Interbrains cooperation: Hyperscanning and self-perception in joint actions

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Social Psychology
• Cognitive Science

Background:

• Understanding the neural mechanisms of cooperation is crucial for social cognition.
• Joint actions require integrated social and cognitive processes.
• Social feedback influences individual and group performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neural underpinnings of cooperative behavior and social self-perception during joint actions.
• To examine the effects of positive social feedback on cognitive performance and brain activity.
• To explore interbrain synchrony and lateralization patterns in response to social reinforcement.

Main Methods:

• Employed a hyperscanning brain paradigm using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
• Assessed cognitive performance metrics including error rate (ER) and response times (RTs).
• Analyzed brain activity, interbrain similarity, and prefrontal cortex (PFC) lateralization.

Main Results:

• Positive social feedback improved social self-perception (higher social ranking) and cognitive performance (reduced ER and RTs).
• Shared cognitive strategies within dyads were enhanced post-feedback.
• Increased brain activity and interbrain similarity in the PFC were observed, with greater left-hemisphere engagement.

Conclusions:

• Social feedback positively modulates self-perception, cognitive performance, and neural synchrony during joint actions.
• Enhanced prefrontal cortex (PFC) coherence and left-hemisphere lateralization reflect reinforced social cooperation.
• This study highlights the interplay between social feedback, self-perception, and neural dynamics in cooperative behaviors.