Genetic modulation of oxytocin’s effects in social functioning

The contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) gene consists of 24 exons and spans 2.3 Mb at chromosome 7q35 (1). Mutations in this gene have been implicated in a broad range of neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD), schizophrenia, intellectual disability, dyslexia, language impairment, cortical dysplasia and focal epilepsy (2,3). Intriguingly, individuals carrying mutations in the Cntnap2 gene seem to show similar abnormal phenotypes such as intellectual disability, seizures, language and social abnormalities (2).