Meeting Banner
Abstract #1525

Oxytocin function regulation in autism spectrum disorders probed with rsfMRI complexity analysis

Kaundinya Gopinath1, Elissar Andari1, and Larry Young1
1Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by dysregulation of endogenous oxytocin (OXT) function. In this study, we employed complexity of resting state fMRI signal as a tool to examine: 1) brain function impairments in adult ASD, 2) the relationship between DNA methylation of OXT receptor gene and severity of cognitive impairment, and 3) the effects of intranasal OXT treatment (IN-OXT). ASD patients exhibited abnormally increased fMRI signal complexity in a number of brain function networks. The severity of these impairments were inversely related to DNA methylation levels. IN-OXT attenuated impairments in these networks. Thus, OXT has neuroprotective effects in ASD.

This abstract and the presentation materials are available to members only; a login is required.

Join Here