This document outlines a study aiming to define the temporal profile of oxytocin pharmacodynamics using human EEG data. The study will involve collecting EEG data from 20 participants who receive either oxytocin or a control treatment in a double-blinded design. Data analysis will include univariate statistical analysis as well as pattern recognition techniques to analyze microstates over time and determine how long a single intranasal dose of 24 IU of oxytocin affects neuronal activity. The goal is to directly measure brain activity to estimate the temporal profile of oxytocin's effects, in order to address limitations of existing indirect measures.

1. Marie Zelenina
Supervisor: Dr. Diana Prata
Instituto de Medicina Molecular
Co-supervisor: Prof. Paulo Aguiar
Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde
Definining a temporal profile of oxytocin pharmacodynamics
with human EEG data

2. INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin
2
Produced in:
paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus
Released by:
posterior pituitary gland
Acts upon:
multiple sites

3. INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin
3
bonding
emotion recognition and processing
empathy
stress processing
etc (childbirth, breastfeeding …)

4. INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin
4
bonding
emotion recognition and processing
empathy
stress processing
etc (childbirth, breastfeeding …)
Autism
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Psychopathy
Personality disorders
etc

5. INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin
5
bonding
emotion recognition and processing
empathy
stress processing
etc (childbirth, breastfeeding …)
Autism
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
Psychopathy
Personality disorders
etc
Treatment with oxytocin (IN-OT)

6. INTRODUCTION: Oxytocin
6
24 IU

7. PROBLEM STATEMENT
7
For how long does it affect the brain?
• Temporal profile of the neuronal activity
that results from IN-OT administration of
24 IU

8. PROBLEM STATEMENT: Temporal profile of IN-OT action
8
1. From saliva
2. From cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
3. From regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)

9. PROBLEM STATEMENT: Temporal profile of IN-OT action
9
1. From saliva
2. From cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
3. From regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF)
Indirect measurement of
brain activity
40 IUs

10. PROBLEM STATEMENT: Temporal profile of IN-OT action
10
Research goal: estimate temporal profile of neuronal action of 24 UIs IN-OT
Direct measurement of brain activity

11. GOALS AND AIMS
11
1. Design and set up the experiment [Completed]
2. Collect data [In progress]
3. Analyse data
• Univariate analysis
• Pattern recognition
4. Write up results
5. Prepare and submit a publication - additional step

12. Multiple stages of criteria testing
METHODOLOGY: Participants
12https://neurocolab.wordpress.com/
20 participants,
2 trials (OT/ control).
Double-blinded study.

13. METHODOLOGY: Data collection
13
ActiCHamp, 64 electrodes
Impedance < 5 kΩ.
EyeLink 1000 Plus

14. METHODOLOGY: Data collection
14
EyeLink 1000 Plus
• Yu (2016)
• Nishida (2013)
• Albrecht (2016)
• Britz (2010)
• Jobert (2015)
International Pharmaco-
Encephalography Society (IPEG)

15. METHODOLOGY: Data collection
15

16. METHODOLOGY: Data Analysis
16
Microstates - the “atoms of thought”

17. METHODOLOGY: Data Analysis
17
• Univariate Statistical:
- ANOVA
- Independent t-test
- Regression
• Pattern recognition

18. METHODOLOGY: Data Analysis: Pattern recognition
18
Paloyelis et al., 2016
Microstates
time

19. METHODOLOGY: Data Analysis: Pattern recognition
19
Paloyelis et al., 2016
Microstates
time
20
participants
e.g.
Gaussian
Process
Classifier
18 train
1 validate
1 test
DATA MODEL PREDICTION

20. Other methodological considerations:
20
• Integrated in: “Oxytocin and Dopamine Interplay in Humans – on the Biology of Social
Cognition”
• Financed by: EU Marie Curie Career Integration Grant (FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG-631952)
(€100.000), between 2015 and 2019.
• Ethics approved by: the Ethics Committee of the Lisbon Medical Academic Center
(CHLN / FMUL / IMM) and complies with national and EU legislation
• Supported by: