Intranasal Oxytocin's Role in Reinforcement Learning and Interoception Explored

Oxytocin is a neuropeptide widely recognized for its crucial role in social bonding, trust, and empathy. However, its influence extends beyond social cognition to broader cognitive functions, including learning and self-awareness. Reinforcement learning is fundamental to adaptive behavior, allowing individuals to adjust actions based on positive or negative feedback. Understanding how oxytocin modulates this process, especially in dynamic environments, could offer insights into conditions like addiction or anxiety disorders where maladaptive learning is prominent. Furthermore, interoception, the perception of internal bodily states, is vital for emotional regulation and decision-making, and its dysregulation is implicated in various psychiatric conditions. Investigating oxytocin's impact on interoception could reveal novel therapeutic targets for improving emotional and cognitive well-being.

This study employs a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, between-subject design to investigate the effects of intranasal oxytocin on human cognitive functions. Participants will receive either intranasal oxytocin or a placebo. The primary objective is to assess how oxytocin modulates reinforcement learning in a dynamic environment and influences interoceptive processing. Behavioral responses will be recorded to quantify learning performance and interoceptive accuracy. Concurrently, electroencephalogram (EEG) responses will be measured to identify underlying neural mechanisms associated with oxytocin administration, providing insights into brain activity during these cognitive tasks.