Influence of Oxytocin on Neurophysiological Responses to Live Faces

July 31, 2019 updated by: Kaat Alaerts, KU Leuven

Influence of Oxytocin on Neurophysiological Responses to Direct and Averted Gaze

Previous research has indicated that direct eye gaze compared to averted gaze, elicits a higher skin conductance response (SCR), and a more pronounced left frontal cortex activity than right frontal cortex activity (resulting in positive asymmetry scores). On a behavioral level, participants tend to look shorter at live faces with a direct gaze as compared to averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013). Further, subjective evaluations showed that a direct gaze is rated more arousing and less pleasant than an averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013; Hietanen, Leppänen, Peltola, Linna-aho, & Ruuhiala, 2008).

Importantly, oxytocin administration increases the number of fixations and to looking time towards the eye region during live social interaction. Further, oxytocin has been shown to influence SCR and heart rate variability. Therefore, it is conceivable that oxytocin will not only influence the gaze duration of the participant, but also the physiological and neurological responses elicited by direct eye gaze.

In this study, the investigators will investigate whether oxytocin modulates the behavioural (eye gaze and subjective ratings), neurological (EEG) and physiological (skin conductance, heart rate and respiration) responses elicited by direct gaze.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Previous research has indicated that direct eye gaze compared to averted gaze, elicits a higher skin conductance response (SCR), and a more pronounced left frontal cortex activity than right frontal cortex activity (resulting in positive asymmetry scores). On a behavioral level, participants tend to look shorter at live faces with a direct gaze as compared to averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013). Further, subjective evaluations showed that a direct gaze is rated more arousing and less pleasant than an averted gaze (Akechi et al., 2013; Hietanen, Leppänen, Peltola, Linna-aho, & Ruuhiala, 2008).

Importantly, oxytocin administration increases the number of fixations and to looking time towards the eye region during live social interaction. Further, oxytocin has been shown to influence SCR and heart rate variability. Therefore, it is conceivable that oxytocin will not only influence the gaze duration of the participant, but also the physiological and neurological responses elicited by direct eye gaze.

In this randomized, placebo controlled, double blinded study, the investigators will investigate whether oxytocin modulates the behavioral and neurophysiological responses elicited by direct gaze. In order to do so, the investigators will measure behavioural (eye gaze and subjective feelings), physiological (skin conductance, blood volume pulse, and respiration) and neurological (EEG) responses during presentations of a live person's face with direct gaze and closed eyes, before and after oxytocin or placebo administration.

The investigators hypotheses that oxytocin attenuates the heightened SCR and pronounced EEG asymmetry during direct gaze. Further, they expect that oxytocin increases the number of fixations and duration of those fixations towards the eye region. Exploratory, the investigators will also investigate whether oxytocin administration influences respiration and the subjective reports on experience of live eye contact. Lastly (and also exploratory), they will explore whether certain personality traits (as measured by SAAM (state adult attachment measure) and SRS (social responsiveness scale)) influence the modulatory effect of oxytocin on neurological and behavioural responses.

Note that this study is part of a larger study in which the investigators also register several neurophysiological responses (blood volume pulse, respiration, heart rate, EEG, skin conductance) during rest before and after oxytocin or placebo administration.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

56

Phase

  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

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
      • Leuven, Belgium, 3000
        • KU Leuven

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 35 years (ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

Male

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • right-handed
  • male
  • age between 18 and 35
  • Normal or adjusted-to-normal vision (with lenses only)
  • Dutch as mother tongue

Exclusion Criteria:

  • not right-handed
  • female
  • age below 18 or above 35
  • Need to wear glasses
  • Dutch not as mother tongue

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
  • Masking: TRIPLE

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Oxytocin
Syntocinon nasal spray (40 IU/ml; oxytocin, product code RVG 03716); single intranasal dose of 24 international units (IU; 3 puffs of 4 IU per nostril)
Drug: Oxytocin
Syntocinon nasal spray
Other Names:
  • syntocinon
PLACEBO_COMPARATOR: Placebo
saline natriumchloride solution nasal spray; single intranasal dose (3 puffs per nostril)
Drug: Placebo
Placebo nasal spray

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in EEG asymmetry after oxytocin administration
Time Frame: Average over several trials, baseline and 40 min after oxytocin or placebo administration
The influence of oxytocin administration on EEG asymmetry
Average over several trials, baseline and 40 min after oxytocin or placebo administration
Change in skin conductance (type of electrodermal activity) response after oxytocin administration
Time Frame: Average over several trials, baseline and 40 min after oxytocin or placebo administration
The influence of oxytocin administration on skin conductance response
Average over several trials, baseline and 40 min after oxytocin or placebo administration

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in duration of fixations to face regions after oxytocin administration
Time Frame: Assesment over several trials, baseline and 40 min after oxytocin or placebo administration
The influence of oxytocin administration on gaze behavior (duration of fixation to upper and lower face regions)
Assesment over several trials, baseline and 40 min after oxytocin or placebo administration
Change in number of fixations to face regions after oxytocin administration
Time Frame: Assesment over several trials, baseline and 40 min after oxytocin or placebo administration
The influence of oxytocin administration on gaze behavior (number of fixation to upper and lower face regions)
Assesment over several trials, baseline and 40 min after oxytocin or placebo administration

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

KU Leuven

Collaborators

Research Foundation Flanders

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 (ACTUAL)

July 24, 2017

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

May 18, 2018

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

May 18, 2018

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 25, 2017

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 31, 2017

First Posted (ACTUAL)

September 5, 2017

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ACTUAL)

August 1, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 31, 2019

Last Verified

July 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SingleOT_EEG-SC_S56327

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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