Correction and Retraction CORRECTION RETRACTION PSYCHOLOGICAL AND COGNITIVE SCIENCES, GENETICS PHARMACOLOGY Correction for “Thin-slicing study of the oxytocin receptor Retraction for “Structural basis for nucleotide exchange on Gαi (OXTR) gene and the evaluation and expression of the prosocial subunits and receptor coupling specificity,” by Christopher A. disposition,” by Aleksandr Kogan, Laura R. Saslow, Emily A. Johnston and David P. Siderovski, which appeared in issue 6, Impett, Christopher Oveis, Dacher Keltner, and Sarina Rodrigues February 6, 2007, of Proc Natl Acad Sci USA (104:2001–2006; Saturn, which appeared in issue 48, November 29, 2011, of Proc first published January 30, 2007; 10.1073/pnas.0608599104). Natl Acad Sci USA (108:19189–19192; first published November The authors wish to note the following: “In our paper, a co- 14, 2011; 10.1073/pnas.1112658108). crystal structure at 2.2 Å resolution was described of the heter- The authors note that Fig. 1 appeared incorrectly. The cor- otrimeric G-protein alpha subunit Gαi1 bound to two peptides: rected figure and its legend appear below. This error does not one from an artificial sequence that promotes nucleotide ex- affect the conclusions of the article. change (KB-752) and a second peptide (D2N) from the third intracellular loop of the D2 dopamine receptor (PDB ID code 2HLB). Further examination of the unbiased electron density map has revealed that, while electron density exists for the KB- 752 peptide, there is a lack of clear and continuous electron density for the D2N receptor peptide in the complex. Because the structural model represents a major conclusion of the paper but is unsupported by the experimental electron density map, we wish to retract the paper. Both authors deeply regret this mistake and sincerely apologize.” Christopher A. Johnston David P. Siderovski www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1200173109 Fig. 1. Differences in prosociality ratings of targets by genotype. Targets homozygous for the G allele (M = 4.21, SD = 0.63) were judged to be more prosocial than targets carrying an A allele (M = 3.80, SD = 0.55), (b = .42, P < .001). Error bars reflect standard deviations. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1121092109 1808 | PNAS | January 31, 2012 | vol. 109 | no. 5 www.pnas.org Downloaded by guest on October 1, 2021 Thin-slicing study of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene and the evaluation and expression of the prosocial disposition Aleksandr Kogana,1, Laura R. Saslowb, Emily A. Impetta, Christopher Oveisc, Dacher Keltnerd, and Sarina Rodrigues Saturne aDepartment of Psychology, University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON, Canada L5L 1C6; bOsher Center, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94115-3010; cRady School of Management, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0553; dDepartment of Psychology, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-1650; and eDepartment of Psychology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 Edited* by Shelley E. Taylor, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, and approved October 19, 2011 (received for review August 19, 2011) Individuals who are homozygous for the G allele of the rs53576 SNP socioeconomic status—a key predictor of altruism (20)—is quickly of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene tend to be more prosocial than communicated through engagement and disengagement cues (21). carriers of the A allele. However, little is known about how these Similarly, research on the nonverbal expression of positive emo- differences manifest behaviorally and whether they are readily de- tions—such as compassion, gratitude, and love—has shown that tectable by outside observers, both critical questions in theoretical these prosocial states are signaled in brief patterns of facial muscle accounts of prosociality. In the present study, we used thin-slicing movements, postural behavior, tactile contact, and vocalization methodology to test the hypotheses that (i) individual differences in (22–25). Based upon this work, we reasoned that if individual rs53576 genotype predict how prosocial observers judge target indi- differences in rs53576 are indeed related to people’s proclivity viduals to be on the basis of brief observations of behavior, and (ii) toward prosocial behavior, then it is likely that individuals homo- that variation in targets’ nonverbal displays of affiliative cues would zygous for the G allele will display their prosociality in specific account for these judgment differences. In line with predictions, we nonverbal displays. found that individuals homozygous for the G allele were judged to These nonverbal displays of prosocial behavior, we further be more prosocial than carriers of the A allele. These differences reasoned, should reliably signal the prosociality of individuals were completely accounted for by variations in the expression of homozygous for the G allele to naive observers. Dozens of em- affiliative cues. Thus, individual differences in rs53576 are associated pirical studies have established that naive observers can make with behavioral manifestations of