This study attempts to identify the psychological, behavioral, physiological, and hormonal predictors and mechanisms of an individual's ability to develop cohesion in a group working together as a team; and examine if administration of the prosocial neuropeptide oxytocin enhances the development of team cohesion. Through a deeper understanding of the underlying psychobiological predictors and mechanisms of team cohesion, the prospective identification of individuals whose unique characteristics promote or inhibit the development of group cohesion will become possible.
The investigators will study up to one thousand subjects who will be randomized into same-gendered teams of three or volunteer as acquainted groups of three . Teams will be randomized to receive oxytocin or placebo. The investigators will first measure baseline personality traits including prosocial orientation. Cohesion will then be measured using a cooperative, virtual unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) flying mission. All online behavior will be recorded within the task and all offline, real world, behavior will be video recorded throughout the study by digital cameras for later behavioral coding. To measure biobehavioral synchrony, autonomic physiology will be recorded and saliva samples will be taken throughout behavioral testing.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
486
20 International Units Intranasal Oxytocin
Saline nasal spray
San Francisco VA Medical Center
San Francisco, California, United States
Change in score on computer game task
Subjects will work together in groups of 2-4 performing a computer-based task flying a virtual plane.
Time frame: Baseline, 2 hours after drug/placebo administration
Change is psychophysiological output
Cardiac measures (HRV, Impedance) collected during computer based and group activities
Time frame: Time based variability analyzed for 5 minute or 20 minute events
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