催产素通过与脑内特异性受体（OXTR）结合进而影响社会认知功能，其神经机制尚需系统研究，尤其是OXTR基因多态性对该调控机制的影响尚待明确。本项目在前期发现OXTR rs53576基因多态性通过调节前额叶-杏仁核的功能连接影响焦虑样人格特性的基础上，运用多模态MRI技术和先进的图像分析方法进一步研究rs53576和rs2254298基因多态性对脑结构和功能的影响及其交互效应。拟采用随机双盲、安慰剂对照的受试者内部交叉的实验设计方案和基于面孔表情识别和社会记忆任务的fMRI技术，重点阐述鼻喷催产素增进社会记忆与识别的神经机制及OXTR基因多态性、性别、外周血激素水平等因素对该机制的影响。该研究将有助于提高对催产素系统调控社会认知的神经机制的认识，有助于针对催产素系统的药物研发（如能够透过血脑屏障的选择性激动剂），以改善自闭症等精神疾病患者受损的社会认知功能、增强正常人对抗应激的能力。

The oxytocin influences social cognition by combining with its specific receptor (OXTR) in the brain, however, the underlying neural mechanisms need to be systematically studied, especially the influence of OXTR gene polymorphisms on the modulation mechanisms need to be elucidated. Based on our previous finding of the influence of OXTR rs53576 gene polymorphism on the anxiety-related personality through modulating the functional coupling in the prefrontal-amygdala circuit, we further want to investigate the influences of OXTR rs53576 and rs2254298 on brain structure and functions and their interactions using multi-modality MRI and advanced imaging analysis methods. Importantly, we intend to elucidate the neural mechanisms of the enhancement of social memory and recognition after nasal oxytocin administration and the influences of OXTR gene polymorphisms, gender, and hormone levels in the blood on these mechanisms using a random double-blind, placebo-controlled, within-subject crossover design and fMRIs with facial expression recognition and social memory tasks. This study may improve our understanding of the neural mechanisms of the oxytocin system on social cognition, facilitate the development of drugs of the oxytocin system, which can improve the impaired function in social cognition and can enhance the ability of healthy subjects to adapt stress.