Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties in social communication and the presence of restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. Although behavioral interventions are numerous, there are no Federal Drug Administration approved pharmacological treatments for the core symptoms of ASD. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been studied in animals for decades, and is involved in pair bonding and social affiliation. Given oxytocin's involvement in social communication in animals, researchers have begun exploring whether oxytocin administration in humans affects social behaviors and attachment. Particular attention has been paid to whether oxytocin has therapeutic benefits for improving social behaviors in individuals with ASD. Research on oxytocin administration in ASD has utilized both behavioral and brain-based outcomes. This chapter reviews the effects of oxytocin administration in ASD, with a focus on functional outcomes from neuroimaging investigations. Evidence of potential therapeutic benefits are reviewed, as well as limitations of extant research. A proposed model for future research into the therapeutic benefits of oxytocin includes combining pharmacological (e.g. oxytocin) and behavioral (e.g. evidence-based behavioral interventions) techniques to improve social communication skills in ASD.

自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一种神经发育障碍，其特征在于社交沟通困难以及存在利益受限和重复行为。尽管行为干预措施众多，但尚无联邦药物管理局批准的ASD核心症状药物治疗方法。神经肽催产素已经在动物中进行了数十年的研究，并参与了成对键和社会联系。鉴于催产素参与了动物的社交活动，研究人员已开始探索催产素在人体内的施用是否会影响社交行为和依恋。催产素是否对改善ASD患者的社交行为具有治疗益处特别关注。ASD中催产素给药的研究利用了行为和基于脑的结果。本章回顾了催产素管理在ASD中的作用，重点是神经影像检查的功能结果。审查了潜在治疗益处的证据以及现有研究的局限性。未来关于催产素治疗益处的研究的建议模型包括结合药理学（例如催产素）和行为学（例如循证行为干预）技术，以提高ASD的社交能力。