Research Areas
We currently have three lines of research that all surround the big question of — what factors underlie social (dis)connection?
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In answering these questions, we integrate different levels of analysis, including online surveys, behavioral experiments, social network analysis, neuroimaging (fMRI and fNIRS), eyetracking, and longitudinal designs.
Neural and cognitive mechanisms of social (dis)connection
People differ in how they think about and respond to the social world. How does loneliness shape the way individuals perceive, interpret, and engage with others? How do features of one's internal models of the world affect their ability to socially connect with others? We explore the cognitive, affective, and neural signatures of social disconnection. Current questions in this line of work include:
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How does loneliness shape sociocognitive and emotional processes, such as mental state representation, conformity, and attention?
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What are the language features associated with feelings of connection and disconnection?
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Can we use eye-tracking and neuroimaging methods to develop predictive models of loneliness?
Dynamic social perception and interaction
Social connection unfolds in real time, often shaped by how we perceive and respond to others moment-to-moment. What makes a conversation feel meaningful? Why do some people feel more aligned or understood in interactions than others? We study the behavioral and neural processes that underlie social perception, reciprocity, and mutual understanding during live interactions. Current questions in this line of work include:
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What are the neural, linguistic, and behavioral factors that shape mutual understanding during social interactions?
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What features of a conversation make it feel reciprocated?
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How do people's ability to accurately perceive others predict feelings of connection?
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How does loneliness modulate susceptibility to social influence in group contexts?
Mediated Social Cognition
Feeling connected does not always require face-to-face interactions. Stories, videos, and mediate communication via technology can also create powerful shared experiences. What makes some content resonate more than others? How do features of a message shape how people think, feel, or engage with others? Current questions in this line of work include:
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Does greater neural synchrony during message exposure predictive the effectiveness of the message?
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Does loneliness influence neural and behavioral responses to specific moments in a narrative (e.g., moments that are high in emotional or intellectual challenge)? How does this affect their sense of connection to others?
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How does subjective and objective social isolation affect one's memory processing and recall?
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Can individual differences in brain function help identify who is most likely to benefit from digital behavior interventions and support social well-being?
