TY - JOUR
T1 - Intranasal administration of oxytocin modulates behavioral and amygdala responses to infant crying in females with insecure attachment representations
AU - Riem, Madelon M.E.
AU - Bakermans-Kranenburg, Marian J.
AU - van IJzendoorn, Marinus H.
PY - 2016/5/3
Y1 - 2016/5/3
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - AAI
KW - adult attachment
KW - amygdala
KW - fMRI
KW - infant crying
KW - Oxytocin
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84961238748&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84961238748&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14616734.2016.1149872
DO - 10.1080/14616734.2016.1149872
M3 - Article
C2 - 26982874
AN - SCOPUS:84961238748
SN - 1461-6734
VL - 18
SP - 213
EP - 234
JO - Attachment and Human Development
JF - Attachment and Human Development
IS - 3
ER -