Inter-Brain Synchrony in Schizophrenia

NCT07177261 | Recruiting

• 2 other identifiers: IRB-25-12791R21MH139044-01A1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 100
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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:

• 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

Schizophrenia Disorder

Keywords

schizophrenia; EEG; interbrain synchrony; hyperscanning; social connections

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Interbrain synchrony

  Circular correlations for 8-10Hz activity across electrodes and dyads

  Interbrain synchrony will be measured immediately before and immediately following the procedure.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Social Network Analysis

  Measured at the start of the study only

• Behavioral measures of synchrony

  Investigators will measure these during each of the two maniuplations (small talk and fast friends).

Study Arms (2)

Fast Friends

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will interact with another person while both have their EEG recorded. Participants will ask and answer 12 questions with the other person that become increasingly personal in nature, e.g., "When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?"

Behavioral: Fast Friends

Small Talk

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants will interact with another person while both have their EEG recorded. Participants will ask and answer 12 impersonal questions with the other person , e.g., "Do you prefer digital watches and clocks or the kind with hands? Why?"

Behavioral: Small Talk

Interventions

Fast Friends BEHAVIORAL

Participants will interact with another person while both have their EEG recorded. They will ask and answer 12 questions with the other person that become increasingly personal in nature, e.g., "When did you last cry in front of another person? By yourself?"

Fast Friends

Small Talk BEHAVIORAL

Participants will interact with another person while both have their EEG recorded. They will ask and answer 12 impersonal questions with the other person , e.g., "Do you prefer digital watches and clocks or the kind with hands? Why?"

Small Talk

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Los Angeles: lead
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Schizophrenia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Schizophrenia Spectrum and Other Psychotic Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Eric Reavis, Phd

  University of California, Los Angeles

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Jonathan K Wynn, PhD

  University of California, Los Angeles

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Eric Reavis, PhD

CONTACT

310-206-8557; ereavis@ucla.edu

Jonathan K Wynn, PhD

CONTACT

310-478-3711; jkwynn@ucla.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Researcher

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 2, 2025
• First Posted: September 16, 2025
• Study Start: December 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2027
• Last Updated: February 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, ANALYTIC CODE
• Time Frame: At the end of the study (November 2027) for indefinite period
• Access Criteria: These data will be shared on the NIMH Data Archive

Locations

US (1)