Trait Anxiety and Defensive Networks

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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to examine the association between trait and defensive network connectivity and the modulatory effect of oxytocin on it

Detailed Description
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Individuals with high trait anxiety show stable anxiety proneness even in the absence of real threat, which could be a result of intrinsic hyper-connectivity in the defensive systems. In the present study, healthy subjects' trait anxiety levels will be assessed by the sub-trait inventory of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Then two experiments using resting-state fMRI technique will be conducted to first map how hubs in the defensive systems organized in high anxious individuals in a stimuli-free situation (Experiment 1) and then we will examine the modulatory effect of the intranasal administration of oxytocin on functional connectivity in these independently defined defensive networks (Experiment 2).

Official Title
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Trait Anxiety Modulates Resting State Functional Connectivity of Defensive Networks

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: trait anxiety scale
* Drug: Oxytocin
* Drug: Placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders Exclusion Criteria: females should not be pregnant or during menstruation.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 35 Years

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: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Double


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: high trait anxiety group<br>experiment 1: identified according to scores of the trait anxiety scale. | Behavioral: trait anxiety scale<br>* splitting subjects into 2 groups according to scores of the trait anxiety scale<br>|
| Experimental: low trait anxiety group<br>experiment 1: identified according to scores of the trait anxiety scale. | Behavioral: trait anxiety scale<br>* splitting subjects into 2 groups according to scores of the trait anxiety scale<br>|
| Experimental: oxytocin group<br>experiment 2: intranasal administration of oxytocin | Drug: Oxytocin<br>* intranasal administration of oxytocin<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: placebo control group<br>experiment 2: intranasal administration of placebo | Drug: Placebo<br>* intranasal administration of placebo<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| the resting state functional connectivity changes in the defensive network | The resting-state activity can be accessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) by measuring spontaneous and low-frequency fluctuations (< 0.1 Hz) when the brain is at rest. Group differences will be calculated in the high trait anxiety group relative to the low trait anxiety group and in the oxytocin group relative to the placebo group. | one day | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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brain functional connectivity changes