Neural Mechanisms of the Social Brain

March 9, 2026 updated by: Yale University

Neural and Behavioral Correlates of Live Face-to-Face Interactions

This study aims to understand the neural mechanisms that underlie synchronization of two brains during social interactions.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

After being informed about the study and potential risks, all participants giving written informed consent will undergo a structural MRI image for anatomical localization of the targeted stimulation site. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two TMS target locations, and will be identified for the TMS experiments. Two to three days prior to the TMS experiment, participants will undergo a before TMS/fNIRS experiment. On the day of the TMS experiment participants will undergo a functional dyadic neuroimaging session after TMS stimulation. For the neuromodulation experiments, tDCS, selected sites for stimulation will be identified on the T1 anatomical scans for each participant who will be randomly assigned to one of three groups. In each case the face-gaze fNIRS experiment will be run. Aim 2: Two targeted sites will be confirmed as neural hubs by modification of fiducial neural regions based on the findings of cTBS disruptions. Rationale: These locations and functional specializations are necessary for the proposed neuromodulation tests in the upcoming clinical trial phase.

Part 1: Stimulate to disrupt the site associated with eye-to-eye contact hypothesized to be right superior parietal lobule. Part 2: Stimulate to disrupt the site associated with live face gaze hypothesized to be right supramarginal gyrus.

The focus of this registration is Aim 2.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Connecticut
      • New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06511
        • Yale School of Medicine
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

-Self reported typically developed adults.

Exclusion Criteria:

-No prior history of seizure activity. Self reported absence of recreational drugs at time of study.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Sham Comparator
TMS to a non-targeted region.
Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
TMS to targeted regions. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, tDCS, to targeted and sham regions.
Experimental: Experimental Comparator
TMS to targeted regions
Device: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
TMS to targeted regions. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, tDCS, to targeted and sham regions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Percent change in hemodynamic signals
Time Frame: Baseline and At time of measurement, approximately one hour
Statistical comparison of measures before and after stimulation. Measurement of brain oxygenation during cognitive assessment. The variable of interest will be changes in fNIRS oxyhemoglobin and deoxyhemoglobin signals (% change from baseline) during the cognitive assessment.
Baseline and At time of measurement, approximately one hour
Electroencephalography (EEG) response to live face gaze
Time Frame: At time of measurement, approximately one hour
Statistical comparison of measures before and after stimulation. EEG response to live face gaze is acquired for frequencies between 1 and 20 Hz. Oscillatory signals will be partitioned into Theta (4-8 Hz) and Alpha (8-12 Hz) frequencies for comparisons before and after TMS. Higher values indicate better score.
At time of measurement, approximately one hour
Eye Contact Behavior
Time Frame: At time of measurement, approximately one hour
Statistical comparison of measures before and after stimulation (amplitude). Free viewing Eye tracking measures are detected by light reflections acquired at 120 Hz. Eye to eye contact is computationally determined by comparison of the eye tracking measures between the two partners.
At time of measurement, approximately one hour
Face Gaze Behavior
Time Frame: At time of measurement, approximately one hour
Statistical comparison of measures before and after stimulation (Action Units). Facial dynamics are quantified by rapid photography and AI programs (OpenFace) that classify categories of facial expressions. There are 17 facial expressions that will be acquired during the face gaze conditions.
At time of measurement, approximately one hour

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Yale University

Collaborators

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Joy Hirsch, PhD, Yale University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

March 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 2, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

March 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 9, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 1501015178
  • 1R61MH138705-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

All data will be available on DRYAD, a public database

IPD Sharing Time Frame

Upon completion of the study. The data will be available in perpetuity.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Access to the internet to access DRYAD.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ANALYTIC_CODE
  • CSR

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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