Share

Social Cognition in Brain and Behavior

January 6, 2021 - January 6, 2025

We still know too little about the basis of social cognition (emotions, thinking about others, interacting with others) in the brain to explain variations in people’s behavior (e.g., among allistic and autistic people). This study aims at helping us understand mechanisms in the brain better and connect them to relevant social behavior in people. If you are interested you can chose which parts of the study you want to participate in (from computer tasks, to questionnaires to brain scans).

What are the goals of the study?

This study aims at investigating the basis of human social cognition in behavior, brain function, and structure. One population with difficulties navigating our social world is autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Studying atypical processing in populations such as those with ASD, is thus of paramount value to social cognition. By studying both healthy and impaired social functioning, this study aims at advancing a mechanistic understanding of social cognition in behavior, brain function and brain structure.

What will happen during the visit or online?

Participants will be invited to participate in one or more of our ongoing experiments in this study to study social cognition in brain and behavior. The study consists of a research brain scan (MRI) and simple behavioral tasks and questionnaires assessing social behavior. The study will consist of multiple sessions each not exceeding 3 hours, with the time between sessions varying from one day (minimum) to a maximum of one year.

How will this help families?

The research may help in our understanding of how the brain functions to generate and process social behavior, and will provide insights on how mental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder, may affect social cognition This information may expand our knowledge of these socio-cognitive processes and may have future implications for diagnosis and treatment of future patients. Participants (and families) do not receive any direct benefits from the study (other than compensation for research participation).

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:
(1) No history of neurological incident or disease
(2) Fluent in English
(3) Able to participate in an MRI (only if taking part in the MRI section)
(4) Normal or corrected vision of 20/40

Exclusion Criteria:
1) Any neurological and/or psychiatric disorder (e.g., schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, eating disorder, epilepsy, substance abuse), aside from potential comorbidities with ASD.
2) History of moderate to severe head injury (e.g. concussion with memory loss and/or residual cognitive changes)
3) History of epilepsy
4) History of non-specific neurodevelopmental disorder (e.g. premature birth < 33 weeks, cerebral palsy)
5) Diagnosis of bipolar disorder – with history of hospitalization and/or Lithium treatment
6) Diagnosis of schizophrenia or other condition with psychotic symptoms
7) History of electroconvulsive treatment
8) Uncorrectable acuity greater than 20/40, or inability or unwillingness to wear eye contacts or MR-compatible plastic glasses provided by MRI facility to correct vision to 20/40 instead of glasses containing metal for MRI part of study
9) Inability to complete at least 1-hour MRI (if participating in MRI part)
10) History of brain surgery; removal of brain tissue; or history of stroke.
11) On medication for mental conditions.
12) Colorblindness
13) Inability to pass MRI safety screening (e.g. metal implant in body; additional eligibility screening) for MRI part of study.
14) Abnormal hearing.

View the study flyer here.

Contact Information

Kliemann Lab for Social Cognitive Neuroscience: pbs-kliemann-lab@uiowa.edu, 319-467-3161

