An interventional study of intranasal Oxytocin(24IU) and intranasal Placebo in Healthy, sponsored by University of Electronic Science and Technology of China. Completed at 1 site in China. Open to male participants aged 18 Years to 30 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-04-04.
Sponsored by University of Electronic Science and Technology of China · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
The main aim of the study is to investigate the modulatory effects of intranasal oxytocin (24IU) on fear in naturalistic social and non-social contexts and the underlying neural mechanisms.
In a double-blind placebo-controlled between-subject experimental design, 60 adult male subjects will be randomly allocated to receive either intranasal oxytocin (24IU, n= 30) or placebo (n = 30) nasal spray. 45 minutes after treatment the participants will undergo a naturalistic fear induction paradigm during fMRI. During the paradigm video clips of 25s lengths will be presented showing fear-inducing situations in social and non-social contexts as well as corresponding control video clips. Following each clip subjects are required to rate their level of subjective fear on a rating scale ranging from 1 (no fear) to 9 (highest fear). Participants will undergo screening for psychopathological and emotional states before treatment. Together with a randomized assignment to the treatment groups, this will allow controlling for confounding between-group differences.
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China is the lead sponsor of 109 studies on the registry; 35 are open to participants now.
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Drug: intranasal Oxytocin(24IU)
Drug: intranasal Oxytocin(24IU)
Drug: intranasal Placebo
Drug: intranasal Placebo
Administration of intranasal Oxytocin(24IU)
Administration of intranasal Placebo
BOLD-level activity as assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)
BOLD-level activity as assessed by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in response to four conditions of movie clips (Fear-Social\\FS, Fear-Non-social\\FNS, Neutral-Social\\NS, Neutral-Non-social\\NNS). Effects of Oxytocin on the neural basis of fear will be examined by comparing the treatment groups (Oxytocin versus Placebo) with respect to fearful versus non fearful conditions. The investigators expect that Oxytocin will decrease reactivity in emotion reactive brain regions as compared to Placebo.
Time frame: 45 minutes to 70 minutes after treatment
Experienced fear during the paradigm as assessed by self-reported ratings
Experienced fear during the paradigm as assessed by self-reported ratings on a 1-9 point Likert-scale ranging from 1 (no fear) to 9 (highest fear). Participants will rate their subjective level of fear following each video clip. Effects of Oxytocin on the level of subjective fear will be examined by comparing the treatment groups (Oxytocin versus Placebo) with respect to the self-reported fear levels. The investigators expect that Oxytocin will decrease the level of subjective fear experience compared to Placebo.
Time frame: 45 minutes to 70 minutes after treatment
This study is completed, as verified in Apr 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of Electronic Science and Technology of China