Intranasal Oxytocin Study to Probe Maternal Brain Responses in Addiction via fMRI

Maternal addiction is associated with diminished brain responses in key dopamine- and oxytocin-related pathways, including the hypothalamus, striatum, and ventromedial prefrontal cortex, when addicted mothers view their own infants compared to non-addicted mothers. Oxytocin, a crucial neuropeptide for maternal bonding, shows decreased blood levels in addicted mothers. Understanding how oxytocin modulates these brain circuits could offer novel therapeutic avenues for supporting maternal care in addiction.

This randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study plans to enroll 150 mothers (75 with a history of drug addiction, 75 matched controls) and their 2-12 month-old infants. Participants will complete four study visits over two months. During each visit, mothers will receive either intranasal oxytocin or placebo, administered 50 minutes prior to fMRI scanning. The crossover design ensures each participant receives both treatments, with the order randomized. Brain activation patterns will be assessed while mothers view their own versus unknown infant faces.

This abstract describes a study plan and hypotheses, not completed results. However, prior pilot data from the principal investigator has shown that intranasal oxytocin enhanced activation in the striatum, prefrontal cortex (PFC), and amygdala. The primary hypothesis for the current study is that: > Compared to placebo, mothers receiving intranasal oxytocin will show greater activation of mesocorticolimbic dopamine reward regions, specifically the ventral striatum and medial prefrontal cortex, when viewing their own versus unknown infant faces during fMRI scanning. The study also plans to examine activation patterns within the salience network, including the anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula.