The Role of Oxytocin in Modulating the Effects of Social Feedback on Achieving Personal Goals

What Was Tested

The trial (early phase 1) is built around Oxytocin.

To examine potential differential effects of receiving various social feedback on achieving personal goals,and whether oxytocin would modulate these effects.

It had two arms (groups): oxytocin nasal spray (experimental) and placebo nasal spray (placebo comparator).

Subjects administrating oxytocin were divided into experimental group.

Subjects administrating placebo were divided into controlled group.

The registry classes the interventions as drug.

More on the Plan

In the present study, 62 healthy male participants participated in the double-blind, placebo-controlled experiment.

Investigators aimed to test the idea that whether oxytocin would modulate subjective responses during receiving various social reward and social punishment about the future outcomes of pursuing personal goals.

Who Took Part

Enrollment: 62 actual participants took part.

It was open to men only aged from 18 years up to 30 years.

Healthy volunteers could join, not only people with the condition.

Examples of who could join: Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders.

The full record lists 1 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: taking oral contraceptives;; no history of head injury and medical or psychiatric illness.

How the Study Was Run

The set-up was randomized, parallel-group and double-blind.

Random assignment meant chance, not the researchers, decided who got Oxytocin and who got the comparison, which limits bias.

The Oxytocin group and the comparison group ran side by side rather than switching.

Neither the participants nor the staff measuring them knew who was on Oxytocin, so expectations could not easily colour the readings.

Those kept unaware of assignments: participant and investigator.

It started in 2014-11 with completion listed for 2015-08.

It ran at 1 site in China.

Its stated primary purpose is basic science.

What Was Measured

Primary outcome: Rating of Encouragement after receiving specific social feedback (time frame: one hour).

It also tracked 1 secondary outcome, for example Rating of Likeability after receiving specific social feedback.

What This Means in Plain Language

Put simply, this is a early phase 1, randomized trial of Oxytocin in 62 people.

The trial is marked completed; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.

More context: the Oxytocin compound page, all human trials.