HealthyNCT02415920
The Influence of Intranasal Oxytocin on Communication
A study testing Oxytocin in people with Healthy, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
This study investigates whether oxytocin, a neuropeptide known for its role in social bonding, influences the outcomes of persuasive communications and several primary evolutionary goals. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy
- What is being tested?
- Oxytocin
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 50 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 6 Nov 2017to 12 Dec 2018
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy adult volunteers
Who cannot join
- Currently have a diagnosed mental illness or are in psychiatric or psychotherapeutic treatment.
- Are taking endocrinologically or psychoactive drugs (e.g. psychotropic drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedatives, or sleeping pills)
- Are taking anti-hypertensive drugs or drugs with QTc prolongation
- Abuse drugs or alcohol
- Suffer from any significant medical illness, such as heart disease/cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, endocrinological disorders, or neurological disorders.
- Are not found to be physically healthy after a required prescreen questionnaire created by a doctor
Show all 9Show fewer
- Allergic to preservatives (e.g. paragons) found in nasal sprays
- Pregnant/breastfeeding
- Are currently involved in other clinical studies in which drugs are administered.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
This study investigates whether oxytocin, a neuropeptide known for its role in social bonding, influences the outcomes of persuasive communications and several primary evolutionary goals. Participants will be given either oxytocin or placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit. At each visit, participants will engage in several psychosocial tasks to assess the role of oxytocin on receptiveness to opposing opinions, navigating the spatial environment, mating and parenting goals. Participants' attitudes and behaviours will be compared across the different conditions.
Read the detailed description
Oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone, commonly known for its role in social approach, bonding, and trust. The present study is designed to investigate whether and how oxytocin may affect communication outcomes--specifically, by influencing trust of people presenting opinions that participants disagree with.
Healthy adult volunteers will intranasally administer 24 IU of oxytocin at one visit and placebo (saline) solution at another visit. Participants will then view photos of speakers presenting opinions on various socio-political issues which the participants disagree with. Participants will complete questions about their psychological reactions (e.g., anger, receptiveness) to the opinions presented. After reporting on their receptiveness to the opposing opinions, participants will begin the attentional tasks. In the attentional tasks, participants will be seated in front of a computer while an eyetracker records their eye movements and attentional gaze. First, participants will view two images presented simultaneously at either ends of the computer screen; each image pair will depict a a) baby and a food, b) baby and an attractive opposite sex target, or c) food and an attractive opposite sex target. Next, participants will view a series of images exclusively depicting one attractive opposite-sex target at a time; attentional bias away from faces and towards bodies (indicative of short-term mating interest; Bolmont, Cacioppo, \& Cacioppo, 2014) will be tracked. After each photograph has been viewed for a fixed duration, the participant will answer a question assessing their likelihood of engaging in a one-night stand with the person pictured. After this second part of the task, we will gather saliva samples via passive drool collection. These samples will be later assayed for testosterone. Next participants will complete a measure of visual attention in which they will identify target stimuli (e.g. letters) on a computer screen via keyboard press.
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
OxytocinDrug
Also called Syntocinon
Participants will be randomly assigned to intra-nasally administer either oxytocin or a placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit.
PlaceboDrug
Participants will be randomly assigned to intra-nasally administer either oxytocin or a placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Experimental | These participants will receive 24 international units (IU) of oxytocin via a nasal spray. Receives: Drug: Oxytocin |
| Control - Placebo | Placebo comparator | These participants will receive 24 international units (IU) of a saline solution via a nasal spray. Receives: Drug: Placebo |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Communication Outcomes
Participants will answer a series of questions regarding their reactions (e.g., anger, receptiveness) to the speakers and the opinions presented in the photos. It is expected that when participants receive oxytocin they will be more receptive to opposing opinions compared to when they receive the placebo. Participants may also have differing levels of receptiveness depending on whether the person expressing the opinion comes from their ingroup or outgroup.
Measured: 60-90 minutes
Secondary outcomes (3)
Appetite
We predict that when participants receive oxytocin they will spend less time looking at photos of food compared to when they receive the placebo.
Measured: 60-90 minutes
Short vs. Long-Term mating orientation
When participants receive oxytocin they will spend more time looking at human infants, less time looking at attractive opposite sex others (especially the bodies of those opposite sex others; additionally, they will exhibit lower testosterone reactivity to images of attractive opposite sex targets and report weaker desires to engage in short-term romantic relationships in general.
Measured: 60-90 minutes
Peripheral narrowing of attention
When participants receive oxytocin they will exhibit less peripheral narrowing on a computerized visual attention task compared to when they receive a placebo.
