To identify the brain and behavioral mechanisms via which oxytocin modulates communicative behavior.
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Other condition
Synonym
Health condition
sociaal gedrag
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
- Behavioral performance and brain activity on computerized tasks
Secondary outcome
- Subjective measurements on self-report questionnaires.
- Functional connectivity of the human brain by examining intrinsic BOLD
fluctuations.
Background summary
Many studies showed that oxytocin, a hormone and a neurotransmitter, plays an
important role in the formation of social, affiliative behavior.
Intranasal administration of oxytocin in humans has been reported to enhance
trust, empathy and social engagement. However, knowledge on how oxytocin
affects human brain and behavior during communication, which is our most
prevalent social behavior, is scarce. The main objective of our research is
therefore to provide insights into how oxytocin modulates communicative
behavior.
Study objective
To identify the brain and behavioral mechanisms via which oxytocin modulates
communicative behavior.
Study design
Participants will be tested in a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled,
between-group design. Participants will receive either oxytocin or a similar
placebo dose and perform computerized tasks. After the tasks, participants will
complete several self-report questionnaires.
Intervention
One group of participants will self-administer 48 IU of Syntocinon - the
synthetic analogue of oxytocin - by an intranasal spray. Another group will
self-administer a similar dose of placebo.
Study burden and risks
The low dose of oxytocin can be administered safely to humans without any
relevant risk of serious adverse events. On both the day prior to the test
session and on the day of the test session itself participants will adhere to
some simple restrictions with respect to medication, alcohol and drug intake.
In the morning of the test day, participants will refrain from smoking and
consuming stimulant-containing drinks. The risk associated with participation
can be considered negligible and the burden can be considered minimal. No
adverse events are expected and side effects of the treatment are very
unlikely.
P.O. Box 9101
NL-6500 HB Nijmegen
NL
P.O. Box 9101
NL-6500 HB Nijmegen
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
Healthy male volunteers between 18 and 35 years of age
Predominant right-handedness
Exclusion criteria
- History of psychiatric treatment or current psychiatric treatment
- History of neurological treatment or current neurological treatment
- History of endocrine treatment or current endocrine treatment
- History of heart-related disease
- Regular use of corticosteroids
- Metal objects in or around the body (braces, pacemaker, metal fragments, hearing devices).
- Body Mass Index < 18.5 or > 25
- Claustrophobia
- History of epilepsy
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL37419.091.11 |