Oxytocin's effect on how people react when escaping a moving threat

The Modulatory Affect of Oxytocin on Human Defensive Responses During Dynamic Predator-prey Interactions

This test will see if a single dose of nasal oxytocin changes how healthy adults behave, feel, and decide while escaping a simulated moving threat during an MRI session.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 80 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 35 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Chengdu, Sichuan)
• Trial ID: NCT07162584 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

In a double-blind, between-subject design, healthy participants receive either 24 IU intranasal oxytocin or placebo and complete a dynamic predator–prey escape task in an fMRI scanner. The task varies predator attack speed while participants choose when and where to flee toward a refuge, yielding measures like flight initiation distance and distance to refuge. The study also records skin conductance responses, confidence and anxiety ratings during the task, and a battery of baseline questionnaires. Brain activity during the escape decisions is measured with MRI to link behavioral and physiological responses to neural mechanisms.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Healthy adults with no current or past psychiatric or neurological disorders, who are not pregnant, not menstruating, not taking oral contraceptives, and who can safely undergo MRI scanning without metal implants or claustrophobia.

Not a fit: People with psychiatric or neurological conditions, pregnant people, those using hormonal contraceptives, or anyone with metal implants or claustrophobia who cannot have an MRI would be excluded and would not benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the results could clarify how oxytocin shifts escape decisions and brain responses to threat, which may help guide new approaches for fear or anxiety disorders.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown oxytocin can alter fear- and anxiety-related behavior and brain activity, but applying it to a dynamic predator–prey escape paradigm in humans with fMRI is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of head injury; pregnant, menstruating, taking oral contraceptives; medical or psychiatric illness,
* The presence of metal in the body or claustrophobia.

Where this trial is running

Chengdu, Sichuan

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

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Shuxia Yao, Dr — University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
• Study coordinator: Keith M Kendrick, Dr

Conditions: Healthy, oxytocin, fMRI, escape decisions, dynamic predator-prey interaction, defensive responses