Healthy
Conditions
Keywords
social cognition, oxytocin, vasopressin, decision making, social decision making
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of a one-time intranasal administration of the oxytocin, vasopressin, or placebo on prosocial decision making such as cooperation and altruism in a healthy population of student controls.
Interventions
DRUGOxytocin
one-time intranasal administration, 24 International Units, 5 puffs for each nostril
one-time intranasal administration, 20 International Units, 5 puffs in each nostril
DRUGplacebo
contains all the ingredients as in the oxytocin and vasopressin conditions, save for the active ingredient, one time intranasal administration, 5 puffs in each nostril
Sponsors
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Hadassah Medical Organization
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Caregiver)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* healthy controls
Exclusion criteria
* Past or present psychiatric, neurological, endocrinological or severe chronic medical illness. * Use of medications or drugs that would interfere with study results. This includes steroids, medications for psychiatric symptoms like anxiety or depression, stimulants, and medications for high blood pressure. Participants will be asked to tell the investigators of any medications or drugs that they are taking. The investigators will consider the drug interactions with oxytocin and vasopressin prior to study, and participants will not be able to participate in the study if the drug interactions could be dangerous. * history of drug or alcohol addiction * Pregnancy or Nursing Status: Because of the risk to an unborn fetus or infant, women who are pregnant or nursing are excluded from this protocol. All females will have a pregnancy test performed no more than 24 hours before each drug administration and will not be able to participate if the pregnancy test is positive.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| allocations of monetary units | approximately 45 minutes after intranasal administration of vasopressin, oxytocin, or placebo | Participants will make decisions regarding the allocation of monetary units between themselves and other participants. We will measure the quantity of monetary units kept for themselves vs. given to other participants |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| mood as measured via the visual analog scale | approximately one hour and fifteen minutes after administration of oxytocin, vasopressin or placebo |
Countries
Israel
Contacts
Primary ContactDavid Mankuta, MD
Backup ContactSalomon Israel, MA
Outcome results
None listed