Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 29, 2026

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research
08:42

A Familiarization Protocol Facilitates the Participation of Children with ASD in Electrophysiological Research

Published on: July 31, 2017

8.0K

Parent-child interaction and oxytocin production in pre-schoolers with autism spectrum disorder

Ruth Feldman1, Ofer Golan1, Yael Hirschler-Guttenberg1

  • 1Ruth Feldman, PhD, Ofer Golan, PhD, Yael Hirschler-Guttenberg, MA, Sharon Ostfeld-Etzion, MA, Orna Zagoory-Sharon, PhD, Department of Psychology and the Gonda Brain Sciences Center, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.

The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science
|May 24, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have lower oxytocin levels, but parent-child interaction can temporarily normalize oxytocin. This suggests potential for attachment-based interventions in early childhood.

Area of Science:

  • Neurobiology
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has genetic links to the oxytocin system.
  • Oxytocin's role in young children with ASD remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Assess baseline oxytocin levels in preschoolers with ASD.
  • Investigate if parent-child contact enhances oxytocin production.

Main Methods:

  • Compared 40 preschoolers with high-functioning ASD to 40 controls.
  • Collected saliva oxytocin samples from children and parents during home visits.
  • Measured oxytocin before, during, and after parent-child interaction.

Main Results:

  • Children with ASD exhibited lower baseline oxytocin.
  • Oxytocin levels normalized during parent-child interaction in children with ASD.
  • Oxytocin levels correlated with social synchrony between parents and children.

Conclusions:

  • Early childhood oxytocin dysfunction is evident in ASD.
  • Oxytocin production is malleable and responsive to social interaction.
  • Findings support attachment-based interventions for ASD.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos05:32

Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos

Published on: December 7, 2018

8.5K
An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children05:04

An Electrophysiology Protocol to Measure Reward Anticipation and Processing in Children

Published on: October 4, 2018

9.9K

Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
1.9K
Modeling in Therapy01:26

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
823
Neurotransmitters01:31

Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
3.9K
Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
726
Relationship with Parents: Attachment01:28

Relationship with Parents: Attachment

Parent-child interactions lay the foundation for how we understand relationships throughout life. These interactions are not uniform across families; instead, they are shaped by a range of environmental, emotional, and behavioral factors unique to each caregiver-child dynamic. Social psychologists study these early relationships to understand how patterns formed in infancy influence social functioning and interpersonal behavior in adulthood.Attachment Theory and Early Relational ModelsJohn...
374
Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
1.4K