Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) and the steroid cortisol (CT) have each been implicated in complex social behavior, including parenting, and one mechanism by which OT is thought to exert its pro-social effects is by attenuating hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response to stress. Yet, no study to date has tested whether OT functions to reduce CT production in the context of the parent-infant attachment. In the current study, we examined the effects of intranasal OT administered to the parent on parent's and infant's CT levels following parent-child interaction that included a social stressor. Utilizing a double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject design, 35 fathers and their 5-month-old infants were observed in a face-to-face-still-face paradigm twice, one week apart. Interactions were micro-coded for social synchrony, and salivary CT were repeatedly assessed from parent and child. Results showed that OT increased fathers' overall CT response to the stress paradigm. Furthermore, OT altered infants' physiological and behavioral response as a function of parent-infant synchrony. Among infants experiencing high parent-infant synchrony, OT elevated infant HPA reactivity and increased infant social gaze to the father while father maintained a still-face. On the other hand, among infants experiencing low social synchrony, parental OT reduced the infant's stress response and diminished social gaze toward the unavailable father. Results are consistent with the "social salience" hypothesis and highlight that OT effects on human social functioning are not uniform and depend on the individual's attachment history and social skills. Our findings call to further investigate the effects of OT administration within developmental contexts, particularly the parent-infant relationship.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1724-1731 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | European Neuropsychopharmacology |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 12 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2013 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The study was supported by the German-Israeli Science Foundation Grant no. 1114-101.4/2010 to RF. Research in Dr. Feldman lab during the study period was supported by the Israel Science Foundation, the Israel Center for Excellence (I-CORE) , the US-Israel Bi-National Science Foundation , and the Irving B. Harris Foundation .
Funding Information:
The study was supported by the German-Israeli Science Foundation. Sponsors had no involvement in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Funding
The study was supported by the German-Israeli Science Foundation Grant no. 1114-101.4/2010 to RF. Research in Dr. Feldman lab during the study period was supported by the Israel Science Foundation, the Israel Center for Excellence (I-CORE) , the US-Israel Bi-National Science Foundation , and the Irving B. Harris Foundation . The study was supported by the German-Israeli Science Foundation. Sponsors had no involvement in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Funders | Funder number |
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German–Israeli Science Foundation | 1114-101.4/2010 |
Irving B. Harris Foundation | |
Israel Center for Excellence | |
US-Israel bi-national Science Foundation | |
Israel Science Foundation |
Keywords
- Cortisol
- Gaze
- Oxytocin
- Parent-infant synchrony
- Still-face
- Stress