Study of Wellness Behaviors as a Function of Oxytocin vs Placebo
Completed · Phase 1 · Has a placebo group
Conditions studied: Sustained Positive Emotions, Sustained Positive Behavior Change
In brief
The specific aim of this study is to test whether oxytocin (OT) boosts the positive emotion yield of a new wellness behavior (Lovingkindness meditation or Mindfulness meditation) and thereby increases nonconscious motives that shape daily behavioral decisions to repeat it, which in turn foster positive emotions that further augment nonconscious motives in an upward spiral dynamic. The proposed research targets three hypotheses: (1) Oxytocin manipulation magnifies (i.e., moderates) the positive emotion yield of Lovingkindness meditation; (2) The positive emotion yield of meditation, which varies by experimental condition, increases the nonconscious incentive salience of Wellness Behavior-related cues; and (3) Behavioral decisions predict positive emotions, sparking the relationships among OT manipulation, positive emotion yield, and nonconscious incentive salience of Wellness Behavior-related cues.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT01929161
- Run by
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- People needed
- 239
- Starts
- 2013-09-01
- Expected to finish
- 2014-09-01
- Last updated by the study team
- 2016-07-18
Who can join
Age: 35 and older, up to 64. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- between the ages of 35 and 64 years old.
- Fluent in written and spoken English
- Willingness or interest in learning to meditate
- Computer literate with access to internet (weekly)
You may not qualify if…
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Individuals on antihypertensive medication
- Individuals who have or have had a regular meditation practice
- Individuals who can read Chinese logographs
Where it is running
- UNC PEP Lab — Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.