Losartan's effect on how we perceive threatening visual stimuli

Losartan Modulates Neural Responses to Looming Visual Stimuli: An Eye-tracking Study

This study is testing if the medication losartan changes how healthy people see and react to objects that are getting closer, especially when those objects might seem threatening.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 40 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Chengdu, Sichuan)
• Trial ID: NCT06329076 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates how the medication losartan influences the perception of time-to-collision with threatening and non-threatening visual stimuli using eye-tracking technology. Healthy participants will be randomly assigned to receive either losartan or a placebo before engaging in a task that involves observing looming objects. The aim is to understand if losartan alters the way individuals perceive the approach of these stimuli, potentially affecting emotional responses. The study combines pharmacological intervention with a validated eye-tracking paradigm to explore the interaction between emotional valence and temporal perception.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy individuals who can provide informed consent and have normal or corrected vision.

Not a fit: Patients with a history of neuropsychiatric, cardiac, hepatic, or renal diseases, as well as those with hypertension or hypotension, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance our understanding of how medications like losartan can influence emotional processing and perception in healthy individuals.

How similar studies have performed: While there is preliminary evidence suggesting the role of losartan in socio-emotional processes, this specific approach using eye-tracking with looming stimuli is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy subjects who volunteer to participate and are able to fully understand and agree with this study by written informed consent.
* Normal or corrected-normal version

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of neuropsychiatric diseases.
* History of cardiac disease, including arrhythmias, aortic stenosis, or congestive heart failure; history of syncope or unexplained loss of consciousness.
* History of hepatic diseases, including cholestasis, biliary obstructive disease, or severe liver dysfunction.
* History of renal diseases, including renal stones or renal failure.
* History of hyponatremia(Serum sodium \<135mmol/L) or hyperkalemia (Serum potassium\>5.5mmol/L); history of diabetes mellitus or diabetes insipidus
* Known hypersensitivity or allergic reaction to any medication or hormone; strong allergic reaction to food.
* Infections such as COVID-19 or influenza, or unexplained fever.
* Subjects with hypertension (BP ≥130/80mmHg) or hypotension (BP ≤ 90/60mmHg).
* History of alcohol or drug abuse; smoker (≥ 10 cigarettes or ≥ 3 cigars or ≥ 3 pipes/day); smoker using e-cigarettes.
* Blood donation (≤ 1 month prior to administration).
* Take oral contraceptives or receive hormonal medications in the three months prior to the experiment.

Where this trial is running

Chengdu, Sichuan

• University of Electronic Science and Technology of China — Chengdu, Sichuan, China (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Benjamin Becker, Dr — University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
• Study coordinator: Weihua Zhao, Dr

Conditions: Healthy, Eye-tracking, Losartan, looming fear