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Effects of Oxytocin on Reinforcement Learning
Plain-language guide to NCT03846271: not phased randomized trial of Oxytocin, 40 participants. Who took part, design and what was measured.
Key Facts
- Registry ID
- NCT03846271
- Phase
- not phased
- Status
- status unknown
- Start
- 2018-12-04
- Completion (planned or actual)
- 2019-03-31
- Participants
- 40 (estimated)
- Design
- randomized, triple-blind, basic_science
- Conditions studied
- Learning Disabilities
- Results posted
- not yet
What This Study Did, in Plain Language
What Was Tested
In this not phased trial, researchers set out to test Oxytocin.
It had two arms (groups): Oxytocin then placebo (experimental) and Placebo then oxytocin (experimental).
The registry classes the interventions as drug.
More on the Plan
During the paradigm subjects will learn the reward probabilities of two different visual stimuli from probabilistic feedback provided by social stimuli (positive, negative emoticon).
The paradigm includes an initial acquisition phase and a subsequent test phase.
Who Took Part
40 planned participants were the target.
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: Age between 18-30.
The full record lists 3 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: history of brain injury; current or history of psychiatric, neurological or internist disorder; current or regular use of medication, psychotropic substances, including nicotine.
How the Study Was Run
The set-up was randomized, crossover and triple-blind.
The participants were allocated by chance, so the Oxytocin group and the comparison group should start out alike.
Each person switched between Oxytocin and the comparison at some point, usually with a gap in between.
As a double-blind Oxytocin study, the assignments were hidden from both participants and investigators until the end.
Those kept unaware of assignments: participant, investigator and outcomes assessor.
It started in 2018-12-04 with completion listed for 2019-03-31.
It ran at 1 site in China.
Its stated primary purpose is basic science.
What Was Measured
The main thing measured (primary outcome): Neural index: Event-related potential: Feedback Related Negativity (FRN) during acquisition phase (time frame: 45-105 minutes after treatment administration). Neural index: Event-related potential: Error Related Negativity (ERN) during the test phase (time frame: 45-105 minutes after treatment administration).
What This Means in Plain Language
Put simply, this is a not phased, randomized trial of Oxytocin in 40 people.
Its status is unknown; no results are posted to the registry yet, so nothing here describes outcomes.
More context: the Oxytocin compound page, all human trials.
Our Notes on the Compound
Oxytocin: A peptide hormone with established obstetric medical uses and a less settled role in research on behavior, sexual function and appetite.
Related Pages
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record. This explanation is written by PeptideWhiz from the public record. For research and education only. Not medical advice; no dosing information is given.