RETRACTED: Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin gene is associated with gray matter volume and trait empathy in mothers

Daiki Hiraoka; Shota Nishitani; Koji Shimada; Ryoko Kasaba; Takashi X Fujisawa; Akemi Tomoda

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105026

RETRACTED: Epigenetic modification of the oxytocin gene is associated with gray matter volume and trait empathy in mothers

Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2021 Jan:123:105026. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105026. Epub 2020 Oct 21.

Authors

Daiki Hiraoka¹, Shota Nishitani², Koji Shimada³, Ryoko Kasaba⁴, Takashi X Fujisawa², Akemi Tomoda⁵

Affiliations

¹ Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan.
² Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan; Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
³ Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan; Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan; Biomedical Imaging Research Center, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
⁴ Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan.
⁵ Research Center for Child Mental Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan; Department of Child and Adolescent Psychological Medicine, University of Fukui Hospital, Fukui, Japan; Division of Developmental Higher Brain Functions, United Graduate School of Child Development, University of Fukui, Fukui, Japan. Electronic address: atomoda@u-fukui.ac.jp.

PMID: 33130408
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.105026

Abstract

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). The Editor has concluded that the acceptance of this article was partly based upon the positive advice of an unreliable reviewer report. The report was provided to the journal by a reviewer suggested by the authors, and there were inappropriate communications between the authors and reviewer during the peer-review process. The Editor has therefore concluded that the review was not appropriate or independent. This manipulation of the peer-review process represents a clear violation of the fundamentals of peer review, our publishing policies, and publishing ethics standards. Apologies are offered to the readers of the journal that this deception was not detected during the submission process.

Keywords: DNA methylation; Empathy; Imaging epigenetics; Oxytocin; Parenting; Voxel-based morphometry.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Empathy*
Epigenesis, Genetic*
Female
Gray Matter* / anatomy & histology
Humans
Mothers* / psychology
Organ Size
Oxytocin* / genetics

Substances

Oxytocin