What is it about?

This study examines the effect of oxytocin, a chemical in the brain involved in social bonding, in treating children with autism. Using an automated eye tracking device, we were able to track gaze preference in children with autism and a matched comparison group. Firstly, the study showed that children with autism prefer to view more highly structured and organized real-life images, compared with other children. However, after giving an intranasal spray of oxytocin, this pattern was reversed, with autistic children now showing a similar result to the non-autistic comparison children. Furthermore, and unexpectedly, we found the opposite results in control children; after receiving the oxytocin spray they behaved more like the children with autism in their gaze preferences.

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Why is it important?

This study provides additional evidence for the potential benefits of oxytocin in treating some of the non-social symptoms of autism.

Perspectives

While I don't imagine that a nasal spray of oxytocin alone will be effective in treating autism, our study adds to the body of knowledge suggesting that the oxytocin system may be involved in autism. I hope it will lead to further exploration into what may cause autism or even how it may be prevented in early life.

Lane Strathearn
University of Iowa

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This page is a summary of: Visual systemizing preference in children with autism: A randomized controlled trial of intranasal oxytocin, Development and Psychopathology, July 2017, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s0954579417001018.
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