Effect of Oxytocin Nasal Inhalation on Empathy Analgesia

Effects of Oxytocin Nasal Inhalation and Social Familiarity on Empathy Analgesia: a Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial

This study recruited healthy volunteers and randomly divided them into four groups. They inhaled oxytocin or saline, and watched a pain test video with photos of acquaintances or strangers, respectively, to test whether their feelings of the same thermal pain stimulus had changed.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy volunteers

Exclusion Criteria:

• During pregnancy;
• Have participated in any research related to pain;
• Sleep disorders;
• Used alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, or other psychoactive substances within 24 hours before the test;
• Experienced intense pain requiring medical analgesia within three months prior to the trial;
• Taking any medication, including over the counter medication;
• Addiction to alcohol, tobacco, or drugs;
• A history of any respiratory, circulatory, neurological, musculoskeletal, and/or mental illness;
• Current symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. (See quantitative sensor testing for specific standards)