The Influence of Oxytocin on Automatic Imitation Behaviour in Healthy Adults

January 16, 2013 updated by: University Ghent
In this study, the influence of oxytocin on automatic imitation behaviour is investigated. Healthy adults will be administered with either oxytocin or a placebo, and will perform an imitation-inhibition task (as a measure of automatic imitation behaviour). To determine the specificity of the oxytocin effect, an unrelated cognitive task (Stroop task) will also be presented.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

60

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Belgium
      • Ghent, Belgium, 9000
        • Ghent University, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 40 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male
  • non-smoker

Exclusion Criteria:

  • no pacemaker, deep brain stimulation electrodes or other stimulation devices
  • normal neurological history (no brain operations, migraine, epilepsy, alcoholism
  • no epilepsy in family
  • no chronic disease(s) that require constant medication (asthma, hypertension, diabetes)
  • no medication 24h prior to experiment
  • no alcohol or caffeine 2h prior to experiment
  • no sleep deprivation 24h prior to experiment

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Oxytocin
Oxytocin 24 IU (3 puffs) per nostril
Drug: Oxytocin
Placebo Comparator: Sea water
Sea water 3 puffs per nostril
Drug: Sea water

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
To evaluate the automatic imitation behaviour 45 minutes after drug administration
Time Frame: 120 minutes
Since the effects of oxytocin are only visible after 45 minutes, participants will have to wait 45 minutes before starting the experimental tasks. In the meantime, they will be given an unrelated cognitive-emotional filler task which will last ± 30 minutes. Afterwards, they will perform two experimental tasks: an imitation-inhibition task and a cognitive control task (Stroop task).
120 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University Ghent

Collaborators

Research Foundation Flanders

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Guy T'Sjoen, MD, PhD, Ghent University, Faculty of Endrocrinology

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

November 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2012

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 10, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 10, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)

January 11, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

January 17, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 16, 2013

Last Verified

January 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2012/550

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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