Actively Recruiting
Inter-Brain Synchrony in Schizophrenia
Led by University of California, Los Angeles · Updated on 2026-02-03
100
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
104 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
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate for the first time in people with schizophrenia a neural mechanism that is thought to facilitate the formation of social connections - inter-brain synchrony - in order to improve scientific understanding of the neural mechanisms of social dysfunction in the disorder, and to provide a basis for the development of new and better treatments to improve social functioning and connectedness in the illness. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Investigate inter-brain synchrony as a neural mechanism of social connection in schizophrenia 2. Manipulate social closeness and test for effects on inter-brain synchrony across groups The investigators will compare results from people with schizophrenia to a healthy comparison group (controls) who do not have psychotic disorders to see if inter-brain synchrony is greater in controls. Investigators will also compare measures of inter-brain synchrony before and after the social closeness manipulation to see if inter-brain synchrony changes with increasing closeness. Participants will: * Have a clinicial diagnostic interview and be assessed for clinical symptoms * Have an EEG recorded while interacting with another person. Participants will first work with the other person to draw a figure, and then tap fingers together. Participants will then either undergo the experimental manipulation to increase social closeness (called, "fast friends") or undergo the control condition that does not increase social closeness (called "small talk"). Participants will then repeat the drawing and finger tapping assessment. * After completing the experimental or control condition, participants will then repeat the procedure with the other condition that was not yet done. * Be interviewed on the number and quality of social interactions.
CONDITIONS
Official 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 outpatients with no hospitalizations in the past 3 months
- No medication changes in the past 1 month
- Community members without psychotic disorders, schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, major mood disorders, or first-degree relatives with psychotic disorders
You will not qualify if you...
- IQ less than 70 or developmental disability
- History of significant neurological disease or serious head injury
- Moderate or severe substance use disorder within the past 3 months
- Positive urine toxicology on the day of assessment
- Use of sedatives or anxiolytics within 12 hours before assessment
AI-Screening
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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
CONTACT
J
Jonathan K Wynn, PhD
CONTACT
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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