scholarly journals OXTR Gene DNA Methylation Levels Are Associated with Discounting Behavior with Untrustworthy Proposers

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 98
Author(s):  
Stefano Anzani ◽  
Loreta Cannito ◽  
Fabio Bellia ◽  
Alberto Di Domenico ◽  
Bernardo Dell’Osso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Life Outcomes ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Perception Of Time ◽  
Traditional Approaches

Individual differences in temporal and probabilistic discounting are associated with a wide range of life outcomes in literature. Traditional approaches have focused on impulsiveness and cognitive control skills, on goal-oriented personality traits as well as on the psychological perception of time. More recently, literature started to consider the role of social and contextual factors in discounting behavior. Between others, higher generalized trust in human beings and specific trust in people who will deliver the future/probabilistic rewards have been related to a stronger willingness to wait and to assume risk. Moreover, the tendency to trust others has been associated with the oxytocin receptor gene regulation that can be modified by life experiences. In this perspective, we hypothesized that differences in the tendency to wait and to take risks for a more desirable reward according to the proposer’s trustworthiness could be related to a different level of DNA methylation at the oxytocin receptor gene. Findings confirmed that participants are less willing to wait and to risk when the proposer is considered highly untrustworthy and revealed how higher oxytocin receptor gene DNA methylation is associated with a stronger effect due to the presence of an untrustworthy proposer. Limits and future directions are outlined.

scholarly journals Variation in DNA methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene predicts children's resilience to prenatal stress

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 1663-1674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Izabela Milaniak ◽  
Charlotte A. M. Cecil ◽  
Edward D. Barker ◽  
Caroline L. Relton ◽  
Tom R. Gaunt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Conduct Problems ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Conduct Problem ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Wide Range

AbstractEmerging research in epigenetics has shown that there is variability in how environmental exposures “get under the skin” through mechanisms like DNA methylation to influence gene expression that may lead to differential adaptations to stress. This is the first study to examine prospectively the relationship between DNA methylation at birth and resilience to prenatal environmental stressors in several domains (conduct, hyperactivity, emotional problems, and global symptomatology) in middle childhood. We focused on DNA methylation in the vicinity of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene as it has been previously associated with impairments in social–cognitive processes that may underlie a wide range of childhood psychopathology. Participants were 91 youth exposed to pre- and postnatal adversity with established conduct problem trajectories drawn from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Consistent with our hypothesis, OXTR DNA methylation was predictive of resilience in the conduct problems domain in middle childhood. DNA methylation profiles did not predict resilience in domains of emotional, hyperactivity, and global symptomatology, suggesting a potential role for OXTR in the development of conduct problems in particular. However, individuals who were resilient to conduct problems were also broadly resilient across multiple domains. Therefore, future research should elucidate the biological pathways between OXTR DNA methylation and gene expression and its relation to impairments in social behavior.

The Hormonal Underpinnings of Sexual Communication

2020 ◽  
pp. 234-260
Author(s):  
Amanda Denes ◽  
Anuraj Dhillon ◽  
Ambyre L. P. Ponivas ◽  
Kara L. Winkler
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Sexual Communication ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Communication Research ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Broad Domain ◽  
Relational Outcomes

Sexual communication is a pivotal part of interpersonal relationships; recent research reveals associations between sexual communication and various relational outcomes. Within the broad domain of sexual communication, current scholarship specifically addresses the role of postsex communication in relationships and its links to physiological and genetic markers. Given these advancements, the present chapter offers an overview of research linking physiology, hormones, and genes to communication after sexual activity. The chapter first presents reviews of two key hormones in sexual communication research: testosterone (T) and oxytocin (O). The oxytocin receptor gene and its link to social behavior broadly, and sexual behavior specifically, is also explored. The chapter then offers a review of several theories relevant to understanding the hormonal underpinnings of sexual communication, as well as future directions for research exploring sexual communication and physiology.

scholarly journals Examining the link between emotional childhood abuse and social relationships in midlife: The moderating role of the oxytocin receptor gene

2019 ◽  
Vol 98 ◽  
pp. 104151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley M. Ebbert ◽  
Frank J. Infurna ◽  
Suniya S. Luthar ◽  
Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant ◽  
William R. Corbin
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Abuse ◽  
Social Relationships ◽  
Receptor Gene ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor ◽  
Oxytocin Receptor Gene ◽  
Moderating Role
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document