Actively Recruiting
The Modulatory Effects of Oxytocin on Emotional Processing and Its Acting Routes
Led by University of Electronic Science and Technology of China · Updated on 2026-02-23
120
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
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.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Oxytocin's Effects on Emotional Processing and Its Acting Routes
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Healthy male subjects aged 18 to 30 years
- No past or current psychiatric disorders
- No past or current neurological disorders
You will not qualify if you...
- History of head injury
- Any medical or psychiatric illness
- Long-term use of certain medications
- Presence of metal implants in the body
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - Approximately 3 hours on the treatment day
Participants receive intranasal administration of vasoconstrictor, oxytocin, placebo, or their combinations and complete behavioral questionnaires. They then undergo resting-state and task-based fMRI scans, with blood samples collected to analyze plasma oxytocin concentrations.
1 visit (in-person) including questionnaires, drug administration, scans, blood draws, and behavioral tasks
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC)
Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 611731
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
S
Shuxia Yao, Dr
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
3
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