An fMRI Study of the Effect of Intravenous Oxytocin vs. Placebo on Response Inhibition and Face Processing in Autism

Autism is a developmental disorder affecting approximately 60/10,000 individuals. It is
characterized by social and language deficits and repetitive behaviors/restricted interests.
Functional imaging is becoming a very useful tool in trying to understand the neurobiology
of autism. Oxytocin is a hormone produced by the brain to assist with labor and lactation.
Recent evidence suggests that it may be involved in social attachment and in repetitive
behaviors. In this project, we will study how oxytocin changes the way the brain of autistic
adults processes faces, and deals with response inhibition (the ability to interrupt ongoing
responses should they prove ineffective or interfering with attaining a goal). There is
currently no functional imaging data assessing the effect of oxytocin on the brain. We will
explore the activation patterns in response to oxytocin across circuits involved in social
cognition (face fusiform area) and response inhibition (caudate, orbitofrontal and
dorsolateral cortex) by administering a specific fMRI task activating those circuits before
and during an oxytocin infusion. We will also explore the effect of oxytocin in these areas
by administering specific cognitive testing not associated with fMRI before and during
oxytocin infusion.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Meet DSM-IV, ADI, or ADOS criteria for autism spectrum disorder.

2. Age 18-50.

3. Be seen as outpatients

4. IQ>80

5. 5. Demonstrate capacity to provide authorized informed consent or provide consent for
participation by an approved surrogate on the autistic individual’s behalf

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Subjects who are pregnant or nursing mothers. Sexually active women of childbearing
potential who are not using adequate birth control measures.

2. Subjects with epilepsy.

3. Subjects with a history of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or other Axis 1
mental disorders, such as bipolar disorder.

4. Subjects reporting history of encephalitis, phenylketonuria, tuberous sclerosis,
fragile X syndrome, anoxia during birth, neurofibromatosis, hypomelanosis,
hypothyroidism, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and maternal rubella

5. Subjects who have received depot neuroleptic medication, or other psychoactive drugs
within the past 5 weeks.

6. Subjects with renal or liver disease or abnormalities in blood chemistry.

7. Any metallic prosthesis such as plates, pins and screws, shrapnel, metallic foreign
body, vascular or neurosurgical clips that may be incompatible with the MRI and any
electrical devices such as a pacemaker or a defibrillator

8. Claustrophobia