The Social Developmental Neuroscience Research Group, led by Jun.-Prof. Dr. Vanessa Reindl, investigates how social relationships and interactions influence the development of children and adolescents. The group's research focuses on understanding how experiences with parents, peers, and teachers influence social-emotional and cognitive development, as well as the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these processes. A central aim is to identify biomarkers that predict individual developmental trajectories and provide insights into psychopathological risk profiles.

A key research area is the study of interpersonal neural synchrony during social interactions. Using hyperscanning, the simultaneous recording of brain activity from two or more individuals, the group examines the neural dynamics of naturalistic social interactions. Building on this approach, the research group develops interaction-based measurement methods that enable synchronized multimodal data acquisition and integration (e.g., fNIRS/EEG, behavioral data, and peripheral physiological measures) and automatically extract behavioral and environmental information from audio and video recordings.

Another major focus is the development of ecologically valid assessment methods that facilitate research in real-world settings, such as schools and family environments, including through the use of mobile hyperscanning technologies. Current projects also develop and evaluate synchrony-based interventions, including dyadic neurofeedback, non-invasive brain stimulation, and behavioral interventions, to investigate how interpersonal synchrony influences perspective-taking, empathy, and the therapeutic alliance. Additional research areas include the neurobiological mechanisms underlying social conflict, social exclusion, and aggression during adolescence, as well as the role of social and cultural factors in shaping teaching and learning processes.