Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by dysregulation of endogenous oxytocin (OXT) function. In this study, we employed complexity of resting state fMRI signal as a tool to examine: 1) brain function impairments in adult ASD, 2) the relationship between DNA methylation of OXT receptor gene and severity of cognitive impairment, and 3) the effects of intranasal OXT treatment (IN-OXT). ASD patients exhibited abnormally increased fMRI signal complexity in a number of brain function networks. The severity of these impairments were inversely related to DNA methylation levels. IN-OXT attenuated impairments in these networks. Thus, OXT has neuroprotective effects in ASD.
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