Oxytocin can ameliorate social deficits and brain developmental impairments in a rat model of early life excessive screen time exposure

In recent years studies have shown that early life excessive screen time exposure may significantly contribute to the emergence of social deficits and autistic-like behaviors. However, the exact underlying mechanisms and the optimal treatment strategies are not completely understood, with conflicting results of preceding findings. This study investigates the effect of oxytocin on autism-related behaviors, and associated brain structure abnormalities induced by excessive audiovisual stimulation (EAVS) as an early life excessive screen exposure model in rats. Neonatal rat pups were exposed to EAVS from postnatal day (PND) 12 to PND 35, and intranasal oxytocin (OXT) at a dose of 0.8 IU/kg was administrated from PND21 to PND35. Behavioral assessment including social interaction, repetitive behavior, locomotor activity, and anxiety-like behavior, along with three-dimensional brain structure measurements were done during adolescence (PND50-PND55). The results revealed EAVS-induced anomalies in social interaction, hyperactivity, and changes in the volume, and neuron number of brain regions including the amygdala and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in the EAVS group which were modulated by oxytocin. Our findings suggest that OXT may mitigate adverse effects of early life excessive exposure to digital screens, enhancing social preferences through modulating brain plasticity. The observed neuroanatomical and behavioral alterations highlight the vulnerability of the developing brain to early life excessive screen exposure and suggest a potential therapeutic path through OXT to tackle social impairments induced by EAVS.