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
Sponsors and collaborators
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Lead sponsor
Université de Montréal
Collaborator
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Collaborator
Emerald Gate Charitable Trust
Collaborator