The Neural Basis of Oxytocin's Effects on Empathy

NCT ID: NCT03084029

Last Updated: 2018-02-06

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Total Enrollment

72 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-01-31

Study Completion Date

2017-09-30

Brief Summary

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The main focus of this study is to examine oxytocin effects on behavioral and neural indices of empathy processing.

Detailed Description

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The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) has been demonstrated to modulate empathy in previous behavioural studies. The present study aims at replicating previous findings on OXT on empathy as well as to determine the neural basis of these effects.

In a between-subject, randomized double-blind design, subjects will be either administered intranasal OXT or placebo nasal spray (40 IU). 45 minutes after administration subjects will undergo (fMRI) tasks of empathic processing.

During the tasks subjects will be shown empathy inducing stimuli, and the behavioral and neural response in terms of cognitive, emotional and indirect emotional empathy will be assessed.

Before the administration of treatment, validated questionnaires assessing potential confounding variables, such as depression (Becks Depression Inventory (BDI)) or mood (Positive And Negative Affect Scale (PANAS)) will be administered to the subjects.

Conditions

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Healthy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

FACTORIAL

Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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male participants - oxytocin nasal spray

male participants - receiving a single dose of 40 IU intranasal oxytocin

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Oxytocin

Intervention Type DRUG

40 international units

female participants - oxytocin nasal spray

female participants - receiving a single dose of 40 IU intranasal oxytocin

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Oxytocin

Intervention Type DRUG

40 international units

male participants - placebo nasal spray

male participants - receiving a single dose of 40 IU intranasal placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

40 international units

female participants - placebo nasal spray

female participants - receiving a single dose of 40 IU intranasal placebo

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

40 international units

Interventions

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Oxytocin

40 international units

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

40 international units

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

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Oxytocin Treatment Placebo treatment

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders
* no smoking at least 12 hours before experiment
* no alcohol, coffee or other stimulant drinking at least 12 hours before experiment

Exclusion Criteria

* mental implants
* pregnancy
* uterine cavity operations
* use of medication
* acute physical disorder
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

30 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Keith Kendrick

PhD

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Keith Kendrick, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

China,Sichuan, School of Life Science and Technology,University of Electronic Science and Technology

Locations

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School of Life Science and Technology,University of Electronic Science and Technology

Chengdu, Sichuan, China

Site Status

Countries

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China

Other Identifiers

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UESTC-neuSCAN-03

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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