Neuropeptides and Social Behavior

Status

Completed

Phase

Early phase 1

Enrollment

160 participants (actual)

Sponsor

University of California, Los Angeles · Other

Design

Randomized · Double masking

Countries

1 country

United States

Start

Oct 2012

Primary completion

Sept 2013

Completion

Sept 2013

First posted

7 Sept 2012 (estimated)

Last update posted

28 May 2015 (estimated)

Conditions

Social Psychology

It has long been established that interpersonal relationships can have a profound impact on health and well-being. Yet, we are still learning about the complex biological processes that contribute to positive social interactions and the ability to develop and maintain social relationships. Recent research has begun to focus on oxytocin and vasopressin, neuropeptides that are naturally produced in the hypothalamus, because administration of these neuropeptides has been associated with increased trust, generosity, empathy, cooperation, memory of social stimuli (e.g., faces), and brain activity in neural regions associated with social and emotional processes. To date, several aspects of oxytocin and vasopressin's effects on social behavior have been unexplored. As such, the overarching goal of this project is to examine the effects of intranasal oxytocin and vasopressin on social working memory, deception detection, sensitivity to interpersonal distance, empathy, and altruistic behavior. Understanding how oxytocin and vasopressin influence these aspects of social functioning will help to inform research that has begun to establish the potential for use of these neuropeptides in psychiatric disorders such as autism spectrum disorders and schizophrenia that are characterized by social deficits. For this study, we will recruit 150 healthy adults without a history of medical or psychiatric illness to come to the laboratory. In the first session, participants will complete several questionnaires. In the second session, participants will be randomly assigned to receive oxytocin, vasopressin, or placebo. The study nurses will measure temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure (female participants will also be asked to undergo a pregnancy test) before drug administration. Participants will then complete computer tasks. During the second session, we will also collect a saliva sample for genetic analysis and participants will be asked to complete several additional questionnaires. At the end of the experimental session, participants will be fully debriefed. The investigators hypothesize that compared to placebo, oxytocin and/or vasopressin will improve social working memory and deception detection, and increase empathy and altruism. It is also hypothesized that main effects will not be found for oxytocin or vasopressin, but rather, analyses of relevant moderators will elucidate these findings.

• Experimental

  Intranasal oxytocin

  Participants will self-administer 24 IU oxytocin (Syntocinon, Novartis Pharmaceuticals). 5 puffs per nostril (1 puff = 2.4 IU oxytocin).

• Experimental

  Intranasal vasopressin

  Participants will self-administer 20 IU vasopressin (American Regent Pharmaceuticals). 5 puffs per nostril (1 puff = 2 IU vasopressin).

• Placebo comparator

  Intranasal placebo

  2 mls Glycerine and 3 mls purified water (methylparaben and propylparaben mixed according to purified water formula) for a total of 5 ml, which will be filtered with a 5mu filter (used previously; Bartz et al., 2010). Participants will self-administer 5 puffs per nostril.

1. Speed in social working memory task

   Time frame · Between 40-90 minutes post administration

   Registry description

   Between group differences in the amount of time it takes to perform tasks involving social working memory

2. Accuracy of deception detection based on self-report

   Time frame · Between 40-90 minutes post administration

   Registry description

   Between group differences in deception detection accuracy based on self-reported ratings of unfamiliar others

3. Self-reported perceptions of trust and threat

   Time frame · Between 40-90 minutes post administration

   Registry description

   Between group differences in self-reported perceptions of trust and threat towards unfamiliar faces which appear to vary in interpersonal distance

4. Self-reported empathy and altruistic behavior

   Time frame · Between 40-90 minutes post administration

   Registry description

   Between group differences in self-reported empathy (empathic concern and personal distress), and altruistic behavior.