabeth A Hoge; Laura E Fischer; Lisa Feldman Barrett; Naomi M Simon Journal: Psychiatry Res Date: 2014-04-26 Impact factor: 3.222