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Oromucosal Oxytocin and Vasopressin Modulation of Emotional Face Attention
Sponsor: University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how 24 IU oxytocin (OT) and 24 IU arginine vasopressin (AVP), administered through the oral mucosa, affect attention to emotional faces and related brain activity in healthy adults. The study will compare OT and AVP with a placebo (PLC). The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does oromucosally administered oxytocin produce a behavioral pattern of modulation of top-down and bottom-up attention to emotional faces that is qualitatively consistent with previously reported intranasal oxytocin effects, and how does this pattern compare with that produced by arginine vasopressin? 2. Do oromucosally administered oxytocin and arginine vasopressin modulate neural responses within predefined brain regions and networks involved in emotional salience, attentional control, and social information processing, and are these neural effects consistent with their behavioral effects? 3. Do oxytocin and arginine vasopressin show overlapping or distinct patterns of neural modulation across top-down and bottom-up attention and high and low attentional load conditions? Researchers will compare 24 IU OT and 24 IU AVP with a placebo to determine how these treatments influence emotional face attention and brain activity. Participants will: * Receive 24 IU OT, 24 IU AVP, or placebo via a lyophilized oromucosal lollipop * Allow the treatment to be absorbed through the oral mucosa for about 5 minutes * Provide blood samples before and after treatment to assess peripheral oxytocin and vasopressin levels * Complete emotional face attention tasks during fMRI scanning * Have response time, response accuracy, brain activity, and peripheral neuropeptide levels measured * Complete questionnaires assessing mood states and personality traits before treatment administration to control for potential confounding effects
Official title: Effects of Oromucosal Oxytocin and Arginine Vasopressin on Top-Down and Bottom-Up Attention to Emotional Faces: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled fMRI Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 30 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
120
Start Date
2026-09-18
Completion Date
2026-12-22
Last Updated
2026-09-24
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
Oxytocin (OT)
A single dose of 24 IU oxytocin (OT) is administered via a lyophilized oromucosal lollipop. Participants are instructed to continuously lick the lollipop for approximately 5 minutes to facilitate absorption through the oral mucosa and not to bite, chew, or directly swallow it.
Arginine Vasopressin (AVP)
A single dose of 24 IU arginine vasopressin (AVP) is administered via a lyophilized oromucosal lollipop. Participants are instructed to continuously lick the lollipop for approximately 5 minutes to facilitate absorption through the oral mucosa and not to bite, chew, or directly swallow it.
Placebo (PLC)
Placebo (PLC), consisting of lyophilized normal saline, is administered via a matched oromucosal lollipop using the same administration procedure as the active treatments. The placebo lollipop is matched to the OT and AVP lollipops in appearance, powder characteristics, and taste.
Locations (1)
University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Chengdu, Sichuang, China