Brain concordance during Clinician-Patient interactions

Key Researchers: Vitaly Napadow, MGH; Ted Kaptchuk, Harvard Medical School; Irving Kirsch, Harvard Medical School; John Kelley, Harvard Medical School; Alessandra Anzolin, MGH; Kylie Isenburg, MGH; Meryem Ayşe Yücel, BU

Summary: The interaction between a patient and clinician has been shown to significantly modify clinical outcomes. The goal of the study is to transfer novel insights from cognitive neuroscience to elucidate the neural responses of patients and clinicians during administration of treatment by measuring brain signals of the dyad simultaneously. Specifically we want to characterize the brain activation during delivery of pain relief in the “augmented” versus “limited” clinical interaction. We will compare patients’ and clinicians’ brain responses assessed with functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), allowing for an ecologically valid interaction.

Funding: NCCIH (Napadow)