How brain responses to everyday videos relate to social connection in schizophrenia
Disrupted neural synchrony during naturalistic perception in schizophrenia: Toward a new biomarker of social dysfunction
The project uses brain scans while people with schizophrenia watch short videos to find brain patterns linked to social disconnection.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11179429 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would watch short, naturalistic video clips while having your brain activity recorded with functional MRI. Researchers compare how closely your brain responses match those of other people using inter-subject correlation methods. The team will look for brain patterns that relate to how connected you feel to friends and family. Results aim to identify objective brain markers of social difficulties that could guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with schizophrenia who can tolerate an MRI scan, remain still during video viewing, and provide informed consent are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without schizophrenia, those who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to implanted metal or severe claustrophobia), or those unable to tolerate the procedures are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce an objective brain marker that helps identify and eventually target social dysfunction in people with schizophrenia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies in people without psychiatric illness have linked synchronized brain responses to social connectedness and small preliminary studies suggest differences in schizophrenia, but using this as a biomarker is still experimental.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reavis, Eric Andrew — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Reavis, Eric Andrew
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.