The Effects of Oxytocin on Affective Touch
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Interventions
- Drug: intranasal placebo
- Registration Number
- NCT03282162
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
- Brief Summary
The main aim of the study is to investigate whether intranasal oxytocin (24IU) increases the affective processing of touch in general or whether it's effect vary according to the affective valence of the touch (positive, neutral, negative). Moreover, associations with trait autism will be explored.
- Detailed Description
A double-blind, within-subject, placebo controlled design will be employed in this study. In a randomized-order a total of 40 healthy male subjects will receive oxytocin- and placebo-nasalspray (interval between the administration \> 2 weeks). 45 minutes after treatment subjects will be administered the touch-stimulation to the dorsal forearm by a trained experimenter (lengths: 8cm, rate 8cm/s). After each block of stimulation, the subjects will be asked to rate their subjective experience of the touch.The neural basis of touch processing will be measured via simultaneously acquired fMRI.
Levels of trait autism will be assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ) and related scales such as the Empathy Quotient (EQ), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), or the Sensory over Responsivity Scale (SOR) and Under Responsively Scale (URS).
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- Male
- Target Recruitment
- 50
- Healthy subjects without any past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders
- History of brain injury Medical or mental illness
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Oxytocin then placebo intranasal oxytocin Subjects will first receive oxytocin (24 IU).They then will receive placebo (24 IU) 2 weeks later. Oxytocin then placebo intranasal placebo Subjects will first receive oxytocin (24 IU).They then will receive placebo (24 IU) 2 weeks later. Placebo then oxytocin intranasal placebo Subjects will first receive placebo (24 IU).They then will receive oxytocin (24 IU) 2 weeks later. Placebo then oxytocin intranasal oxytocin Subjects will first receive placebo (24 IU).They then will receive oxytocin (24 IU) 2 weeks later.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method brain function: neural activity during affective touch as assessed via BOLD fMRI 45-90 minutes after treatment administration fMRI data will be analyzed using a within-subject General Linear Model approach - to determine the effects of oxytocin neural activity following oxytocin administration will be compared with neural activity following placebo administration.
Brain function: functional connectivity during affective touch as assessed via BOLD fMRI 45-90 minutes after treatment administration fMRI data will be analyzed using a within-subject General Linear Model approach - to determine the effects of oxytocin on the brain network level, functional connectivity following oxytocin administration will be compared with functional connectivity following placebo administration.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Associations with trait autism as assessed via the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) - brain function: functional connectivity 45-90 minutes after treatment administration Associations between individual differences in trait autism and brain connectivity differences between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined
Associations with trait autism as assessed via the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) - behaviour: pleasantness experience 45-90 minutes after treatment administration Associations between individual differences in trait autism and differences in pleasantness ratings between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined
Associations with Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale - behaviour: pleasantness experience 45-90 minutes after treatment administration Associations between individual differences in Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale and differences in pleasantness ratings between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined
Associations with trait autism as assessed via the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) - brain function: activity 45-90 minutes after treatment administration Associations between individual differences in trait autism and brain activity differences between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined
Associations with Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale - brain function: activity 45-90 minutes after treatment administration Associations between individual differences in Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale and brain activity differences between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined
Perceived affective quality of the touch 45-90 minutes after treatment administration Pleasantness ratings of affective touch will be compared between the oxytocin and placebo administration
Associations with Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale - brain function: functional connectivity 45-90 minutes after treatment administration Associations between individual differences in Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale and brain connectivity differences between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China(UESTC)
🇨🇳Chengdu, Sichuan, China