NCT02228031

Oxytocin, Emotions and Mirror Neurons

The Influence of Oxytocin on the Mirror Neuron System: Developing Brain Imaging Paradigms for Future Therapeutic Interventions

• Status: Completed
• Phase: EARLY_Phase 1
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 44 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Maryland, Baltimore · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Social Cognition
• Expressed Emotion

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Oxytocin	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
OTHER	Placebo	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.

Timeline

• Start date: 2014-10-01
• Primary completion: 2016-08-01
• Completion: 2016-08-01
• First posted: 2014-08-28
• Last updated: 2019-08-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States

Regulatory

• FDA-regulated drug study