Oxytocin and Social Cognition

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of this study is to determine whether oxytocin influences memory of social stimuli and reaction to social stimuli. Furthermore the investigators explore the effect of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) polymorphism in terms of behavioral and neural responses to social stimuli.

Detailed Description
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The prevailing view of OXT as a key facilitator of prosocial behaviors has been highly influenced by a plethora of studies in healthy volunteers, which demonstrated increased interpersonal trust, generosity, social learning/empathy and positively biased social stimulus processing as a result of OXT treatment. However, this interpretation is challenged by observations that OXT also promotes envy and schadenfreude (gloating), ethno-centrism (including prejudice, xenophobia, and racial bias), and defensive aggression towards outsiders.We investigate the neural correlates of emotion perception and subsequent memory effects of aversive and neutral stimuli. Tthe oxytocin effect on personal space is questioned. Additionally the effect of OXTR polymorphism regarding behavioral and neural response is explored.

Official Title
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Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Randomized Study: Oxytocin and OXTR-genotypes Influence Behavioral and Neural Social Reactions

Conditions
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Healthy Male Volunteers

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Oxytocin


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Healthy male volunteers Exclusion Criteria: Current or past psychiatric disease Current or past physical illness Psychoactive medication Tobacco smokers MRI contraindication

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 35 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: Triple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Oxytocin<br>one application of 24 IU oxytocin per volunteer | Drug: Oxytocin<br>* intranasal administration, 24 IU oxytocin; ; 3 puffs per nostril, each with 4 IU OXT<br>* Other names: Oxytocin: Syntocinon-Spray, Novartis;|
| Placebo Comparator: Placebo<br>sodium chloride solution, intranasal application, 3 puffs per nostril one application per volunteer | Drug: Oxytocin<br>* intranasal administration, 24 IU oxytocin; ; 3 puffs per nostril, each with 4 IU OXT<br>* Other names: Oxytocin: Syntocinon-Spray, Novartis;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| neural correlates of emotion perception and subsequent memory effects of aversive and neutral stimuli | MRI data are analyzed using SPM8 (Wellcome Trust Centre for Neuroimaging, London, UK). In the first level analysis the following conditions are modeled: 'neutral: subsequently remembered', 'neutral: subsequently forgotten', 'aversive: subsequently remembered', and 'aversive: subsequently forgotten'. | two years | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| the effect of oxytocin receptor (OXTR) polymorphism in terms of behavioral and neural responses to social stimuli | behavioral social testing, fMRI analysis using SPM8, OXTR genotyping | two years | 
| The oxytocin effect on social behavior e.g. personal space is questioned | behavioral testing e.g. personal space | two years | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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oxytocin, social cognition, fMRI, oxytocin receptor gene