Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Emotion Regulation in Insecure Adolescents: Study Protocol for a Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Emotional dysregulation and impaired attachment are potential contributors to the development of psychopathology in adolescence. This raises the question of whether oxytocin (OT), the paradigmatic “attachment hormone,” may be beneficial in such contexts. Recent evidence suggests that intranasal administration of OT increases affiliative behavior, including trust and empathy. OT may also facilitate social reciprocity by attenuating the stress response to interpersonal conflict. To date, few studies have investigated the effects of intranasal oxytocin (IN-OT) on neurophysiological emotion regulation strategies in healthy adolescents, particularly during parent-adolescent interacti…
How do adolescents regulate distress according to attachment style? A combined eye-tracking and neurophysiological approach.
According to attachment theory, attachment representations influence emotion regulation (ER) across the lifespan. However, research into attachment-related ER in adolescence is still scarce. The aim of this study was to assess attachment-related ER using a multimodal approach, relying on behavioral and neurophysiological parameters. Attachment styles in eighty-one adolescents were assessed with the Attachment Style Interview (ASI). A distress-then-comfort paradigm based on visual stimuli (the Besancon Affective Picture Set-Adolescents) was employed to "activate" then "deactivate" the attachment system. Gaze and neurophysiological parameters of ER strategies were assessed using eye-tracking …
Psychophysiological effects of oxytocin on parent-child interactions: A literature review on oxytocin and parent-child interactions
Oxytocin (OT), often called the “hormone of love” or “hormone of attachment”, plays a fundamental role in the establishment and quality of parent-infant bonding. However, emerging evidence indicates that OT can also produce antisocial behavior. To clarify these effects, we review studies examining the role of endogenous and exogenous OT on several determinants of attachment: parental sensitivity, and bonding or synchrony in parent–child dyads. Contextual and individual factors moderating the effect of intranasal OT (INOT) and its peripheral levels are also reviewed. Finally, potential therapeutic applications for OT and current limitations in human OT research are examined. This systematic …