Actively Recruiting
Inter-Brain Synchrony as a Neural Mechanism of Social Connection in Schizophrenia
Led by University of California, Los Angeles · Updated on 2026-02-03
100
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
17 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of California, Los Angeles
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are investigating how a brain activity pattern called inter-brain synchrony may help form social connections in people with schizophrenia. This study compares individuals with schizophrenia to a healthy group without psychotic disorders to better understand social difficulties in schizophrenia and to explore ways to improve social functioning. The study also examines how increasing social closeness affects this brain activity in both groups. Participants will engage in two types of social interactions while their brain activity is recorded using EEG. One interaction involves answering increasingly personal questions to build closeness (called "Fast Friends"), and the other involves answering impersonal questions (called "Small Talk"). Each participant will complete both interactions in a randomized order. The study aims to see if brain synchrony changes with social closeness. During the study, participants will undergo clinical interviews and symptom assessments. EEG recordings will be taken while interacting with another person during both social tasks. Researchers will also interview participants about the number and quality of their social interactions. The main outcome measured is inter-brain synchrony immediately before and after each interaction. Additional behavioral and social network measures will also be collected. Participation lasts through these testing sessions, with no long-term follow-up described.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Inter-Brain Synchrony in Schizophrenia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Sufficient English fluency to understand study procedures
- Clinical diagnosis of schizophrenia according to DSM-5, clinically stable as outpatient with no hospitalizations in past 3 months
- No medication changes in the past 1 month
- Community members without psychotic, schizophrenia-spectrum, or major mood disorders and no first-degree relative with psychotic disorder
- Age between 18 and 65 years
You will not qualify if you...
- IQ below 70 or developmental disability
- History of significant neurological disease or serious head injury
- Moderate or severe substance use disorder in the last 3 months
- Positive urine toxicology on assessment day
- Use of sedatives or anxiolytics within 12 hours of assessment
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 1 day
Participants engage in two types of social interaction tasks while their brain activity is recorded with EEG. They will ask and answer sets of personal and impersonal questions to assess inter-brain synchrony.
1 visit (in-person)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of California, Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
E
Eric Reavis, PhD
J
Jonathan K Wynn, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
2
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