Oxytocin Hormone May Benefit Adults with Autism

Boston (DbTechNo) - Results of a new study suggest that adults with autism could benefit from ingesting a hormone called oxytocin.

The hormone plays a large role in the bonding process between mothers and their new born babies and research suggests it could also help autistic adults.

French researchers recruited 13 adults with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders and had them inhale the hormone.

After inhaling the hormone, participants were more likely to pay attention to expressions when looking at pictures, and were more likely to understand social ques in a simulated game.

“In our study we show that oxytocin enhances eye contact because patients spent more time looking at the eyes,” said study leader Angela Sirigu of the Center of Cognitive Neuroscience in Lyon.