Olga Penagarikano, Ph.D., of the University of the Basque Country, Spain, will study dysfunction in the release of the neurotransmitter oxytocin, which is associated with social deficits in autism and psychiatric disorders. This project will expand on past findings revealing the social effects of oxytocin to probe how oxytocin interacts with two neurotransmitters extensively linked to social behavior: dopamine and serotonin. Looking at brain activity in mice, the team will also examine how oxytocin and its interactions with the dopamine and serotonin systems are affected by environmental factors. They hope to help identify candidates for therapeutic intervention early in human development that may improve social deficits.