The primary aim of this study is to investigate whether intranasal oxytocin can modulate the real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rt-fMRI) neurofeedback training effects by facilitating the use of an interoceptive strategy.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled between-subject design is employed in this study. A total of 80 healthy male participants are recruited and randomly assigned to two groups (oxytocin-OT vs. placebo-PLC). Participants self-administer either intranasal spray of oxytocin or placebo (24 IU). Both groups receive continuous real-time neurofeedback from the left anterior insula. Comparisons between the two groups are conducted to determine whether OT facilitates the neurofeedback effects. The neurofeedback training task consists of 4 training sessions with real-time feedback and 1 transfer session without feedback. Each session comprises 5 regulation blocks and 5 rest blocks. At the end of each block, participants are presented with pain-related images and asked to rate their level of pain empathy, which was used to determine the effects of neurofeedback training at the behavioral level. A heartbeat detection task is performed pre- and post-training to measure interoceptive accuracy changes induced by neurofeedback training. A functional localizer task (heartbeat counting task) before training was used to localise the anterior insula. Neurofeedback training effects at the neural level were measured by anterior insula activity during training. Personality traits of subjects are assessed using validated Chinese version questionnaires, including the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA), Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ), Interoceptive Confusion Questionnaire (ICQ), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ), Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI). Participants are required to complete the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) once each before OT treatment, after OT treatment (before the neurofeedback training task), and after the neurofeedback training task to measure mood changes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
80
Each subject will be assigned to intranasally administered 24-IU of oxytocin.
Each subject will be assigned to intranasally administered 24-IU of placebo.
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
RECRUITINGNeural activity of the anterior insula based on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signal
The anterior insula activity induced during the regulation block compared to the baseline block.
Time frame: 1 hour
Pain empathy rating scores
Subjects are required to rate their empathic feelings towards painful pictures on a Likert Scale ranging from 1-9 (1 = not at all and 9 = very painful) after each regulation/baseline block.
Time frame: 1 hour
Confidence rating scores of interoceptive sensitivity
Subjects are asked to rate to what extent they can feel their heartbeat using a Likert Scale ranging from 1-9 (1 = very low and 9 = very high).
Time frame: 1 hour
Interoceptive accuracy
1/N Σ(1-(\|actual heartbeats--reported heartbeats\|) / actual heartbeats). N indicates the number of recording blocks.
Time frame: 10 minutes
Functional connectivity of the anterior insula
Differences of functional connectivity of the anterior insula during neurofeedback training
Time frame: 1 hour
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