CEYMH team member and Ph.D. student from McGill University, Emmanuel Olarewaju, recently had the pleasure of participating in an enlightening interview with Sarah An Myers from Psychology Today, a popular media online magazine focused on psychology and human behaviour. The discussion centred on the invaluable contributions social neuroscience can offer in refining our understanding of schizophrenia. Emmanuel also had the chance to co-author a Psychology Today article expanding on these ideas. Here are his key takeaways:

Why is this research important?

“Schizophrenia disrupts social interactions and impairs communication, often leaving gaps in traditional treatments.”

Schizophrenia impacts social functioning, affecting individuals’ abilities to communicate and engage in daily activities across work, educational, and social contexts. Conventional treatment modalities have been insufficient in addressing these interpersonal challenges.

What’s new in this approach?

It’s important to highlight the role of social neuroscience, an innovative approach that looks at how our brains and bodies work together to synchronize in cooperative social settings. This perspective could revolutionize how we understand and treat communication issues in schizophrenia.

“Understanding the role of social synchrony can provide new avenues for intervention.”

Read the full articles here:

1. What Social Neuroscience Reveals About Schizophrenia (Sep 16, 2023)
2. The Role of Social Synchrony in Schizophrenia (Sep 29, 2023)

To read more about Emmanuel’s hyperscanning project, see our research webpage here: https://ceymh-cesmj.ca/research/ 

By Emmanuel Olarewaju