# Dynamic entanglements: the functional role and mechanistic basis of inter-individual neural synchrony

> **NIH NIH U01** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $103,786

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The vertebrate brain has evolved to enable complex social interactions, essential for survival. Brains of animals
engaged in a shared social interaction exhibit inter-brain synchronization of neural activity, detectable at several
levels of analysis. It remains unclear what aspects of social behavior are driven by these intriguing inter-brain
dynamics. We propose to develop and apply a revolutionary set of molecular-genetic and optical tools to record
and manipulate neural activity wirelessly and simultaneously in multiple interacting animals from distantly related
rodent species across a broad spectrum of sociality. These studies include evaluation of synchrony parameters,
along with causal imposition of synchrony to drive social behaviors and attachment. We aim to leverage novel
functional genetic approaches to identify the cellular and subcellular basis and neuromodulatory mechanisms
that underlie the emergence and strengthening of synchrony. This project will revolutionize our concept of the
social brain, placing a multi-dimensional emphasis on neural activity within and across interacting brains, linked
by the non-corporeal bonds of shared life. This is critical for understanding the full breadth of human sociality,
identity, neurotypical and atypical behavior, as well as mental and physical health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11062187
- **Project number:** 3U01NS131406-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Zoe Rebecca Donaldson
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $103,786
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11062187

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11062187, Dynamic entanglements: the functional role and mechanistic basis of inter-individual neural synchrony (3U01NS131406-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11062187. Licensed CC0.

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