Abstract: Humans can readily follow social cues and shift their attention accordingly. This social attention is distinct from non-social attention triggered by arrow cues, with the superior temporal gyrus identified as a critical brain region for social attention. Schizophrenia (SCZ) patients exhibit impaired social attention, yet its critical neural mechanisms remain unclear. This project aims to investigate social attention deficits in SCZ patients by employing two types of social cues (i.e., eye gaze and biological motion) and arrow cues. Using a modified central cueing paradigm, functional magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, we will compare SCZ patients with healthy controls to examine social attention deficits in SCZ patients across behavioral, brain, and molecular levels. Moreover, we will use temporal interference stimulation to precisely modulate superior temporal gyrus activity, aiming to confirm its improvement for social attention deficits and providing causal evidence for unrevealing the mechanisms. Notably, follow-up assessments will be conducted to evaluate the longevity of intervention effects. This project will elucidate the neural mechanisms of social attention deficits in SCZ patients, enrich our understanding of social attention from disease perspective. Additionally, the findings will provide empirical evidence to support the quantitative assessment of clinical manifestations and intervention efficacy in SCZ patients.

Key words: social attention, schizophrenia, temporal interference stimulation, biological motion, eye gaze