AUTHOR=Krueger Frank , Parasuraman Raja , Iyengar Vijeth , Thornburg Matthew , Weel Jaap , Lin Mingkuan , Clarke Ellen , McCabe Kevin , Lipsky Robert 

TITLE=Oxytocin Receptor Genetic Variation Promotes Human Trust Behavior

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

VOLUME=6

YEAR=2012

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2012.00004

DOI=10.3389/fnhum.2012.00004

ISSN=1662-5161

ABSTRACT=<p>Given that human trust behavior is heritable and intranasal administration of oxytocin enhances trust, the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene is an excellent candidate to investigate genetic contributions to individual variations in trust behavior. Although a single-nucleotide polymorphism involving an adenine (A)/guanine (G) transition (rs53576) has been associated with socio-emotional phenotypes, its link to trust behavior is unclear. We combined genotyping of healthy male students (<italic>n</italic> = 108) with the administration of a trust game experiment. Our results show that a common occurring genetic variation (rs53576) in the OXTR gene is reliably associated with trust behavior rather than a general increase in trustworthy or risk behaviors. Individuals homozygous for the G allele (GG) showed higher trust behavior than individuals with A allele carriers (AA/AG). Although the molecular functionality of this polymorphism is still unknown, future research should clarify how the OXTR gene interacts with other genes and the environment in promoting socio-emotional behaviors.</p>