The main aim of the study is to investigate the modulatory effects of oxytocin (24IU) administration on the affective processing of touch manipulated differently in gentle caress-like stroke vs. social massage with a moderate pressure.
A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled mixed experimental design with three arms (intranasal oxytocin administration vs. oral oxytocin administration vs. placebo administration, each with 60 subjects) will be employed in the current study. 35 minutes after treatment subjects will be applied two different types of pleasant touch (social massage vs. caress-like stroking) to their calf. After each applied touch stimulation session, the subjects will be asked to rate their subjective experience of the touch including the perceived pleasantness, arousal, intensity and payment. The neural basis of touch processing will be measured via simultaneously acquired fNIRS together with skin conductance responses and the electrocardiogram recording. Blood samples will be taken before and after the treatment as well as after each run session to measure plasma oxytocin levels to explore the associations with primary outcome measure (the behavioral and neural measures of touch processing). Mixed-measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) with treatment as between-subject factor and condition as within-subject factor will be used to investigate oxytocin effects on social touch processing. To control potential confounding effects across groups, before the experiment all participants will be asked to complete a range of Chinese versions of validated questionnaires on personality, traits, attitude towards interpersonal touch and sensitivity to reward: Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ), Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale (CBSS), the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), social touch questionnaire (STQ), Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ), Sensory Over-Responsivity (SensOR) Scales and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (C-IRI). And associations between questionnaire scores (especially the ASQ and STQ scores) with primary outcome measure will be explored to investigate modulatory effects of autistic traits. Additionally, to control for potential confounding effects of treatment on mood across the experiment, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) will be administered immediately before and 30 minutes after the treatment. Participants will also complete the PANAS after each type of touch condition to further measure the modulatory effects of stroking touch and massage on mood.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
180
Each subject will be assigned to administration of oxytocin intranasal spray (24 IU).
Each subject will be assigned to administration of oxytocin lingual spray (24 IU).
An identical amount of intranasal administration of placebo (identical ingredients except the peptide - i.e. glycerine and sodium chloride) will be assigned to each subject.
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China(UESTC)
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Neural index: fNIRS based measures of touch processing
fNIRS-based indices of neural processing of social touch after the oxytocin and placebo administration in response to each experimental condition.
Time frame: 35-90 minutes after treatment administration
Behavioral index: ratings of the pleasantness, arousal, intensity and payment for the applied social touch
Ratings of perceived pleasantness, arousal, intensity and the willing to pay for the applied caress-like touch and massage after the oxytocin and placebo administration.
Time frame: 50-90 minutes after treatment administration
Plasma oxytocin concentration
Basal and altered blood oxytocin concentrations for different treatment groups before and 30 minutes after the administration as well as after each touch condition.
Time frame: Basal concentration before treatment and altered level during 30-90 minutes after treatment administration
Electrophysiological index: skin conductance responses (SCR)
SCR amplitudes during touch processing to further investigate oxytocin effects on each experimental condition compared with the placebo.
Time frame: 35-90 minutes after treatment administration
Electrophysiological index: heart rate variability (HRV)
HRV reflecting the variability in consecutive heartbeats calculated from electrocardiography during touch processing to further investigate oxytocin effects on each experimental condition compared with the placebo.
Time frame: 35-90 minutes after treatment administration
Questionnaire scores of autistic traits
The Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ) scores (0\~50, higher scores mean higher autistic trait) to investigate modulatory effects of autistic traits.
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Time frame: Before the experiment
Gender difference in the neural and behavioral index
Gender difference in the neural and behavioral response during the touch processing for different treatment groups.
Time frame: 35-90 minutes after treatment administration