Study of Intranasal Oxytocin Effects on Emotional Processing and Brain Pathways in Healthy Adult Males Aged 18 to 30

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the effects of intranasal oxytocin on how emotional stimuli are processed in healthy adult males. This study aims to understand the different ways oxytocin works in the body, whether directly through the brain or indirectly through the blood. The trial is double-blind, placebo-controlled, and randomized, involving 120 male participants aged 18 to 30 years. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups vasoconstrictor plus oxytocin, placebo plus oxytocin, or vasoconstrictor plus placebo. Treatments are given via intranasal sprays. The study includes questionnaire completion, blood sample collection, and several brain scans including resting-state and task-based fMRI scans. Tasks during scanning involve implicit face-emotion processing and emotional scene processing. After scanning, participants complete a 40-minute picture rating task assessing emotional responses. Throughout the study, participants complete questionnaires on anxiety, depression, social anxiety, autism traits, social responsiveness, empathy, childhood trauma, alexithymia, and mood. Blood samples are taken twice to measure plasma oxytocin levels. Brain activity during emotional tasks is measured, alongside resting-state brain function. The primary outcomes focus on brain responses and oxytocin concentrations, with secondary outcomes assessing emotional ratings and additional brain scans. The study involves about 3 hours of active participation in the lab.

Oxytocin's Effects on Emotional Processing and Its Acting Routes