In a new study, researchers have now discovered that giving oxytocin to adult men with autism makes them more open to close emotional bonds with others.
The hormone has positive long-term effects as well.
The research was conducted by a team at KU Leuven.
Oxytocin, often dubbed the “love hormone,” is known to promote social bonding.
The team recruited 40 adult men with autism spectrum disorder t in their study.
In the first stage, we examined the amount of oxytocin produced by the participants themselves. The subjects also filled out several questionnaires.
An analysis of the data showed that the amount of oxytocin found in the subjects’ saliva was inversely related to their self-reported attachment issues.
In the second stage of the research, the team examined the long-term effects of administering oxytocin through a nasal spray.
This experiment produced remarkable results: the participants who had been given oxytocin for four weeks experienced positive effects until up to a year later.
In terms of social interaction, the researchers found no difference between the experimental group and the control group.
But for repetitive behavior (including the need for routines) and attachment, the results were significant:
The people in the experimental group reported far less repetitive behavior and also reported fewer problems with forming close relationships.
This study shows for the first time what the long-term effects are of repeatedly administering oxytocin to people with autism.
The findings are the result of the first pilot study. A lot of further research needs to be done before oxytocin can be used to treat people with autism.
The lead author of the study is Professor Kaat Alaerts (KU Leuven).
The study is published in Molecular Autism, and Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging.
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