Male Volunteer for a Research Project in Psychiatry wanted

Martina Di Simplicio, a SPR in psychiatry, is currently running a research project with the Oxford University Department of Psychiatry.

The project is interested in studying the effects of oxytocin, a natural hormone, on social and emotional information processing. It involves testing healthy male volunteers on a series of psychological computer tests after having received a single dose of oxytocin or placebo.

Oxytocin is a natural hormone which has a number of functions in the body. It is best known for its effects on the reproductive system after childbirth when it helps the uterus contract and stimulates the flow of breast milk. Experimental studies in animals have suggested that oxytocin has another role, namely in the development of social relationships. If this is the case the use of oxytocin might be helpful in certain human conditions such as schizophrenia and autism where people find it hard to establish close relationships.

The aim of the current study is to see whether we can find evidence that a single dose of oxytocin might modify various measures of social performance in healthy volunteers.

Your help would be much appreciated. In addition to travel expenses etc they can also give you £50 for taking part in the study. More detailed information can be found in the attached file.