How is Social Connection Represented in the Brain?

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Loneliness

In brief

Nearly half of the U.S. population sometimes or always experiences loneliness, which is alarming given that loneliness confers risk for negative mental and physical health outcomes. Extensive research suggests loneliness is characterized by subjective isolation: many lonely individuals maintain a number of relationships but still report feeling lonely. The goal of this proposal is to use functional magnetic resonance imaging to reveal how the brain represents our subjective connection to and isolation from other people, which will ultimately inform optimal ways to intervene to reduce loneliness.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04577911

Run by

Columbia University

People needed

248

Starts

2021-04-01

Expected to finish

2026-11-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-12-16

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• safe for MRI scanning
• not taking psychiatric medication

You may not qualify if…

• not safe for MRI scanning
• taking psychiatric medication

Where it is running

• Columbia University Irving Medical Center — New York, New York, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.