Brains swinging in concert: cortical phase synchronization while playing guitar

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Social Interaction

Background:

• Human interaction relies on sensory-motor processes and synchronized actions.
• While fMRI hyperscanning exists, simultaneous multi-brain EEG in the time-frequency domain for coordination is unexplored.
• Investigating synchronized cortical activity during interpersonal coordination is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the extent and functional significance of synchronized cortical activity in guitarists playing together.
• To analyze synchronized neuronal activity using simultaneous multi-brain EEG in the time-frequency domain.

Main Methods:

• Simultaneously recorded electroencephalography (EEG) from eight pairs of guitarists.
• Applied synchronization algorithms for intra- and interbrain analyses.
• Analyzed phase synchronization and alignment in the time-frequency domain.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in phase synchronization within and between brains during metronome tempo setting and coordinated play onset.
• Phase alignment within-brain dynamics correlated with behavioral play onset asynchrony.
• Identified between-brain oscillatory couplings preceding and accompanying coordinated actions.

Conclusions:

• Interpersonally coordinated actions are associated with between-brain oscillatory couplings.
• These couplings likely reflect shared temporal properties of individual perception and action.
• Further research is needed to determine the causal role of these couplings in action coordination.