This document summarizes research on oxytocin and its effects on heart rate variability and social behavior. It discusses how oxytocin increases gaze to eye regions and is involved in emotion recognition. Oxytocin has also been shown to increase heart rate variability, which is reduced in conditions like depression and alcohol dependence. The document proposes a placebo-controlled study using oxytocin treatment over 4 weeks for alcohol dependence, measuring outcomes like alcohol intake, social cognition, and psychophysiology. It suggests oxytocin may help disorders with poor social functioning by influencing the autonomic nervous system.

1. Oxytocin and
heart rate
variability: A role
in social behavior
and psychiatric
illness
Daniel S. Quintana, PhD Candidate
SCAN research & teaching unit, School of Psychology
Brain & Mind Research Institute

2. Oxytocin has
traditionally been
associated with
uterine contraction
and the milk let-
down reflex.
Dale (1906); Ott & Scott (1910)

3. Background
OT studies on social cognition
4x
increase
1992-2002 2002-2012

4. Oxytocin
increases
gaze to
the eye
region.
Guastella et al.,
(2008) Biological
Psychiatry, 63(1).

5. Oxytocin is a
cardiovascular
hormone.
Gutkowska & Janowski (2012) Journal
of Neuroendocrinology, 24(4).

6. Background
Gutkowska et al., (2007) Am J Physiol,
24(4).

7. The regulation of the
autonomic nervous
system plays a crucial
role in social behavior.
Porges (1998)

8. The autonomic nervous system
The vagus
nerve is part of
a system that
communicates
between the
brain and
body

9. The autonomic nervous system
Sinoatrial node

10. Autonomic nervous
system activity can be
indexed by heart rate
variability (HRV).
Berntson et al. (1997)

11. The autonomic nervous system
HRV is the temporal
variation of beats

12. Why is high
variability
‘good’?

13. The autonomic nervous system
A kr. 2500 NOK
Polar heart
rate monitor is
as good as a
kr. 90,000 NOK
ECG system to
measure HRV. Quintana et al. (2012)

14. HRV is The autonomic nervous system
reduced in
depression
Kemp, Quintana et al., (2010) Biological
Psychiatry, 34 (6); Kemp, Quintana et
al., (2012) PLoS One

15. Is HRV reduced in MDD?
*P > 0.01
Kemp, Quintana et al., (2012) PLoS One

16. Is HRV reduced in MDD with comorbid anxiety?
*P > 0.01
Kemp, Quintana et al., (2012) PLoS One

17. HRV is reduced in
alcohol
dependence
Quintana, Guastella, Kemp et al., (in
press) Alcoholism: Experimental &
Clinical research

18. The autonomic nervous
system regulates the
projection and the
perception of emotion.

19. Polyvagal theory and social behavior
Facial
muscles
Laryngeal &
Porges (2007) Biological
Pharyngeal
Psychology, 74.
muscles

20. What is this man
thinking or feeling?

21. HRV is related to
emotion recognition.

22. Oxytocin increases
HRV and protects
against social
isolation.

23. Oxytocin and HRV in animals
Grippo et al., (2009). Psychoneuroendochronology 34 (10)

24. Oxytocin nasal spray
increases HRV in humans.
Kemp, Quintana, Guastella et al., (2012) PLoS One

25. Almost 10% of Background
global disease
burden has been
attributed to
alcohol.
Rehm et al., (2009) Lancet, 373
3

26. Background
Almost 60% of
patients relapse a
Almost 60% of
patients relapse
year after a year after
commencing commencing
treatment for
treatment. alcohol
dependence
Ilgen et al., (2008) Drug and Alcohol
dependence, 92
3

27. Background
Alcohol is highly accessible for outpatients

28. HRV is an index of
inhibitory processes
and is also related to
cognitive flexibility.
Thayer & Lane (2000)

29. We hypothesized Background
that HRV wouldAlmost 60% of
predict craving
patients relapse
a year after
severity. commencing
treatment for
alcohol
dependence
3

30. Relationship between HRV and OCDS

31. We have almost
completed oxytocin
treatment trials on
autism, first episode
psychosis, and
schizophrenia.

32. Oxytocin treatment Background
trial for alcohol
Almost 60% of
dependence. patients relapse
a year after
commencing
treatment for
alcohol
dependence
3

33. Discussion
• Oxytocin may ‘break the loop’ of repetitive behaviors
related to drug taking (McGregor & Bowen, 2012)
• Placebo controlled, between-subjects design (n = 30).
• Participants received oxytocin or placebo for 4 weeks.
• Pre and post measures include alcohol intake, social
cognition and psychophysiology.
• 4 week follow-up after treatment completion.

34. Oxytocin shows
promise in the
treatment of disorders
characterized by poor
social functioning due
to its influence on
autonomic function.

35. Acknowledgements
Dr. Andrew Kemp A/Prof. Adam Guastella Prof. Iain McGregor
SCAN research and teaching unit BMRI School of Psychology
School of Psychology University of Sydney University of Sydney
University of Sydney
Prof. Gin Malhi Prof. Ian Hickie
Dr. Maree Abbott Gail Alvares
James Heathers Cristina Caccioti-Saija
Tim Outhred Ruth Wells
John Chalmers CJ Yatawara
17

36. Questions?
For more info on research or any questions:
Email - daniel.quintana@sydney.edu.au
Web – http://dsquintana.com
Twitter - @dsquintana