The Influence of Intranasal Oxytocin on Communication

NCT02415920 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: H14-02448
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study investigates whether oxytocin, a neuropeptide known for its role in social bonding, influences the outcomes of persuasive communications and several primary evolutionary goals. Participants will be given either oxytocin or placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit. At each visit, participants will engage in several psychosocial tasks to assess the role of oxytocin on receptiveness to opposing opinions, navigating the spatial environment, mating and parenting goals. Participants' attitudes and behaviours will be compared across the different conditions.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

Investigating oxytocin's effects; human communication

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Communication Outcomes

  Participants will answer a series of questions regarding their reactions (e.g., anger, receptiveness) to the speakers and the opinions presented in the photos. It is expected that when participants receive oxytocin they will be more receptive to opposing opinions compared to when they receive the placebo. Participants may also have differing levels of receptiveness depending on whether the person expressing the opinion comes from their ingroup or outgroup.

  60-90 minutes

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Appetite

  60-90 minutes

• Short vs. Long-Term mating orientation

  60-90 minutes

• Peripheral narrowing of attention

  60-90 minutes

Study Arms (2)

Experimental

EXPERIMENTAL

These participants will receive 24 international units (IU) of oxytocin via a nasal spray.

Drug: Oxytocin

Control - Placebo

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

These participants will receive 24 international units (IU) of a saline solution via a nasal spray.

Drug: Placebo

Interventions

Oxytocin DRUG

Participants will be randomly assigned to intra-nasally administer either oxytocin or a placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit.

Also known as: Syntocinon

Experimental

Placebo DRUG

Participants will be randomly assigned to intra-nasally administer either oxytocin or a placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit.

Control - Placebo

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy adult volunteers

You may not qualify if:

• Currently have a diagnosed mental illness or are in psychiatric or psychotherapeutic treatment.
• Are taking endocrinologically or psychoactive drugs (e.g. psychotropic drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedatives, or sleeping pills)
• Are taking anti-hypertensive drugs or drugs with QTc prolongation
• Abuse drugs or alcohol
• Suffer from any significant medical illness, such as heart disease/cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, endocrinological disorders, or neurological disorders.
• Are not found to be physically healthy after a required prescreen questionnaire created by a doctor
• Allergic to preservatives (e.g. paragons) found in nasal sprays
• Pregnant/breastfeeding
• Are currently involved in other clinical studies in which drugs are administered.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of British Columbia: lead
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Kenny Psychology Building

Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T1Z4, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Oxytocin

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pituitary Hormones, Posterior; Pituitary Hormones; Peptide Hormones; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Peptides; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins

Study Officials

• Frances Chen, PhD

  University of British Columbia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Dr. Frances Chen

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 31, 2015
• First Posted: April 14, 2015
• Study Start: November 6, 2017
• Primary Completion: December 12, 2018
• Study Completion: December 12, 2018
• Last Updated: April 17, 2019

Record last verified: 2019-04

Locations

CA (1)