Research Study Website
The Kliemann Lab for Social Cognitive Neuroscience

More Research studies from this topic: Core ASD Symptoms

Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials
In-person participation required
Compensation Skills in Autism
Online web-based study
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
In-person participation required
Generating Effectiveness Mechanisms in RUBI (GEMs in RUBI)
In-person participation required
Autism-relevant profiles in neurogenetic syndromes
Online web-based study
Multi-Site Validation Study of Eye Tracking-Based Measure of Autism Symptom Severity
In-person participation required
Intranasal Vasopressin Treatment in Children with Autism
In-person participation required
A treatment for SETD5 subtype of autism
Online web-based study
The EMBRACED Study
Online web-based study
Center for Brain Disease Diagnosis at the NRI
Online web-based study In-person participation required
Neural basis of social cognition in youth with ASD and psychosis
In-person participation required
Neurodevelopmental Sleep Study
In-person participation required
San Diego State University Toddler MRI Project
In-person participation required
Autism face fMRI
In-person participation required
Cute Aggression in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder
Online web-based study
Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health
Online web-based study
Simons Searchlight
Online web-based study
LISTEN: Electrophysiological correlates of language processing in minimally verbal children with neurodevelopmental disorders
In-person participation required
The Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials: Confirmation Study
In-person participation required
Predicting and Optimizing Language Outcomes in Minimally Verbal Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (POLO)
In-person participation required
Adolescent Communication of Emotion Study
In-person participation required
Social Motivation
In-person participation required
Pivotal Response Treatment for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
In-person participation required
COBRA (Connectivity in the Brain and Autism)
In-person participation required
Exploring Positive and Negative Dimensions in Autism Spectrum Disorders (EXPAND)
In-person participation required
Imaging Cognition and Neurodevelopment (ICAN)
In-person participation required
Infant-Caregiver Synchrony in Autism
In-person participation required
MRI Study for Prediction of ASD
In-person participation required
Walking and Talking in Autism
In-person participation required
SPARK: Simons Foundation Powering Autism Research for Knowledge
Online web-based study In-person participation required
RARE-X Data Collection Program
Online web-based study
BRIDGE Study (Brain Indicators of Developmental Growth)
In-person participation required
Cognitive Functioning in Children
Online web-based study
Infant Brain Imaging Study for Autism
In-person participation required
The Autism Biomarkers Consortium for Clinical Trials: Confirmation Study
In-person participation required
Pubertal, Psychosocial and Physiological Development in Females with Autism
In-person participation required
Investigating Depressive Symptomatology in Adolescents with ASD and ADHD
Online web-based study
Genetics of Autism in Latinx Ancestries
In-person participation required
Caregiver-Endorsed Strategies for the Treatment of Sensory Reactivity Symptoms in Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Online web-based study
Social Computations in Autism with Neuroimaging
In-person participation required
Social Dynamics and Early Visual Experiences
In-person participation required
Validation of Autism Diagnostic Interview-3rd Edition (ADI-3)
In-person participation required
Assessing Motor Control across different Sensory Environments in Individuals with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder
In-person participation required
Characterizing Electroencephalogram (EEG) Index of Plasticity of the Social Brain in Autism Spectrum Disorder
In-person participation required
Sensory Reactivity and Regulation Development
In-person participation required
TMS in ASD for Sensory Over-Responsiveness
In-person participation required
Neural Mechanisms of Cognitive Inflexibility in Autism Spectrum Disorder
In-person participation required
The neuroanatomical basis for face processing deficits in autism spectrum disorder
In-person participation required
Investigating neurocognitive profiles in parents of children with autism and anorexia
Online web-based study
Cannabidivarin (CBDV) vs. Placebo in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
In-person participation required
Following Language Growth in Autism at Home (FLASH)
In-person participation required Online web-based study
Family-Implemented Treatment for Behavioral Inflexibility (FITBI) Project
Online web-based study
The Investigation of Genetics Exome Research (TIGER-3)
In-person participation required Online web-based study
A Pilot Study of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
In-person participation required
AB-2004 in Treatment of Adolescents With Irritability Associated With Autism Spectrum Disorder
In-person participation required
Research Studying Pimavanserin in Irritability Associated with Pediatric Autism Spectrum Disorder
In-person participation required
Assessing Functional Language Development via Telehealth
Online web-based study
SMASS
Online web-based study
Mapping brain function in children with autism spectrum disorder with diffuse optical tomography
In-person participation required
Eye-tracking In-person Research
In-person participation required
Generating Effectiveness Mechanism in RUBI (GEMs in RUBI)
In-person participation required
Effects of Identity on Masking Behavior
Online web-based study
Sleep in Children with Autism
In-person participation required
Aging in Autism
In-person participation required
Camouflaging/masking among females on the autism spectrum
Online web-based study
Test Elevation
Online web-based study
Investigating specific aspects of adjudicative competency in adults with autism spectrum disorder
Online web-based study
Auditory Processing in Children with Autism
In-person participation required
Speech Treatment for Minimally Verbal Children with ASD and CAS
In-person participation required
Picture Books for Language Learning in Autism
Online web-based study
Bilingualism in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Eye-Tracking Study
In-person participation required
Perceptions of Autism in a Digital Age
Online web-based study
The neural basis of third party social interaction perception in autism
In-person participation required
EDI Self-Report
Online web-based study
A pilot study of vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) for autonomic dysregulation in individuals with the developmental disabilities
In-person participation required
 Satisfaction with Social Support and Future Anxiety Among Hispanic Guardians of Children with Autism/Satisfacción con el Apoyo Social y Ansiedad Futura entre Tutores Hispanos de Niños con Trastorno de Espectro Autista
Online web-based study
Boosting Engagement and Skill Acquisition through technology and personalization: A pilot trial of enhanced transdiagnostic behavioral therapy 
Online web-based study
Identification of Biomarkers in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using Protein and Metabolite Profiling
In-person participation required
Study of the Facial Expression and Gaze of Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder
Online web-based study
Speech and Motor Assessment Remote Protocol (SMART)
In-person participation required
The Social Validity of The New England Center for Children Core Skill Assessment
Online web-based study