Understanding how brain function affects social thinking in early psychosis
Official title: Brain-Behavior Mechanisms of Social Cognition in First-Episode Psychosis
Funded at Ohio State University · NIH-10890851 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the brain works when it comes to understanding other people's thoughts and feelings in people who are having their first episode of psychosis, and it hopes to find ways to help improve social skills and quality of life for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ohio State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $192,024 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH131967-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10890851 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis who are seeking to understand and improve their social cognitive abilities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with chronic psychotic disorders or those who do not have significant social cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the relationship between brain function and social cognition in individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis. By using advanced imaging techniques like fMRI, the study aims to identify how brain areas involved in understanding others' thoughts and feelings are affected in these patients. It will also compare these findings with a control group to better understand the impact of social cognitive impairments on daily functioning. The goal is to provide insights that could lead to more effective interventions for improving social skills and overall quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments that enhance social functioning and quality of life for individuals with first-episode psychosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding brain-behavior relationships can lead to significant advancements in treating cognitive impairments in psychosis, suggesting this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Ohio State University
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moe, Aubrey M. — Ohio State University
- Study coordinator: Moe, Aubrey M.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Social Cognition Measures for People at Risk of Psychosis
A study to find and test the best mental tasks that measure social thinking for people who might develop psychosis.
-
Using cerebellum-targeted brain stimulation to improve thinking in psychosis
Testing whether noninvasive brain stimulation of the cerebellum can help thinking and memory in people with psychotic illnesses like bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
-
Social thinking tests for teens and young adults at risk for psychosis
This project is creating and checking social thinking tests for teens and young adults who show early signs of psychosis.
-
Evaluating social understanding in young people at risk for psychosis
This study is looking at how young people who might be at risk for psychosis understand social situations, so we can create better tools to help track their social skills over time and improve their care.
-
How the cerebellum affects thinking in people with psychosis
This study is looking at how a part of the brain called the cerebellum affects thinking problems in people with conditions like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and it hopes to find ways to improve these thinking skills using safe brain stimulation techniques.
-
Improving cognition and motivation in early psychosis treatment
This study is looking to improve support for people dealing with early psychosis by using special care teams in Minnesota, focusing on personalized feedback and a mobile program to help with thinking and motivation over 12 weeks.
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.