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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03084029

The Neural Basis of Oxytocin's Effects on Empathy

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

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Key information

Conditions

Healthy

Age range

18 year–30 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Early Phase 1

Primary location

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

Chengdu, Sichuan, China

About this study

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.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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

Treatment and study plan

Oxytocin

Drug

40 international units

Other names: Oxytocin Treatment

Placebo

Drug

40 international units

Other names: Placebo treatment

Primary outcomes

  1. Neural processing of empathy as assessed using fMRI

    Time frame: 45-115 minutes after single dose administration

    Main effects of treatment and interaction between treatment effects and sex will be assessed on brain activity and connectivity in core regions of the empathy networks during processing of empathy inducing pictures

Secondary outcomes

  1. Behavioral ratings of subjective experienced empathy processing

    Time frame: 45-115 minutes after single dose administration

    Main effects of treatment and interaction between treatment effects and sex will be assessed on subjective feelings of empathy (ratings on a Likert scale in response to empathy inducing pictures).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2016
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2017
First posted
Mar 20, 2017
Registry last updated
Feb 6, 2018

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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