Inter-brain synchrony and social connection in schizophrenia
Inter-Brain Synchrony as a Neural Mechanism of Social Connection in Schizophrenia
This study will test whether synchronized brain activity between pairs differs for people with schizophrenia compared with people without psychotic disorders, and whether prompting social closeness increases synchrony.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, Los Angeles Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT07177261 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Researchers will use EEG hyperscanning to record inter-brain synchrony between pairs of participants while they engage in brief social tasks. The protocol compares clinically stable outpatients with a DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia to community control participants without psychotic or major mood disorders. Social closeness will be manipulated using the Fast Friends and Small Talk tasks and synchrony measured before and after the manipulation. The aim is to clarify neural mechanisms of social dysfunction in schizophrenia and provide a basis for new interventions to improve social functioning.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are clinically stable adults with DSM-5 schizophrenia who speak English, are outpatients with no hospitalizations in the prior 3 months and no medication changes in the prior month, or community controls without psychotic or major mood disorders.
Not a fit: Patients with IQ under 70 or developmental disability, significant neurological disease or head injury, recent moderate-to-severe substance use, a positive drug screen, or recent sedative/anxiolytic use are excluded and unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could identify neural targets for new interventions that improve social connectedness and functioning in schizophrenia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior hyperscanning work in healthy adults has linked inter-brain synchrony to social connection, but this is the first application of that approach in people with schizophrenia.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * sufficient English fluency to comprehend procedures * clinical group will include individuals with a DSM-5 diagnosis of schizophrenia who are clinically stable (outpatients, with no hospitalizations 3 months prior to enrollment and no medication changes 1 month prior to enrollment) * members of the community without a psychotic disorder, schizophrenia-spectrum disorder, or current major mood disorder, nor history of a first-degree relative with a psychotic disorder. Exclusion Criteria: * evidence of IQ \< 70 or developmental disability * history of significant neurological disease, serious head injury, or significant current substance use (moderate or severe substance use disorder in the last 3 months, positive urine toxicology screen on the day of assessment, or sedatives/anxiolytics taken within 12 hours of the assessment)
Where this trial is running
Los Angeles, California
- University of California, Los Angeles — Los Angeles, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Eric Reavis, Phd — University of California, Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Eric Reavis, PhD
- Email: ereavis@ucla.edu
- Phone: 310-206-8557
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.