Oxytocin administration enhances pleasantness and neural responses to gentle stroking but not moderate pressure social touch by increasing peripheral concentrations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Social touch constitutes a key component of human social relationships, although in some conditions with social dysfunction, such as autism, it can be perceived as unpleasant. We have previously shown that intranasal administration of oxytocin facilitates the pleasantness of social touch and activation of brain reward and social processing regions, although it is unclear if it influences responses to gentle stroking touch mediated by cutaneous C-touch fibers or pressure touch mediated by other types of fibers. Additionally, it is unclear whether endogenous oxytocin acts via direct entry into the brain or by increased peripheral blood concentrations.

Methods

In a randomized controlled design, we compared effects of intranasal (direct entry into the brain and increa

SUBMITTER: Chen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10229136 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature