Conditions: Autism ASD
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Enrollment: 30
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This study examines the effects of a single dose of intranasal oxytocin (vs. placebo) on complex social cognition in adults with autism spectrum disorders.

Detailed description:
Participants receive a one-time administration of 24-IU intranasal oxytocin (or placebo) and perform an empathic accuracy task, a novel and ecologically valid measure of complex social cognition, in conjunction with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The investigators will investigate the effects of oxytocin (versus placebo) on the behavioral and neural correlates of empathic accuracy.

Arms:
arm 1: 24IU intranasal oxytocin, minimum of 3 weeks off, then placebo arm 2: Placebo, minimum of 3 weeks off, then 24IU intranasal oxytocin or placebo

Interventions: intervention 1: Syntocinon intervention 2: Placebo
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: One dose of 24 IU (3 sprays/nostril) intervention 2: Intranasal Placebo

Protocol document: