Oxytocin and Brain Responses in Maternal Addiction
Status:
Recruiting
Trial end date:
2022-02-28
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
A prior study by the principal investigator of this project identified dopamine- and
oxytocin-related brain pathways that showed a diminished response when addicted mothers
viewed the faces of their own vs. unknown infants, compared with non-addicted mothers. These
areas include the hypothalamus, striatum and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. In addition, the
investigators plan to examine activation patterns within the salience network, which includes
the anterior cingulate cortex and the anterior insula. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide with
decreased blood levels seen in addicted mothers, is integrally involved in maternal brain and
behavioral responses. When administered intranasally, the pilot data has shown enhanced
activation of the striatum, prefrontal cortex (PFC) and amygdala.
The purpose of this study is to continue and expand upon the previous investigation of
maternal addiction, by conducting a randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled, crossover
study of intranasal oxytocin on maternal brain responses. 150 mothers from the University of
Iowa and the Yale Child Study Center will be enrolled (75 with a history of drug addiction
and 75 matched control mothers), along with their 2 to 12-month-old infants, to participate
in four study visits over a two-month period.