Abstract
ABSTRACT: The current study examined the effects of oxytocin administration on the response to infant crying in individuals with secure or insecure attachment representations as assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview. We measured feelings of irritation and the use of excessive force as indicated by grip strength using a handgrip dynamometer during exposure to infant crying in 42 women without children who were administered intranasal oxytocin or a placebo. In addition, amygdala responses to infant crying and control sounds were measured with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The effects of oxytocin on reactivity to crying were moderated by attachment security. Oxytocin decreased the use of excessive handgrip force and amygdala reactivity in response to crying in individuals with insecure attachment representations. Our findings indicate that insecure individuals, who show emotional, behavioral, and neural hyperreactivity to crying, benefit the most from intranasal oxytocin.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 213-234 |
Number of pages | 22 |
Journal | Attachment and Human Development |
Volume | 18 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 May 2016 |
Externally published | Yes |
Funding
MJBK and MHvIJ were supported by awards from the Netherlands Organization for scientific Research (NWO) (MJBK: VICI Grant; MHvIJ: SPINOZA prize) and by the Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO [grant number 024.001.003]. MJBK was also supported by the European Research Council [grant number ERC AdG 669249].
Keywords
- AAI
- adult attachment
- amygdala
- fMRI
- infant crying
- Oxytocin