Oxytocin, Emotions and Mirror Neurons

University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB)

Status and phase: Completed; Early Phase 1

Conditions: Expressed Emotion; Social Cognition

Treatments: Other: Placebo; Drug: Oxytocin

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02228031

HP-00059904

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this project is to investigate the possible effect of intranasally administered Oxytocin (OT) on specific mirror neuron areas in human brain. The mirror neuron system (MNS) is thought to be involved in action perception and understanding, and may also underlie more complex cognitive processes such as imitation. We will use electroencephalographic (EEG) investigations to examine brain activity while participants complete two different tasks, consisting of the observation and imitation of emotional facial expressions (video presented) and the observation and execution of simple grasping actions (live presented), respectively. In addition, before the beginning of the EEG recording session, subjects will be randomly assigned to two different groups (Oxytocin or Placebo group) and will receive a dose of either intranasal Oxytocin or Placebo solution. Oxytocin is a polypeptide hormone that plays a critical role in social behavior. We will identify mu and beta rhythm from the ongoing EEG and examine suppression as a function of emotion and goal directed action perception and imitation/execution.

Enrollment: 44 patients

Sex: Male

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Right-hand dominant
• Sufficient spoken English so as to be able to complete testing validly and give informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• Currently taking any psychotropic or cognition enhancing medication
• History of schizophrenia or any other psychotic disorder, including Bipolar Disorder
• Family history of psychosis
• Neurological disease or clinically significant head injury
• Physical disability that substantially impairs motor function
• Current diagnosis of polydypsic-induced hyponatremia
• Substance dependence or abuse in the past 6 months

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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44 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Oxytocin

Experimental group

Description:

The experimental oxytocin group will receive 24 international units (IU) of oxytocin using an intranasal administration (self-administered nasal spray) one time before the experimental session.

Treatment:

Drug: Oxytocin

Placebo

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

The placebo comparator group will receive sterile saline through intranasal administration, consisting of the same salt solution in which the hormone will be dissolved , but lacking the hormone itself.

Treatment:

Other: Placebo