The neuropharmacology of social motivation and curiosity

Il giorno 17 dicembre 2025 alle ore 10.30 presso l'aula 14 si terrà il seminario dal titolo "The neuropharmacology of social motivation and curiosity: evidence from neurotypical and neurodivergent samples".
Speaker. Prof. Giorgia Silani (Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of
Vienna, Austria), Visiting Professor presso il nostro Dipartimento.
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Abstract
Autism is a complex condition characterized by social atypicalities. According to one influential theory, autism may entail dysfunctional processing of social rewards conducive to reduced motivation to approach and engage with social stimuli (e.g. reduced exploration of relevant regions of the face). Despite this theory, a recent metanalysis has indicated a generalized atypicality in reward processing, which also pervades non-social contexts. In this talk, I will try to elucidate the specificity of reward processing in autistic individuals and whether potential pharmacological interventions may be beneficial in boosting the processing of social (and non-social) stimuli. To this end, I will first present data on the anticipation and consumption of matched primary social (affiliative touch) and non-social (real food) stimuli combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electromyography (EMG) recordings in autistic participants. Secondly, I will address the potential of using pharmacological interventions, entailing the combined modulation of the opioidergic and oxytocinergic systems, during a real-life face to face interview and a music-curiosity task, in neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. Results will be discussed in light of the clinical relevance of social and on social rewards processing and the possibility to synergically target more than one system to improve responses to social stimuli.

https://dippsi.web.uniroma1.it/it/neuropharmacology-social-motivation-and-curiosity-evidence-neurotypical-and-neurodivergent-samples

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