Oxytocin's Effect on Attention Training

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study aims to investigate oxytocin's effect on attentional bias training. Healthy participants will undergo a dot-probe task-based training to direct their attention away from negative stimuli (as compared to neutral). Effects of the training will be assessed using an eye-tracking anti-saccade task.

Detailed Description
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In this study, a dot-probe task will be used to examine if subjects show an attentional bias towards negative stimuli and whether the bias can be modified using a subsequent attentional bias training. During this training participants learn to direct their attention away from threatening stimuli. In a between-subject placebo controlled design participants will receive either intranasal oxytocin or placebo before the training to examine whether oxytocin could facilitate the effects of the attention training. Effects of the training and of oxytocin on the training will be assessed by means of an eye-tracking anti-saccade task. Based on previous studies showing the strongest effects of threat-attentional bias training in high anxious subjects, the study will recruit participants with an elevated trait anxiety.

Official Title
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An Eye-tracking Study to Investigate Oxytocin's Effect on Attentional Bias Training

Conditions
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Healthy

Intervention / Treatment
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* Drug: Oxytocin
* Drug: placebo


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: male participants with elevated trait anxiety (> 45 scores as assessed with the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, Spielberger, 1983) without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders Exclusion Criteria: history of head injury medical or psychiatric illness smoking or drinking 24 hours before the experiment

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 30 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 group<br>oxytocin treatment | Drug: Oxytocin<br>* intranasal administration of oxytocin (24IU)<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: placebo group<br>placebo treatment | Drug: placebo<br>* intranasal administration of placebo (24IU)<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reaction time (RT) difference - oxytocin effects | Difference before and after oxytocin administration: reaction time to negative and neutral stimuli in the dot-probe task | Before drug administration (pre-treatment baseline) and 55 minutes after drug administration | 
| Reaction time (RT) difference - training effects | Difference before and after training: reaction time to negative and neutral stimuli in the dot-probe task | Before drug administration - 55-90 minutes after drug administration | 
| Saccade latency difference - training effects | Difference before and after training in saccade latency in the anti-saccade task | Before drug administration - 55-90 minutes after drug administration | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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oxytocin, attention bias, attention training, eye-tracking