Oxytocin and Non-verbal Communication

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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In this protocol registration, the investigators plan a secondary data analysis of a dataset to explore the effects of intra-nasal oxytocin on the non-verbal expression of affiliation.

Detailed Description
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Using Liu et al.'s (2012) dataset, the investigators seek to observe whether the administration of oxytocin modifies non-verbal communication with a stranger. This dataset involves a conversation between two strangers that took place 45 minutes after drug administration. While Liu et al. coded the video for markers of interpersonal distance (physical distance, eye contact, conversational intimacy), the investigators seek to analyse oxytocin's effects on non-verbal communication of affiliative and sexual cues (e.g., smiles, lip puckers). Based on findings that oxytocin's effects depend on context, the investigators will explore these relationships as a function of the conversational context (where participants converse with each other using low-, medium-, and high-intimacy topics, or in an unstructured conversation).

Official Title
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Exploring the Effects of Oxytocin on Non-verbal Communication

Conditions
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Social Interaction

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Oxytocin
* Drug: Placebos


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: healthy Exclusion Criteria: pregnant; history of epilepsy, severe depression, severe anxiety, or psychosis; smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day; addicted to illegal substances.
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Factorial Assignment
Masking: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Oxytocin<br>24IU Syntocinon, delivered in a single nose via a nasal spray | Drug: Oxytocin<br>* Administration of the hormone oxytocin<br>* Other names: Syntocinon;|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>Matched nasal spray | Drug: Placebos<br> <br> |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Non-verbal communication | Based on coding the video-recorded interaction between two strangers, using a coding scheme by Gonzaga et al. (for affiliative and sexual cues) | Measured in the interaction which commenced 45mins after drug administration | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ratings of the person participants interacted with | Positivity or sexual attraction towards the other participant in the conversation (as measured using visual analogue scales based on person perception studies) | Measured following the interaction (which commenced 45 mins after drug administration) | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Oxytocin, Affiliation