Understanding Oxytocin's Neural and Behavioral Effects in Adolescents Diagnosed With Autism

NCT ID: NCT05096676

Last Updated: 2021-10-27

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

NA

Total Enrollment

58 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2016-08-01

Study Completion Date

2019-10-01

Brief Summary

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The investigators explored the neural and behavioral effect of oxytocin on youth with Autism spectrum disorder using magnetoencephalography (MEG). The investigators hypothesize that oxytocin will modulate neural activity to resemble patterns observed in the age-matched control group.

Thirty-two adolescents with autism and 26 typically developing adolescents participated in this randomized, double-blind MEG study. Individuals with autism arrived at the lab twice and received an acute dose of intranasal oxytocin or placebo in each session. During the scans, participants were asked to complete several tasks related to social perception - such as identification of social and non-social stimuli.

Detailed Description

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In the current study, the investigators aimed to explore oxytocin's influences on neural components that relate to social processing. Namely, we focused on M100, M170, and M250, which tend to show atypical patterns in individuals with autism.

The investigators also examined the effects of oxytocin on time dynamics - the change in specific oscillation over time and its effects on neural connectivity patterns.

Conditions

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Autism Spectrum Disorder Oxytocin

Keywords

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Autism MEG Social perception

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Youth with autism participated in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Participants visited the lab for two sessions. In one of the sessions, they received oxytocin, and in the other, they received the placebo. Intranasal doses of 40 international units of oxytocin (IU)/mL were prepared by the "Maayan-Haim" pharmacy, Israel. We used age-dependent dosing such that participants aged 13-18 years received a dose of 24 IU (3 puffs to each nostril), and younger participants (aged 12 years) received 16 IU. Typically-developing youth underwent the same experimental procedure but did not receive oxytocin or placebo due to ethical constraints in Israel.
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators

Study Groups

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Adolescents diagnosed with Autism spectrum disorder

Participants in the ASD group received oxytocin and placebo in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled manner.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Oxytocin: Including placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

Individual received age-dependent dosing of oxytocin and placebo. Participants aged 13-18 years received a dose of 24 IU (3 puffs to each nostril), and younger participants (aged 12 years) received 16 IU.

Typically developing adolescents

Control participants were recruited using online ads. This group did not receive oxytocin or placebo due to ethical constraints in Israel.

Group Type NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

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Oxytocin: Including placebo

Individual received age-dependent dosing of oxytocin and placebo. Participants aged 13-18 years received a dose of 24 IU (3 puffs to each nostril), and younger participants (aged 12 years) received 16 IU.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Males, aged 12-18 years
* Native Hebrew speakers
* Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
* Participants in the ASD group had to meet the criteria for ASD in the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5)

Exclusion Criteria

* Chronic medical problems
* Cardiovascular risk factors
* CNS disease
* Other mental illnesses
* Use of prohibited medications
* Mental retardation
* Impaired vision
* Impaired hearing
* History of significant head injury or neurological illness
* Current substance dependence diagnosis
* Metallic implants, braces or devices in the body
Minimum Eligible Age

12 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Prof. Ilanit gordon

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Prof. Ilanit gordon

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

References

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Korisky A, Goldstein A, Gordon I. The dual neural effects of oxytocin in autistic youth: results from a randomized trial. Sci Rep. 2022 Sep 29;12(1):16304. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-19524-7.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36175473 (View on PubMed)

Korisky A, Gordon I, Goldstein A. Oxytocin impacts top-down and bottom-up social perception in adolescents with ASD: a MEG study of neural connectivity. Mol Autism. 2022 Sep 5;13(1):36. doi: 10.1186/s13229-022-00513-6.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 36064612 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

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16082021IG

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id