Does machine-mediated interaction induce inter-brain synchrony?--A hyperscanning study.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Robotics
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs) enable control of external devices using neural signals.
• Motor imagery-based BCIs translate imagined movements into commands.
• Shared control environments present unique challenges for BCI users.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate neural correlates of dual-user BCI control in a shared robotic space.
• To analyze synchronized brain activity between paired participants during a collaborative task.
• To identify potential neural markers for successful BCI-mediated collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Participants underwent training to control robots using an electroencephalography (EEG)-based BCI.
• A dyadic experimental session involved two participants simultaneously controlling separate robots in a shared environment.
• Synchronous EEG data from both participants were recorded and analyzed for inter-brain phase-locking.

Main Results:

• Increased phase-locking in the μ- and θ-frequency bands was observed between paired participants.
• A specific phase-locking effect was identified that was time-locked to the initiation of robotic actions.
• These findings suggest neural coupling during collaborative BCI operation.

Conclusions:

• Dual-user BCI control in shared spaces can induce synchronized neural activity.
• EEG phase-locking may serve as an indicator of neural coordination in collaborative BCI tasks.
• Further research can explore optimizing BCI systems for enhanced dyadic performance.