Study of Wellness Behaviors as a Function of Oxytocin vs Placebo
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-09-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
The specific aim of this study is to test whether oxytocin (OT) boosts the positive emotion
yield of a new wellness behavior (Lovingkindness meditation or Mindfulness meditation) and
thereby increases nonconscious motives that shape daily behavioral decisions to repeat it,
which in turn foster positive emotions that further augment nonconscious motives in an upward
spiral dynamic.
The proposed research targets three hypotheses: (1) Oxytocin manipulation magnifies (i.e.,
moderates) the positive emotion yield of Lovingkindness meditation; (2) The positive emotion
yield of meditation, which varies by experimental condition, increases the nonconscious
incentive salience of Wellness Behavior-related cues; and (3) Behavioral decisions predict
positive emotions, sparking the relationships among OT manipulation, positive emotion yield,
and nonconscious incentive salience of Wellness Behavior-related cues.