Evaluation of Emotion-related Salivary Molecular Biomarkers (EMJOY)

January 27, 2026 updated by: Laurence MOLINA, Sys2Diag

Evaluation of Emotion-related Salivary Molecular Biomarkers Following Olfactory Stimuli

Recent studies show that emotional states can be discriminated by physiological responses. This physiological regulation results from the action of enzymes and hormones that represent the activity of the autonomic nervous system. The measurement of specific biomarkers, using non-invasive biological tests in saliva, would therefore provide physiological data on an individual's emotional state in response to stimuli, particularly olfactory stimuli.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Recent studies show that emotional states (positive and negative) can be discriminated by physiological responses. This physiological regulation stems from the action of enzymes and hormones that represent the activity of the autonomic nervous system. The measurement of specific biomarkers (enzymes, hormones), using non-invasive biological tests in saliva, would therefore provide physiological data on an individual's emotional state (Giacomello et al. 2020) in response to stimuli, particularly olfactory stimuli.

The aim of the proposed research is to identify and measure a signature of molecular biomarkers in saliva, linked to emotions following one or more olfactory stimuli (e.g. cortisol and alpha-amylase concentration increase after stimulation).

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

240

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • France
      • Montpellier, France
        • Recruiting
        • SYS2DIAG - UMR9005 CNRS/ALCEN, Montpellier, 34184
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Laurence MOLINA, PhD
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Francisco SANTOS SCHNEIDER, Phd

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

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The population for this study will consist of healthy volunteers who meet the eligibility criteria.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Subject willing to follow study procedures
  • Subject able to understand the purpose, nature and methodology of the study
  • Subject has signed informed consent form
  • Subjects between 18 and 60 years of age.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects deprived of liberty, protected adults, vulnerable persons or minors
  • Subjects with a proven or suspected chronic infectious disease that could entail a risk of contamination during sample handling (laboratories not equipped to handle this type of sample)
  • Rejection to sign the consent form.

Non specific inclusion criteria:

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding women
  • Subjects presenting anosmia during the last 15 days
  • Subjects presenting symptoms and signs of active oral inflammation, advanced periodontitis or severe gingivitis.

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Bras S Fragrance then placebo
Subjects will be subjected successively to fragrance and placebo stimulation.
Other: Identication and measurement of a molecular biomarkers signature
Levels of the biomarkers of interest (DHEA, pg/mL; Oxytocin, pg/mL; Cortisol, pg/mL; Alpha Amylase, U/mL) will be measured in the saliva of participating subjects by enzymatic assay methods or ELISA-type methods performed using commercial kits.
Bras P Placebo then fragrance
Subjects will be subjected successively to placebo and fragrance stimulation.
Other: Identication and measurement of a molecular biomarkers signature
Levels of the biomarkers of interest (DHEA, pg/mL; Oxytocin, pg/mL; Cortisol, pg/mL; Alpha Amylase, U/mL) will be measured in the saliva of participating subjects by enzymatic assay methods or ELISA-type methods performed using commercial kits.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Evaluate variations
Time Frame: 1 year
Evaluate variations in several molecular biomarkers in saliva following fragrance stimulus/stimuli that may be linked to an emotionnal response (positive or negative).
1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Identify a molecular biomarker signature
Time Frame: 2 years
Identify a molecular biomarker signature in saliva following fragrance stimulus or stimuli.
2 years
Evaluate basal values of biomarkers
Time Frame: 3 years
Evaluate basal values of biomarkers composing the signature under normal, unstimulated conditions (intra-individual, inter-individual variations, circadian rhythm, age, gender...).
3 years
Establish correlations between biomarker signatures and emotion ratings
Time Frame: 3 years
Establish correlations between biomarker signatures and emotion ratings based on other criteria, such as questionnaires.
3 years
Compare biomarker signatures
Time Frame: 2 years
Compare biomarker signatures in response to different fragrance stimuli.
2 years
Evaluate signature dynamics
Time Frame: 1 year
Evaluate signature dynamics after stimulation
1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Sys2Diag

Collaborators

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Laurence MOLINA, PhD, Sys2Diag

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

November 14, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

March 14, 2023

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 14, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 19, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 19, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

January 6, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 27, 2026

Last Verified

January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2022-A02008-35
  • 22.03698.000189 (Other Identifier: Comité de protection des personnes (French Ethics committee))

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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