Novel approaches to enhance social cognition by stimulating
central oxytocin release. Basic & Clinical In humans, intranasal
oxytocin (OT) enhances many aspects of social cognition,
including increasing gazing to the eyes, inferring the emotions
of others, socially reinforced learning, and empathy. Intranasal
OT also enhances some aspects of social cognition and social
functioning is subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
While these findings are promising, there are limitations to
intranasal delivery, including poor penetration of the blood
brain barrier. The study will utilize an alternative approach to
stimulate the OT system. Melanocortin 4 receptors (MC4R) are
concentrated in brain regions that synthesize OT and MC4R
agonists stimulate central, but not peripheral release of OT in
rats. Social bonding in the monogamous prairie vole is an OT-
dependent form of social learning that may be useful for
screening drugs to enhance social cognition. Melanotan II (MT
II), an MC4R agonist greatly enhances soc