Linked Outcomes in Various EEG-Hyperscanning Setups

NCT07385027 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 2025P000921
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to investigate how brains of healthy controls respond when they interact with their romantic partner compared to when they interact with a stranger. The main goals are:

• Explore how two people's brains interact with each other by recording brain activity at the same time (a method called "hyperscanning") using electroencephalography (EEG). Using hyperscanning, this study will compare brain-to-brain communication in romantic couples versus strangers, both when they are together in person and when they are interacting remotely.
• Test a computational model that will help explain how this brain-to-brain communication works, using real data from the brain activity EEG recordings.
• Explore whether factors such as age, gender, how aware people are of their own body sensations, and their level of attachment influence brain-to-brain communication. Researchers will compare brain-to-brain communication in romantic couples versus strangers, both when they are together in person and when they are interacting remotely to see which factors effect brain-to-brain communication. Enrolled participants will:
• Complete a consent visit with their romantic partner where they will sign a consent form and have their pain sensitivity assessed.
• Fill out sets of questionnaires assessing their romantic relationship, their personality, and other traits.
• Complete two EEG scans, one with their romantic partner and one with a stranger. At both scans they will conduct a pain task, a communication task, and a light stimulation task.

Conditions

Brain to Brain Communication

Keywords

Hyperscanning; EEG; Brain to Brain Communication; Healthy Control

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Inter-Brain Connectivity (IBC)

  Brain to brain connectivity (or IBC) estimated on EEG-hyperscan data acquired simultaneously from two people (either romantic partners or strangers). The investigators hypothesize that IBC (density of connections): * will be modulated by the level of attachment (factor 1) regardless of subjects proximity (same room versus separate rooms, factor 2). * will be stronger during communication task and empathy for pain compared to resting state. * will be affected by demographical factors including age, sex, and race.

  1 year

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Heart-beat Evoked Potentials (HEP) during Interoception Task

  1 year.

Other Outcomes (1)

• Autonomic concordance.

  1 year

Study Arms (2)

Romantic Pair

Two people involved in a romantic relationship for longer than 1 year. This is a cross-sectional study in which every subject will complete the experiment in both conditions, once with their romantic pair, and once with a randomly assigned stranger. Therefore, participants will complete one EEG with their romantic pair, and one EEG with a stranger. The order of the EEG scans and the cross-over will be randomized.

Stranger Pair

Two people who have never seen each other before the EEG visit. This is a cross-sectional study in which every subject will complete the experiment in both conditions, once with their romantic pair, and once with a randomly assigned stranger. Therefore, participants will complete one EEG with their romantic pair, and one EEG with a stranger. The order of the EEG scans and the cross-over will be randomized.

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 60 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Twenty healthy control romantic pair dyads will be recruited for this study, for a total of 40 participants. Male and female participants, aged 20-60, will be recruited.

You may qualify if:

• Healthy volunteers in a romantic partnership for at least 6 months.
• years of age
• Ability to fully understand and consent to study procedures.
• Fluent in English
• Are on stable doses of medication for 30 days prior to entering the study and agree not to change medications or dosages during the trial.

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of any contraindications to EEG scanning.
• Illicit drug or opioid use.
• Epilepsy, seizures provoked by lights or a prior history of seizures.
• Presence of any illness that is judged to interfere with the trial. For example: severe psychiatric disorders according to the DSM-IV manual.
• Current chronic pain conditions.
• Unwillingness to be audio recorded.
• Unwillingness to receive brief experimental pain on the lower left leg.
• Unwillingness to withhold from consuming marijuana 48 hours prior to scans.
• Unwillingness to withhold from consuming nicotine 4 hours prior to scans.
• Any impairment, activity, or situation that in the judgment of the Study Coordinator or Principal Investigator would prevent satisfactory completion of the study protocol.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital: lead
• Université de Montréal: collaborator
• Brigham and Women's Hospital: collaborator
• Emerald Gate Charitable Trust: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Charlestown, Massachusetts, 02129, United States

RECRUITING

Study Officials

• Alessandra Anzolin, PhD

  Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Lara Gardiner

CONTACT

617-952-6483; lgardiner1@mgb.org

Alessandra Anzolin, PhD

CONTACT

aanzolin@mgh.harvard.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Instructor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 22, 2026
• First Posted: February 3, 2026
• Study Start: December 12, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2027
• Last Updated: February 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)