Healthy
Conditions
Keywords
oxytocin, attention bias, attention training, eye-tracking
Brief summary
This study aims to investigate oxytocin's effect on attentional bias training. Healthy participants will undergo a dot-probe task-based training to direct their attention away from negative stimuli (as compared to neutral). Effects of the training will be assessed using an eye-tracking anti-saccade task.
Detailed description
In this study, a dot-probe task will be used to examine if subjects show an attentional bias towards negative stimuli and whether the bias can be modified using a subsequent attentional bias training. During this training participants learn to direct their attention away from threatening stimuli. In a between-subject placebo controlled design participants will receive either intranasal oxytocin or placebo before the training to examine whether oxytocin could facilitate the effects of the attention training. Effects of the training and of oxytocin on the training will be assessed by means of an eye-tracking anti-saccade task. Based on previous studies showing the strongest effects of threat-attentional bias training in high anxious subjects, the study will recruit participants with an elevated trait anxiety.
Interventions
DRUGOxytocin
intranasal administration of oxytocin (24IU)
DRUGplacebo
intranasal administration of placebo (24IU)
Sponsors
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* male participants with elevated trait anxiety (\> 45 scores as assessed with the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory, Spielberger, 1983) * without past or current psychiatric or neurological disorders
Exclusion criteria
* history of head injury * medical or psychiatric illness * smoking or drinking 24 hours before the experiment
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reaction time (RT) difference - oxytocin effects | Before drug administration (pre-treatment baseline) and 55 minutes after drug administration | Difference before and after oxytocin administration: reaction time to negative and neutral stimuli in the dot-probe task |
| Reaction time (RT) difference - training effects | Before drug administration - 55-90 minutes after drug administration | Difference before and after training: reaction time to negative and neutral stimuli in the dot-probe task |
| Saccade latency difference - training effects | Before drug administration - 55-90 minutes after drug administration | Difference before and after training in saccade latency in the anti-saccade task |
Countries
China
Contacts
Primary ContactBenjamin Becker, Dr.
Outcome results
None listed