Oxytocin Effects on Self Versus Other Touch

NCT05899517 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: UESTC-neuSCAN-92
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The main aim of the study is to investigate the modulatory effects of oxytocin (24IU) administered orally using medicated lollipops on the behavioral and neural responses to touching yourself compared with being touched by others.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

Oxytocin; Affective touch; Self versus other distinction; fMRI

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Neural index: fMRI based measures of altered neural activity in response to different types of applied touch

  fMRI-based indices of neural activation (blood oxygen level dependent changes) in response to repeated self vs other touch will be compared between subjects in the oxytocin and placebo administration groups.

  53-75 minutes after treatment administration

• Behavioral index: pleasantness ratings for the different types of applied touch

  Ratings of perceived pleasantness for the two types of repeatedly applied touch (after each block of touch, subjects will need to complete the question 'how pleasant do they feel for the applied touch?' using a 9-point Likert scale ranging from -4 to +4, with higher positive scores indicating greater perceived pleasantness and higher negative scores indicating greater unpleasantness) will be compared between the oxytocin and placebo administration groups.

  53-75 minutes after treatment administration

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• Questionnaire scores for autistic traits using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ)

  Before the experiment

• Questionnaire scores for attitudes towards touch using the Social Touch Questionnaire

  Before the experiment

• Questionnaire scores for self-concept using the Self-Concept Clarity Scale (SCCS)

  Before the experiment

• Behavioral associations with autistic traits using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ)

  Before the experiment

• Neural associations with autistic traits using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ)

  Before the experiment

Study Arms (2)

Oral oxytocin then placebo

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects will first receive oral lollipop with oxytocin (24IU). After a washout period of 2 weeks, they will then receive oral lollipop with placebo (identical ingredients, except the active agent).

Drug: oral lollipop with oxytocin (24IU); Drug: oral lollipop with placebo

Oral placebo then oxytocin

EXPERIMENTAL

Subjects will first receive oral lollipop with placebo (identical ingredients, except the active agent). After a washout period of 2 weeks, they will then receive oral lollipop with oxytocin (24 IU).

Drug: oral lollipop with oxytocin (24IU); Drug: oral lollipop with placebo

Interventions

oral lollipop with oxytocin (24IU) DRUG

For oral oxytocin administration, participants will be instructed to suck the lollipop medicated with 24IU oxytocin for 3 minutes and then to sit relaxed in a quiet room for 30 minutes prior to rate their mood (PANAS). Participants then start the self versus other touch task around 53 minutes after oxytocin administration.

Also known as: oral oxytocin

Oral oxytocin then placebo; Oral placebo then oxytocin

oral lollipop with placebo DRUG

For placebo administration, participants will be instructed to suck the placebo lollipop for 3 minutes and then to sit relaxed in a quiet room for 30 minutes prior to rate their mood (PANAS). Participants then start the self versus other touch task around 53 minutes after placebo administration.

Also known as: oral placebo

Oral oxytocin then placebo; Oral placebo then oxytocin

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Healthy subjects without any past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders and without any current psychotherapeutic medication.

You may not qualify if:

• Any history of brain injury, psychiatric/physical illness, alcohol/substance abuse, or other major health concern.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Electronic Science and Technology of China: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China(UESTC)

Sichuan, China

RECRUITING

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

• Siying Wang, Dr.

  University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

Keith M Kendrick, Dr.

CONTACT

+86-28-61830811; k.kendrick.uestc@gmail.com

Shuxia Yao, Dr.

CONTACT

+8618111297596; yaoshuxia@uestc.edu.cn

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind within-subject design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 5, 2023
• First Posted: June 12, 2023
• Study Start: June 22, 2022
• Primary Completion: July 30, 2023
• Study Completion: December 1, 2023
• Last Updated: June 12, 2023

Record last verified: 2023-06

Locations

CN (1)