Oxytocin Effects on Self Versus Other Touch

What Was Tested

In this not phased trial, researchers set out to test Oxytocin.

It had two arms (groups): Oral oxytocin then placebo (experimental) and Oral placebo then oxytocin (experimental).

The registry classes the interventions as drug.

More on the Plan

Starting 45 minutes after treatment a resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be recorded (8min) and next subjects will be applied two different types of stroking touch (self- vs. other-produced touch) to their left arm repeated in 16 blocks.

After each block of applied touch stimulation, subjects will be required to rate their perceived pleasantness of touch from -4 (extremely unpleasant) to 4 (extremely pleasant).

The neural basis of touch processing will be measured via simultaneously acquired fMRI.

Additionally, to control for potential confounding effects of treatment on mood across the experiment, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) will be administered immediately before and 30 minutes after the treatment.

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: Healthy subjects without any past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders and without any current psychotherapeutic medication.

The full record lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria; among the exclusions: any history of brain injury, psychiatric/physical illness, alcohol/substance abuse, or other major health concern.

How the Study Was Run

It was run as a randomized, crossover and triple-blind study.

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

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 2022-06-22 with completion listed for 2023-07-30.

It ran at 1 site in China.

Its stated primary purpose is basic science.

What Was Measured

Primary outcome: Neural index: fMRI based measures of altered neural activity in response to different types of applied touch (time frame: 53-75 minutes after treatment administration). Behavioral index: pleasantness ratings for the different types of applied touch (time frame: 53-75 minutes after treatment administration).

It also tracked 14 secondary outcomes, for example Questionnaire scores for autistic traits using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ), Questionnaire scores for attitudes towards touch using the Social Touch Questionnaire, Questionnaire scores for self-concept using the Self-Concept Clarity Scale (SCCS), Behavioral associations with autistic traits using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ), Neural associations with autistic traits using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ) and Behavioral associations with questionnaire scores for attitudes towards touch using the Social Touch Questionnaire Questionnaire (STQ).

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.