The Effect of Oxytocin on Reinforcement Learning

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The main aim of the study is to investigate whether intranasal oxytocin has effects on reinforcement learning under dynamic environment based on behavioral and electroencephalogram (EEG) responses.

Detailed Description
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A double-blinded, placebo-controled, between-subject design is employed in this study. In a randomized order, a total of 80 healthy males are instructed to self-administrated intranasal spray of oxytocin or placebo. A probabilistic reward learning task starts 45 minutes after treatment with behavioral (response time and accuracy) and EEG data (ERP components such as FRN, ERN and P300) being collected during this task. Personality traits of subjects are assessed using validated Chinese version questionnaires including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ), the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory(CFI), Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System Scale (BIS/BAS). Subjects are asked to complete Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) when they just arrive, before and after the learning task.

Official Title
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Common and Distinct Effects of Oxytocin on Reinforcement Learning Under Stable and Volatile Associations

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Intranasal oxytocin
* Drug: intranasal placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy subjects without any past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders. Exclusion Criteria: History of brain injury medical or mental illness.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 28 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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Male

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: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: oxytocin<br>a single dose of 24 international units (IU) of OT will be administered with 3 puffs of treatment to each nostril. | Drug: Intranasal oxytocin<br>* Each subject will be assigned to intranasal administration of oxytocin (24 IU).<br>|
| Experimental: placebo<br>a single dose of 24 international units (IU) of placebo will be administered with 3 puffs of treatment to each nostril. | Drug: intranasal placebo<br>* Each subject will be assigned to intranasal placebo.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Behavioral index: chioce accuracy | The accuracy of subjects choosing the better option. | 45-75 minutes after treatment administration | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ERP components: ERN, FRN, P300 | ERN and FRN are indices of reward expectancy and prediction error in reinforcement learning. P300 is associated with attention allocation. | 45-75 minutes after treatment administration | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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oxytocin, learning