In particular, developmental disruptions of the oxytocin (OXT) system have been implicated in many pathological conditions, including autism and Prader-Willi syndrome, which are associated with impaired responses to stressful, social and metabolic stimuli (Atasoy et al., 2012; Swaab et al., 1995; Lerer et al., 2008; Thompson et al., 2011). This evidence concerns the gene OXT and autism.