prosociality, which ultimately rapid and accurate judgments about the traits and intentions of guide the judgments others make about the individual. target individuals based on the briefest of observations, or “thin slices,” of behavior (26). For example, naive observers can make compassion | nonverbal behavior | thin slices reliable judgments about a target’s personality traits (26–28), so- cioeconomic status (21), and the truthfulness of his or her con- COGNITIVE SCIENCES xytocin is a neuropeptide that is synthesized in the hypo- fessions (29) based upon seeing 1 min or less of the target’s PSYCHOLOGICAL AND Othalamus (1) and broadly involved in emotional and social behavior, often with no sound. Some evidence also suggests that processes (2). Animal models have shown that oxytocin is related behavioral patterns associated with different testosterone levels to parental and pair bonding across mammalian species (2, 3). are also detectable from thin slices (30). Therefore, we hypothe- Within humans, experimental inductions that increase oxytocin sized that the nonverbal behavioral cues associated with differ- increase many facets of prosociality, including trust (4), generosity ences in rs53576 would be readily detectable to naive observers on (5, 6), empathy (6), and sacrifice (7), all tendencies that enable the basis of seeing target individuals for only a brief period (20 s). GENETICS affiliative behavior in the face of stress (8, 9). One of the central Guided by this reasoning, in the present research we tested determinants of oxytocin functionality is the specific receptor three hypotheses. First, we predicted that naive observers would through which oxytocin operates throughout the body and the rate target individuals homozygous for the G allele (compared brain (10). Indeed, animal research suggests that differences in with people carrying the A allele) as more prosocial based on distribution and expression of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) un- seeing only a few seconds of that individual interacting with a derlie variation in sociability across species (11–13). Given the person in need, even in the absence of auditory information and central role of this receptor in the functionality of oxytocin, an knowledge about the social context. Second, we predicted that emergent line of inquiry has focused on the correlates of poly- individuals homozygous for the G allele would signal their pro- morphisms of the OXTR gene, located on chromosome 3p25 (14). sociality through increased nonverbal displays of affiliative cues One particular SNP of OXTR (rs53576) has been implicated in when interacting with a person in need than would individuals social behavior. Individuals homozygous for the G allele (GG carrying the A allele. Finally, we predicted that these differences in genotype) compared with carriers of the A allele (AA, AG geno- the display of affiliative cues would account for the differences in types) are at lower risk for autism (15) and self-report higher levels prosocial judgments naïve observers make about the target indi- of empathy (16), positive emotions (17), sociality (18), and pa- viduals homozygous for the G allele versus target individuals rental sensitivity (19). Neurologically, people homozygous for the carrying the A allele. G allele tend to have larger hypothalamic volumes and increased amygdala activation when viewing emotionally salient social cues, compared with carriers of the A allele (18). Collectively, these Author contributions: A.K., L.R.S., E.A.I., C.O., D.K., and S.R.S. designed research; A.K. findings suggest that individuals who are homozygous for the G performed research; A.K. analyzed data; and A.K., L.R.S., E.A.I., C.O., D.K., and S.R.S. allele of rs53576 tend to respond to the needs of others with wrote the paper. greater prosociality than carriers of the A allele. The authors declare no conflict of interest. To date, however, no research has examined whether variation *This Direct Submission article had a prearranged editor. in rs53576 is related to nonverbal behavioral displays of proso- 1To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: [email protected]. ciality. Numerous lines of inquiry suggest that prosocial intent is This article contains supporting information online at www.pnas.org/lookup/suppl/doi:10. signaled nonverbally. For example, one study demonstrated that 1073/pnas.1112658108/-/DCSupplemental. www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1112658108 PNAS | November 29, 2011 | vol. 108 | no. 48 | 19189–19192 Results male targets were on average judged to be less prosocial than the To test these three hypotheses, a sample of naive observers female targets, b = −0.27, t(2,628) = −5.38 P < 0.001. Therefore, watched 20-s, silenced video clips of 23 target individuals with these findings suggest that observers judge both male and female varying rs53576 genotypes. In the video clips, targets were listening targets homozygous for the G allele to be more prosocial than to their romantic partner disclose an experience of personal suf- those with the A allele, although this difference may be more fering; thus, the target was the listener in the conversation.