Influence of Oxytocin on Neurophysiological Responses to Live Faces
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2018-05-18
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Previous research has indicated that direct eye gaze compared to averted gaze, elicits a
higher skin conductance response (SCR), and a more pronounced left frontal cortex activity
than right frontal cortex activity (resulting in positive asymmetry scores). On a behavioral
level, participants tend to look shorter at live faces with a direct gaze as compared to
averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013). Further, subjective evaluations showed that a direct gaze
is rated more arousing and less pleasant than an averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013; Hietanen,
Leppänen, Peltola, Linna-aho, & Ruuhiala, 2008).
Importantly, oxytocin administration increases the number of fixations and to looking time
towards the eye region during live social interaction. Further, oxytocin has been shown to
influence SCR and heart rate variability. Therefore, it is conceivable that oxytocin will not
only influence the gaze duration of the participant, but also the physiological and
neurological responses elicited by direct eye gaze.
In this study, the investigators will investigate whether oxytocin modulates the behavioural
(eye gaze and subjective ratings), neurological (EEG) and physiological (skin conductance,
heart rate and respiration) responses elicited by direct gaze.