Behavioral effects and neural correlates of oxytocin on social attention

The overall aim of the proposed project is to investigate attentional processes in a social context and to modulate these processes by OXT. Based on the literature to date, it seems plausible that OXT modulates social cognitive processes such as the attention to emotional facial expressions differentially in ASD and neurotypical controls. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the modulatory role of OXT on attentional capture of social stimuli with varying emotional valence on the behavioral level in both typically developing adults as well as individuals with ASD. Participants will receive either OXT or a placebo in a randomized, double-blind group design.