Linked Outcomes in Various EEG-Hyperscanning Setups

Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot listed
Trial typeObservational
Biological sexAll
Age20-60
SponsorSpaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

About this trial

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.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Healthy volunteers in a romantic partnership for at least 6 months.

20-60 years of age

Ability to fully understand and consent to study procedures.

Fluent in English

Disqualifiers

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.

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Not listed

Trial groups

40 Participants
are grouped into 2 trial groups

Sponsors and collaborators

Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Lead sponsor

Université de Montréal

Collaborator

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Collaborator

Emerald Gate Charitable Trust

Collaborator