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The main aim of the study is to investigate whether intranasal oxytocin (24IU) increases the affective processing of touch in general or whether it's effect vary according to the affective valence of the touch (positive, neutral, negative). Moreover, associations with trait autism will be explored.
A double-blind, within-subject, placebo controlled design will be employed in this study. In a randomized-order a total of 40 healthy male subjects will receive oxytocin- and placebo-nasalspray (interval between the administration > 2 weeks). 45 minutes after treatment subjects will be administered the touch-stimulation to the dorsal forearm by a trained experimenter (lengths: 8cm, rate 8cm/s). After each block of stimulation, the subjects will be asked to rate their subjective experience of the touch.The neural basis of touch processing will be measured via simultaneously acquired fMRI.
Levels of trait autism will be assessed using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ) and related scales such as the Empathy Quotient (EQ), Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), or the Sensory over Responsivity Scale (SOR) and Under Responsively Scale (URS).
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxytocin then placebo | Experimental | Subjects will first receive oxytocin (24 IU).They then will receive placebo (24 IU) 2 weeks later. |
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| Placebo then oxytocin | Experimental | Subjects will first receive placebo (24 IU).They then will receive oxytocin (24 IU) 2 weeks later. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| intranasal oxytocin | Drug | Each subject will be assigned to intranasal administration of oxytocin (24 IU). |
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| brain function: neural activity during affective touch as assessed via BOLD fMRI | fMRI data will be analyzed using a within-subject General Linear Model approach - to determine the effects of oxytocin neural activity following oxytocin administration will be compared with neural activity following placebo administration. | 45-90 minutes after treatment administration |
| Brain function: functional connectivity during affective touch as assessed via BOLD fMRI | fMRI data will be analyzed using a within-subject General Linear Model approach - to determine the effects of oxytocin on the brain network level, functional connectivity following oxytocin administration will be compared with functional connectivity following placebo administration. | 45-90 minutes after treatment administration |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Perceived affective quality of the touch | Pleasantness ratings of affective touch will be compared between the oxytocin and placebo administration | 45-90 minutes after treatment administration |
| Associations with trait autism as assessed via the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) - brain function: activity |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Yuanshu Chen, B.S. | University of Electronic Science and Technology of China | Study Chair |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Electronic Science and Technology of China(UESTC) | Chengdu | Sichuan | 611731 | China |
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Randomized placebo-controlled double-blind within-subject design
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| intranasal placebo | Drug | An identical amount of intranasal administration of placebo will be assigned to each subject. |
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Associations between individual differences in trait autism and brain activity differences between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined |
| 45-90 minutes after treatment administration |
| Associations with trait autism as assessed via the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) - brain function: functional connectivity | Associations between individual differences in trait autism and brain connectivity differences between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined | 45-90 minutes after treatment administration |
| Associations with trait autism as assessed via the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) - behaviour: pleasantness experience | Associations between individual differences in trait autism and differences in pleasantness ratings between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined | 45-90 minutes after treatment administration |
| Associations with Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale - brain function: activity | Associations between individual differences in Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale and brain activity differences between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined | 45-90 minutes after treatment administration |
| Associations with Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale - brain function: functional connectivity | Associations between individual differences in Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale and brain connectivity differences between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined | 45-90 minutes after treatment administration |
| Associations with Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale - behaviour: pleasantness experience | Associations between individual differences in Sensory Responsivity as assessed via the Sensory Responsivity Scale and differences in pleasantness ratings between the oxytocin and placebo administration will be examined | 45-90 minutes after treatment administration |