Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Flanagan, Julianne C
• Hand, Anne
• Jarnecke, Amber M
• Moran-Santa Maria, Megan M
• Brady, Kathleen T
• Joseph, Jane E
• Stoops, William W

Titel

Effects of Oxytocin on Working Memory and Executive Control System Connectivity in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Ist Teil von

• Experimental and clinical psychopharmacology, 2018-08, Vol.26 (4), p.391-402

Ort / Verlag

United States: American Psychological Association

Erscheinungsjahr

2018

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a chronic, debilitating condition for which effective medications are scant and little is known about neural correlates of risk versus resilience. Oxytocin is a hypothalamic neuropeptide that has demonstrated promise in modulating neurobiological and behavioral correlates of PTSD. Cognitive deficits in areas such as working memory and executive control are highly prevalent among individuals with PTSD and oxytocin might modulate these impairments in individuals with PTSD. Using a double-blind, placebo-controlled design, this study employed functional MRI (fMRI) and the n-back working memory task to examine the effects of oxytocin (24 IU) versus placebo on working memory and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) connectivity among individuals with PTSD (n = 16) as compared with a trauma-exposed control group (n = 18). Results indicate that individuals with PTSD on oxytocin performed better in the 2-back condition of the n-back task compared with individuals with PTSD on placebo. Results also indicate that connectivity between DLPFC and anterior cingulate increased in the 2-back condition among individuals with PTSD on oxytocin as compared with placebo. These findings provide preliminary evidence of an effect of oxytocin on working memory among individuals with PTSD and insights into the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this association. Future studies are necessary to understand the mechanisms responsible for working memory deficits in PTSD and to examine the potential of oxytocin for use as a treatment for PTSD. Public Health Significance This preliminary study found that oxytocin, as compared with placebo, was associated with (a) improved working memory performance among individuals with PTSD, and (b) greater functional connectivity between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate during a working memory task. Results from this study support emerging literature suggesting that oxytocin has promise as a potential pharmacologic in the treatment of PTSD, for which effective medications are scant.