Influence of Oxytocin on Neurophysiological Responses to Live Faces

NCT ID: NCT03272321

Last Updated: 2019-08-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE1/PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 56 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-07-24
• Study Completion Date: 2018-05-18

Brief Summary

Previous research has indicated that direct eye gaze compared to averted gaze, elicits a higher skin conductance response (SCR), and a more pronounced left frontal cortex activity than right frontal cortex activity (resulting in positive asymmetry scores). On a behavioral level, participants tend to look shorter at live faces with a direct gaze as compared to averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013). Further, subjective evaluations showed that a direct gaze is rated more arousing and less pleasant than an averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013; Hietanen, Leppänen, Peltola, Linna-aho, & Ruuhiala, 2008).

Importantly, oxytocin administration increases the number of fixations and to looking time towards the eye region during live social interaction. Further, oxytocin has been shown to influence SCR and heart rate variability. Therefore, it is conceivable that oxytocin will not only influence the gaze duration of the participant, but also the physiological and neurological responses elicited by direct eye gaze.

In this study, the investigators will investigate whether oxytocin modulates the behavioural (eye gaze and subjective ratings), neurological (EEG) and physiological (skin conductance, heart rate and respiration) responses elicited by direct gaze.

Detailed Description

Previous research has indicated that direct eye gaze compared to averted gaze, elicits a higher skin conductance response (SCR), and a more pronounced left frontal cortex activity than right frontal cortex activity (resulting in positive asymmetry scores). On a behavioral level, participants tend to look shorter at live faces with a direct gaze as compared to averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013). Further, subjective evaluations showed that a direct gaze is rated more arousing and less pleasant than an averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013; Hietanen, Leppänen, Peltola, Linna-aho, & Ruuhiala, 2008).

Importantly, oxytocin administration increases the number of fixations and to looking time towards the eye region during live social interaction. Further, oxytocin has been shown to influence SCR and heart rate variability. Therefore, it is conceivable that oxytocin will not only influence the gaze duration of the participant, but also the physiological and neurological responses elicited by direct eye gaze.

In this randomized, placebo controlled, double blinded study, the investigators will investigate whether oxytocin modulates the behavioral and neurophysiological responses elicited by direct gaze. In order to do so, the investigators will measure behavioural (eye gaze and subjective feelings), physiological (skin conductance, blood volume pulse, and respiration) and neurological (EEG) responses during presentations of a live person's face with direct gaze and closed eyes, before and after oxytocin or placebo administration.

The investigators hypotheses that oxytocin attenuates the heightened SCR and pronounced EEG asymmetry during direct gaze. Further, they expect that oxytocin increases the number of fixations and duration of those fixations towards the eye region. Exploratory, the investigators will also investigate whether oxytocin administration influences respiration and the subjective reports on experience of live eye contact. Lastly (and also exploratory), they will explore whether certain personality traits (as measured by SAAM (state adult attachment measure) and SRS (social responsiveness scale)) influence the modulatory effect of oxytocin on neurological and behavioural responses.

Note that this study is part of a larger study in which the investigators also register several neurophysiological responses (blood volume pulse, respiration, heart rate, EEG, skin conductance) during rest before and after oxytocin or placebo administration.

Conditions

Oxytocin

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: TRIPLE

Study Groups

Oxytocin

Syntocinon nasal spray (40 IU/ml; oxytocin, product code RVG 03716); single intranasal dose of 24 international units (IU; 3 puffs of 4 IU per nostril)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Oxytocin

Intervention Type: DRUG

Syntocinon nasal spray

Placebo

saline natriumchloride solution nasal spray; single intranasal dose (3 puffs per nostril)

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo nasal spray

Interventions

Oxytocin

Syntocinon nasal spray

Intervention Type: DRUG

Placebo

Placebo nasal spray

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

syntocinon

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• right-handed
• male
• age between 18 and 35
• Normal or adjusted-to-normal vision (with lenses only)
• Dutch as mother tongue

Exclusion Criteria

• not right-handed
• female
• age below 18 or above 35
• Need to wear glasses
• Dutch not as mother tongue

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 35 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Research Foundation Flanders

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

KU Leuven

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Kaat Alaerts

Prof. Dr. Kaat Alaerts

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Kaat Alaerts, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

KU Leuven

Locations

KU Leuven

Leuven, , Belgium

Countries

Belgium

Other Identifiers

SingleOT_EEG-SC_S56327

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id