Oxytocin's effects on emotional processing and delivery routes
The Modulatory Effects of Oxytocin on Emotional Processing and Its Acting Routes
This test will see if intranasal oxytocin changes how healthy adult men process emotions and whether using a nasal vasoconstrictor to block peripheral uptake alters those effects.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 120 (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 | NCT07425938 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This double-blind, between-subject, placebo-controlled experiment randomizes 120 healthy adult men to three nasal treatments (vasoconstrictor + oxytocin, placebo + oxytocin, or vasoconstrictor + placebo). Participants complete questionnaires, provide two blood samples, and undergo resting-state and task-based fMRI while behavioral and physiological responses to emotional stimuli are recorded. The protocol uses a vasoconstrictor (Otrivin) to limit peripheral increases in oxytocin and compares neural and behavioral outcomes to clarify nose-to-brain versus nose-to-blood routes. Total scanning and task time is about 65 minutes with breaks and is designed to link peripheral concentration changes to functional effects.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are healthy adult men without current or past psychiatric or neurological disorders, without metal implants, and not taking long-term medications.
Not a fit: People with psychiatric or neurological illnesses, women (since only men are enrolled), those with metal implants, or those on chronic medications would likely not benefit from participating or from the study findings directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the results could clarify how intranasal oxytocin affects emotional processing and guide safer, more targeted use of oxytocin-based interventions.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have reported behavioral and neural effects of intranasal oxytocin, but the relative contributions of direct nose-to-brain versus peripheral routes remain unresolved.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthy subjects without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders Exclusion Criteria: * History of head injury. * Medical or psychiatric illness. * Subjects take a certain drug for a long period of time. * Subjects have metal implants in their bodies.
Where this trial is running
Chengdu, Sichuan
- University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) — Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Shuxia Yao, Dr — University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
- Study coordinator: Shuxia Yao, Dr
- Email: yaoshuxia@uestc.edu.cn
- Phone: +86 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.