Oxytocin Pathways and the Health Effects of Human-Animal Interaction
| Status: | Recruiting |
|---|---|
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 8 - 10 |
| Updated: | 2/27/2019 |
| Start Date: | February 15, 2019 |
| End Date: | April 30, 2020 |
This study investigates the roles of oxytocin and vasopressin in human-animal interaction.
Children will participate in three conditions involving friendly interactions with dogs, or
play with toys at a university laboratory.
Children will participate in three conditions involving friendly interactions with dogs, or
play with toys at a university laboratory.
Oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are neuropeptides that play critical roles in
social behavior, cognition, stress physiology, and physical health. OT is released in adult
humans and dogs during affiliative forms of human-animal interaction (HAI), and HAI
attenuates AVP release in dogs. Thus, HAI may provide a safe and effective approach for
stimulating endogenous OT release, and inhibiting endogenous AVP activity. The investigators
will recruit a sample of typically developing 8-10 year old children who will engage in
structured HAI sessions with a familiar companion dog or unfamiliar dog, compared to a
nonsocial control condition.
social behavior, cognition, stress physiology, and physical health. OT is released in adult
humans and dogs during affiliative forms of human-animal interaction (HAI), and HAI
attenuates AVP release in dogs. Thus, HAI may provide a safe and effective approach for
stimulating endogenous OT release, and inhibiting endogenous AVP activity. The investigators
will recruit a sample of typically developing 8-10 year old children who will engage in
structured HAI sessions with a familiar companion dog or unfamiliar dog, compared to a
nonsocial control condition.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Participants in this study will include typically-developing children between 8-10
years. Enrollment will be limited to individuals who self-identify as white and not
Hispanic or Latino for reasons related to the epigenetic analyses
Exclusion Criteria:
- known medical diseases or injuries involving the central nervous or endocrine systems,
major physical abnormalities, seizures, and significant sensory, cognitive, or motor
impairments
We found this trial at
1
site
Tucson, Arizona 85721
(520) 621-2211
Principal Investigator: Evan L MacLean, PhD
Phone: 520-621-2646
University of Arizona The University of Arizona is a premier, public research university. Established in...
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