The Power of Belief: Expectation-driven and Placebo Modulation of Empathic Pain

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Healthy Participants

In brief

This study investigates how belief and expectation influence empathic pain-the pain we feel when observing others in distress. Healthy adult participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: no-treatment control, placebo nasal spray, oxytocin-containing nasal spray. Participants in both the placebo and oxytocin conditions will be informed that they are receiving oxytocin, described as a potent agent for pain relief. During functional MRI scanning, all participants will view naturalistic pain-related videos and provide ratings of perceived subjective pain. The study aims to examine how cognitive beliefs and neuromodulatory interventions alter subjective pain experience and brain activity, including changes in brain network communication.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07367672

Run by

University of Electronic Science and Technology of China

People needed

120

Starts

2025-12-01

Expected to finish

2026-03-30

Last updated by the study team

2026-01-26

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 30. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• (1) Healthy subjects without any past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders; (2) Healthy subjects without any current psychotherapeutic medication.

You may not qualify if…

• (1) Participant with any past or present psychiatric or neurological disorders; (2)Participant with any current psychotherapeutic medication.

Where it is running

• Weihua Zhao — Chengdu, Sichuan, China (enrolling)
• University of Electronic Science and Technology of China — Chengdu, China

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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