Brain scans reveal the hidden mechanics of trust and cooperation
NCT ID NCT07759973
First seen Aug 12, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study investigates how the brain processes social decisions like trust and cooperation. Participants play a modified trust game, either in an MRI scanner or online, where their choices affect monetary gains or losses. The goal is to link brain activity and behavior to personality traits, such as manipulativeness. By understanding these connections, researchers hope to shed light on social cognition and mental health.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Social Learning Task Battery (behavioral tasks including a modified trust game)
- What this could lead to
- This research could deepen understanding of how brain function drives social behaviors like trust and cooperation, potentially informing future mental health interventions.
- What could go wrong
- As an observational brain study, it won't directly test a treatment. Results may not translate to real-world social situations, and the large online sample may introduce variability.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
University of Pittsburgh, Bellefield Towers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
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