NCT05096676

Understanding Oxytocin's Neural and Behavioral Effects in Adolescents Diagnosed With Autism

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 58 (actual)
• Sponsor: Prof. Ilanit gordon · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 12 Years – 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The investigators explored the neural and behavioral effect of oxytocin on youth with Autism spectrum disorder using magnetoencephalography (MEG). The investigators hypothesize that oxytocin will modulate neural activity to resemble patterns observed in the age-matched control group. Thirty-two adolescents with autism and 26 typically developing adolescents participated in this randomized, double-blind MEG study. Individuals with autism arrived at the lab twice and received an acute dose of intranasal oxytocin or placebo in each session. During the scans, participants were asked to complete several tasks related to social perception - such as identification of social and non-social stimuli.

Detailed description

In the current study, the investigators aimed to explore oxytocin's influences on neural components that relate to social processing. Namely, we focused on M100, M170, and M250, which tend to show atypical patterns in individuals with autism. The investigators also examined the effects of oxytocin on time dynamics - the change in specific oscillation over time and its effects on neural connectivity patterns.

Conditions

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Oxytocin

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Oxytocin: Including placebo	Individual received age-dependent dosing of oxytocin and placebo. Participants aged 13-18 years received a dose of 24 IU (3 puffs to each nostril), and younger participants (aged 12 years) received 16 IU.

Timeline

• Start date: 2016-08-01
• Primary completion: 2019-10-01
• Completion: 2019-10-01
• First posted: 2021-10-27
• Last updated: 2021-10-27