Oxytocin and real-time fMRI neurofeedback of the anterior insula
Effects of Intransal Oxytocin on Real-time fMRI Neurofeedback Training of Anterior Insula Activity Using an Interoceptive Strategy
This trial will test whether a single intranasal dose of oxytocin helps healthy men use interoceptive strategies to improve real-time fMRI neurofeedback targeting the anterior insula.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 30 Years |
| Sex | Male |
| Sponsor | University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chengdu, Sichuan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07559656 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study enrolls 80 healthy male participants who self-administer either 24 IU intranasal oxytocin or placebo. All participants receive continuous real-time fMRI neurofeedback from the left anterior insula across four training sessions and one transfer session without feedback. Behavioral effects are measured with pain-empathy ratings after each block and interoceptive accuracy is measured with a heartbeat detection/counting task before and after training. Personality and interoception-related traits are assessed with validated questionnaires to explore individual differences in neurofeedback response.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are healthy adult men without current or past psychiatric or neurological disorders who can safely undergo MRI and are willing to self-administer intranasal spray.
Not a fit: People with a history of brain injury, psychiatric or neurological illness, MRI contraindications, or women (who were not included) are unlikely to benefit from the findings of this specific trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could make it easier for people to learn to regulate anterior insula activity with neurofeedback, informing methods to enhance interoception and empathy-related brain function.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show oxytocin can alter social and interoceptive processing and separate rt-fMRI neurofeedback studies can change insula activity, but combining oxytocin with neurofeedback is novel with limited prior direct evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy subjects without any past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders. Exclusion Criteria: * History of brain injury medical or mental illness. * Contraindication to MRI scanning (e.g., metal implants, claustrophobia or other --conditions that make them inappropriate for MRI scanning).
Where this trial is running
Chengdu, Sichuan
- University of Electronic Science and Technology of China — Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Shuxia Yao, Dr
- Email: yaoshuxia@uestc.edu.cn
- Phone: 18111297596
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.