Oxytocin, negative parenting and emotion: an ERP study

This was the first study to concentrate on the relationship between endogenous oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 and whether negative parenting experiences during childhood moderated this relationship. The sample consisted of 50 female participants, aged 18-30 years old. First, the relationship between oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. In addition, the relationship between negative parenting experiences and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. Last, the possible moderating effect of negative parenting experiences on the relationship between the natural oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. The parental love withdrawal questionnaire and an adapted version of the Conflict Tactic Scales (CTS; harsh discipline) were used to measure negative parenting (Huffmeijer, Alink, Tops, Grewen, Light, Bakermans-Kranenburg, Van IJzendoorn, 2013; Straus and Hamby, 1997). To study the effect of emotion on...Show moreThis was the first study to concentrate on the relationship between endogenous oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 and whether negative parenting experiences during childhood moderated this relationship. The sample consisted of 50 female participants, aged 18-30 years old. First, the relationship between oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. In addition, the relationship between negative parenting experiences and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. Last, the possible moderating effect of negative parenting experiences on the relationship between the natural oxytocin levels and the effect of emotion on the N170 was examined. The parental love withdrawal questionnaire and an adapted version of the Conflict Tactic Scales (CTS; harsh discipline) were used to measure negative parenting (Huffmeijer, Alink, Tops, Grewen, Light, Bakermans-Kranenburg, Van IJzendoorn, 2013; Straus and Hamby, 1997). To study the effect of emotion on the N170, participants’ ERPs were studied in response to pictures showing emotional faces presented with feedback stimuli during an experimental task. Endogenous oxytocin levels were measured using saliva samples. Results suggested an interaction effect of high parental love withdrawal on the N170, meaning that participants who reported high love withdrawal showed higher amplitudes on the N170 in response to emotional faces than participants who reported low love withdrawal. This was in particular the case for the N170 over the left hemisphere. This may be due to the fact that experiences of love withdrawal may cause higher levels of fear of failure and the emotional faces were presented in combination with feedback stimuli. Differences in endogenous oxytocin levels or harsh discipline did not cause differences in the effect of emotion on the N170.Show less

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Oxytocin, negative parenting and emotion: an ERP study