Measured: 60-90 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Apr 2015 (estimated)
- Study start6 Nov 2017
- Primary completion12 Dec 2018
- Study completion12 Dec 2018
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of British ColumbiaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of British Columbia
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Frances Chen, University of British Columbia
- Investigators
- Frances Chen, PhD, Principal investigator, University of British Columbia
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02415920
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- H14-02448
- Status last verified
- Apr 2019
- First submitted
- 31 Mar 2015
- Last updated
- 17 Apr 2019
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 17 Apr 2019. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Influence of Intranasal Oxytocin on Communication
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02415920
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- H14-02448
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- Investigating oxytocin's effects, human communication
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 50 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of British ColumbiaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada
- Study start
- 6 Nov 2017 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 12 Dec 2018 (actual)
- Study completion
- 12 Dec 2018 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 Apr 2015 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study investigates whether oxytocin, a neuropeptide known for its role in social bonding, influences the outcomes of persuasive communications and several primary evolutionary goals. Participants will be given either oxytocin or placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit. At each visit, participants will engage in several psychosocial tasks to assess the role of oxytocin on receptiveness to opposing opinions, navigating the spatial environment, mating and parenting goals. Participants' attitudes and behaviours will be compared across the different conditions.
Detailed description
Oxytocin is a naturally occurring hormone, commonly known for its role in social approach, bonding, and trust. The present study is designed to investigate whether and how oxytocin may affect communication outcomes--specifically, by influencing trust of people presenting opinions that participants disagree with.
Healthy adult volunteers will intranasally administer 24 IU of oxytocin at one visit and placebo (saline) solution at another visit. Participants will then view photos of speakers presenting opinions on various socio-political issues which the participants disagree with. Participants will complete questions about their psychological reactions (e.g., anger, receptiveness) to the opinions presented. After reporting on their receptiveness to the opposing opinions, participants will begin the attentional tasks. In the attentional tasks, participants will be seated in front of a computer while an eyetracker records their eye movements and attentional gaze. First, participants will view two images presented simultaneously at either ends of the computer screen; each image pair will depict a a) baby and a food, b) baby and an attractive opposite sex target, or c) food and an attractive opposite sex target. Next, participants will view a series of images exclusively depicting one attractive opposite-sex target at a time; attentional bias away from faces and towards bodies (indicative of short-term mating interest; Bolmont, Cacioppo, \& Cacioppo, 2014) will be tracked. After each photograph has been viewed for a fixed duration, the participant will answer a question assessing their likelihood of engaging in a one-night stand with the person pictured. After this second part of the task, we will gather saliva samples via passive drool collection. These samples will be later assayed for testosterone. Next participants will complete a measure of visual attention in which they will identify target stimuli (e.g. letters) on a computer screen via keyboard press.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Experimental | Drug: OxytocinThese participants will receive 24 international units (IU) of oxytocin via a nasal spray. |
| Control - Placebo | Placebo comparator | Drug: PlaceboThese participants will receive 24 international units (IU) of a saline solution via a nasal spray. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Healthy adult volunteers
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Currently have a diagnosed mental illness or are in psychiatric or psychotherapeutic treatment.
- Are taking endocrinologically or psychoactive drugs (e.g. psychotropic drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedatives, or sleeping pills)
- Are taking anti-hypertensive drugs or drugs with QTc prolongation
- Abuse drugs or alcohol
- Suffer from any significant medical illness, such as heart disease/cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, endocrinological disorders, or neurological disorders.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| OxytocinAlso: SyntocinonParticipants will be randomly assigned to intra-nasally administer either oxytocin or a placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit. | Drug | Experimental |
| PlaceboParticipants will be randomly assigned to intra-nasally administer either oxytocin or a placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit. | Drug | Control - Placebo |
Primary outcome
Communication Outcomes
Time frame: 60-90 minutes
Participants will answer a series of questions regarding their reactions (e.g., anger, receptiveness) to the speakers and the opinions presented in the photos. It is expected that when participants receive oxytocin they will be more receptive to opposing opinions compared to when they receive the placebo. Participants may also have differing levels of receptiveness depending on whether the person expressing the opinion comes from their ingroup or outgroup.
3 secondary outcomes
Appetite
Time frame: 60-90 minutes
Short vs. Long-Term mating orientation
Time frame: 60-90 minutes
Peripheral narrowing of attention
Time frame: 60-90 minutes
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 17 Apr 2019.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Frances Chen, PhD principal investigator
University of British Columbia
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Oxytocin in people with Healthy, run by University of British Columbia at 1 site in Canada.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 17 Apr 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Canada. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Communication Outcomes (time frame: 60-90 minutes). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 17 Apr 2019.