'Love Hormone' Oxytocin Found to Stimulate Brain in Children with Autism

You know that feeling when you kiss or hug a loved one? When you smile at your crush from across the room? That's oxytocin at play-the most powerful love hormone that also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain to form bonds.

Thus, this hormone plays an essential role in the formation of all types of relationships. Previous studies have also found that it can play an important part in the prevention of some disorders.

A recent study looks at autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in particular, and how a single nasal spray of oxytocin can help children with the issue process information better in social situations.

"This is the first study to evaluation the impact of oxytocin on brain function in children with autism spectrum disorders," first author Ilanit Gordon, a Yale Child Study Center postdoctoral fellow said , via a press release.

Gordon and his team conducted a double-blind, placebo controlled study of 17 children between the ages of eight and 16.5 with autism spectrum disorders.

Participants involved in the study were randomly selected to receive a wither oxytocin spray or a placebo nasal spray during a task that involved social judgments.

"We found that brain centers associated with reward and emotion recognition responded more during social tasks when children received oxytocin instead of a placebo," Gordon said, via the release. "Oxytocin temporarily normalized brain regions responsible for the social deficits seen in children with autism."

Researchers believe that these findings could provide essential information on how to affectively treat those with ASDs and how they react in social situations with others.

More information regarding the study can be found via the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 

As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that in the United States alone, 1 in 88 children and 1 in every 54 boys are born with autism, it's important to look at all sides of the story involving treatment options for the disorder. 

Just in July of this year, a similar study was published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders by researchers from the University of New South Wales finding no positive effects on oxytocin and ASDs.

Young boys in the study were assessed twice during a three month period-both before and after treatment with the nasal spray. Though researchers note that the studies were limited, they write the following, via a release.

"We found that, compared to a placebo, oxytocin did not significantly improve emotion recognition, social interaction skills, repetitive behavioural adjustment."

Though there is no cure for Autism at this time, there are many treatment options that have proven positive and successful in treating the issue. Check them out, here, courtesy of Autism Speaks.