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Brain Dynamics of Oxytocin
NCT01834261 · View on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
Study Summary
Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is well known for its role in social and affiliative behavior in humans. Oxytocin receptors are significantly lowered in autistic individuals and administration of oxytocin has shown benefits in enhancing social recognition and behavior in autistic children. However, more recent research has refined the behavioral effects of oxytocin, moving away from the notion that the neuropeptide blindly induces love and trust, towards the view that it actually increases social perception in assessing friend vs. foe: supporting cohesion with 'insiders' and distrust and aggression for 'outsiders.' Oxytocin is responsible for the selective aggression shown by lactating female mammals protecting their young, an effect demonstrated also in humans, and has been shown to strengthen feelings of ethnocentrism. However, no neuroimaging study to date has investigated this effect, with the consequence that its neurobiological basis is still unknown. The general aim of our study is to determine meso-circuit brain dynamics that underlie oxytocin's amplification of both trust and aggression; and specifically, using neuroimaging (fMRI, magnetoencephalography, and behavioral testing) whether oxytocin amplifies kinship bias by attenuating social reward learning.
Conditions Studied
Interventions
- DRUG Syntocinon Nasal Spray, 40IU
- DRUG Syntocinon Placebo Formulation, 40IU
Study Locations (3)
Massachusetts
- Martinos Imaging Center at the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at MIT — Cambridge
- Martinos Center for Biomedical Research, Building 149, 13th Street — Charlestown
New York
- Bioengineering Building , Stony Brook University — Stony Brook
Trial Details
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Enrollment Target | 51 participants |
| Start Date | 2013-04 |
| Est. Completion | 2015-05 |
| Phase | Phase 1 |
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Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗What the Registry Record Tells You About NCT01834261
The ClinicalTrials.gov registry entry for NCT01834261 describes a study currently listed as completed. It is categorized as Phase 1, which is the standard way researchers label where a study sits along the investigational pathway from early safety work through later efficacy and post-marketing evaluation. The registered enrollment target is 51 participants, a figure that helps gauge the scale of data the investigators plan to collect. The listed sponsor is Stony Brook University, which has 43 total studies on file at ClinicalTrials.gov, and sponsors are the parties responsible for study design, oversight, and regulatory filings.
The record links to 1 condition, with Brain Dynamics in Healthy Adults appearing as the primary indexed condition, and to 2 interventions — of which Syntocinon Nasal Spray, 40IU is the first listed. Interventions can include drugs, devices, procedures, behavioral programs, or observational arms, and each is tracked as a separate registry field so that downstream queries can filter accurately. When a trial lists multiple interventions, it usually reflects a multi-arm design or a comparison protocol rather than a single treatment being tested in isolation. The brief summary published in the registry is the clearest source of protocol intent and should be read before drawing conclusions from any sidebar tags.
Geographic footprint matters for practical reasons: NCT01834261 reports 3 study locations spanning 2 distinct geographic areas — top geographies include Massachusetts, New York. A larger site network tends to correlate with broader recruitment capacity, but it does not imply anything about study quality, and site-level enrollment status can diverge from the overall registry status shown above. Every data point on this page comes from the public ClinicalTrials.gov dataset and is reproduced here for reference only; it is not a medical recommendation, an endorsement of the sponsor, or an invitation to enroll. Verify current status, eligibility criteria, and contact details directly at ClinicalTrials.gov, and discuss any participation decision with your own healthcare provider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is clinical trial NCT01834261 about?
NCT01834261 is a clinical study titled "Brain Dynamics of Oxytocin". Oxytocin is a neuropeptide that is well known for its role in social and affiliative behavior in humans. Oxytocin receptors are significantly lowered in autistic individuals and administration of oxytocin has shown benefits in enhancing social recognition and behavior in autistic children. However, ...
What is the current status of trial NCT01834261?
This trial is currently completed. It is a Phase 1 study. The enrollment target is 51 participants. The study started on 2013-04. Estimated completion is 2015-05.
What conditions does trial NCT01834261 study?
This clinical trial studies the following conditions: Brain Dynamics in Healthy Adults. These conditions were identified from the trial registry and reflect the primary focus areas of the research.
What interventions are being tested in trial NCT01834261?
The interventions under investigation include: Syntocinon Nasal Spray, 40IU (DRUG), Syntocinon Placebo Formulation, 40IU (DRUG). Each intervention is being evaluated for safety and efficacy as part of this clinical study.
Who is sponsoring clinical trial NCT01834261?
This trial is sponsored by Stony Brook University, which has 43 total clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov. The sponsor is responsible for the study's design, funding, and regulatory compliance.
Where is trial NCT01834261 being conducted?
This trial has 3 study locations across Massachusetts, New York. Contact the study sites directly through ClinicalTrials.gov for enrollment availability.
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