The main aim of the study is to investigate whether intranasal oxytocin has effects on reinforcement learning under dynamic environment and interoceptive processing based on behavioral and electroencephalogram (EEG) responses.
A double-blinded, placebo-controled, between-subject design is employed in this study. In a randomized order, a total of 80 healthy males are instructed to self-administrated intranasal spray of oxytocin or placebo. (1) Participants first complete a probabilistic reward learning task 45 minutes after treatment with behavioral (response time and accuracy) and EEG data (ERP components such as FRN, ERN and P300) being collected during this task. (2) A resting-state recording and a heartbeat counting task are conducted following the learning task with ECG and EEG data being collected. Personality traits of subjects are assessed using validated Chinese version questionnaires including the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ), the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory(CFI), Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), Behavioral Inhibition System and Behavioral Activation System Scale (BIS/BAS). Subjects are asked to complete Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) when they just arrive, before and after the tasks.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
80
Each subject will be assigned to intranasal administration of oxytocin (24 IU).
Each subject will be assigned to intranasal placebo.
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC)
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Behavioral index in the learning task: chioce accuracy
The accuracy of subjects choosing the better option.
Time frame: 45-65 minutes after treatment administration
Behavioral index in the heartbeat counting task: interoceptive accuracy
Individuals' ability to perceive internal cardiac signals
Time frame: 65-75 minutes after treatment administration
ERP components in the learning task: ERN, FRN, P300, N2pc
ERN and FRN are indices of reward expectancy and prediction error in reinforcement learning. P300 is associated with attention allocation. N2pc is an early component associated with visual selective attention.
Time frame: 45-65 minutes after treatment administration
ERP components in the heartbeat counting task: heartbeat-evoked potential (HEP)
HEP is a scalp event-related potential that reflects cortical processing of cardiac interoceptive signals
Time frame: 65-75 minutes after treatment administration
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.