The Influence of Intranasal Oxytocin on Communication

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2018-12-12
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study investigates whether oxytocin, a neuropeptide known for its role in social bonding, influences the outcomes of persuasive communications and several primary evolutionary goals. Participants will be given either oxytocin or placebo on their first visit and then they will receive the other spray during their second visit. At each visit, participants will engage in several psychosocial tasks to assess the role of oxytocin on receptiveness to opposing opinions, navigating the spatial environment, mating and parenting goals. Participants' attitudes and behaviours will be compared across the different conditions.

• Phase: N/A
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of British Columbia
• Collaborator: Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada
• Treatments: Oxytocin

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Healthy adult volunteers

Exclusion Criteria:

• Currently have a diagnosed mental illness or are in psychiatric or psychotherapeutic treatment.

• Are taking endocrinologically or psychoactive drugs (e.g. psychotropic drugs such as antipsychotics, antidepressants, sedatives, or sleeping pills)

• Are taking anti-hypertensive drugs or drugs with QTc prolongation

• Abuse drugs or alcohol

• Suffer from any significant medical illness, such as heart disease/cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, endocrinological disorders, or neurological disorders.

• Are not found to be physically healthy after a required prescreen questionnaire created by a doctor

• Allergic to preservatives (e.g. paragons) found in nasal sprays

• Pregnant/breastfeeding

• Are currently involved in other clinical studies in which drugs are administered.