Understanding social cognition deficits in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia
Official title: Behavioral and Neural Correlates of Deficits in Naturalistic Visual and Auditory Social Cognition in Individuals at Clinical High-Risk for Schizophrenia
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-10459498 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how people who are at risk of developing schizophrenia understand social situations, like reading facial expressions or following conversations, by watching movie clips and listening to stories, to find ways to help them improve their social skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2020 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $704,789 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH121790-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10459498 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals identified as being at clinical high-risk for developing schizophrenia, particularly those experiencing social cognition deficits.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not at clinical high-risk for schizophrenia or those with established schizophrenia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals at clinical high-risk for developing schizophrenia experience deficits in social cognition, which affects their ability to understand social cues from visual and auditory stimuli. By using naturalistic stimuli like movie clips and spoken stories, the study aims to measure behavioral and neural responses to social interactions. The research will analyze eye movements and brain connectivity in specific regions associated with social cognition to better understand these deficits. The goal is to identify potential treatment avenues for improving social functioning in this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for individuals at high risk for schizophrenia, enhancing their social functioning and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding social cognition deficits in schizophrenia can lead to meaningful insights, but this specific approach using naturalistic stimuli is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Patel, Gaurav H — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Patel, Gaurav H
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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.