Understanding how people communicate in person and online
Official title: Interpersonal behavioral synchrony in virtual and in-person dyadic conversation
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10797870 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people talk and connect with each other, whether in person or online, to create tools that help us understand things like facial expressions and voice tones better, making conversations smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $364,647 |
| NIH project number | 1R34DA059716-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10797870 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who frequently engage in conversations, whether in-person or through virtual platforms, and are interested in understanding and improving their communication skills.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have severe communication disorders or those who do not engage in social interactions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the nuances of human communication during conversations, focusing on both in-person and virtual interactions. It aims to develop tools that can accurately measure and analyze the complex patterns of communication, including facial expressions, gestures, and vocal tones. By bringing together experts from various fields, the project seeks to enhance our understanding of how people synchronize their behaviors during conversations, which is crucial for improving communication in different settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved communication strategies and tools that enhance interpersonal interactions, especially in telehealth and remote communication.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of analyzing multimodal communication is gaining traction, this specific tool development for real-time analysis in both in-person and virtual settings is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Corcoran, Cheryl Mary — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Corcoran, Cheryl Mary
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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.