Additive effects of oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms on reward circuitry in youth with autism.

ABSTRACT: Several common alleles in the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) are associated with altered brain function in reward circuitry in neurotypical adults and may increase risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Yet, it is currently unknown how variation in the OXTR relates to brain functioning in individuals with ASD, and, critically, whether neural endophenotypes vary as a function of aggregate genetic risk. Here, for we believe the first time, we use a multi-locus approach to examine how genetic variation across several OXTR single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) affect functional connectivity of the brain's reward network. Using data from 41 children with ASD and 41 neurotypical children, we examined functional connectivity of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) - a hub of the reward network - focus

SUBMITTER: Hernandez LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5991611 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature