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Coordination Elicits Synchronous Brain Activity Between Co-actors: Frequency Ratio Matters
Xiaojun Cheng1, Yafeng Pan2, Yinying Hu2
1School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Frontiers in Neuroscience
|November 5, 2019
Summary
Coordinating movements at different frequencies (multifrequency pattern, MP) improves task performance and brain-to-brain synchronization compared to same-frequency movements (isofrequency pattern, IP). This enhanced coordination is linked to self-control.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Interpersonal coordination involves synchronized movements.
- Two patterns exist: isofrequency (1:1 ratio) and multifrequency (non-1:1 ratio).
- The impact of these patterns on coordination outcomes and brain connectivity is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how isofrequency (IP) versus multifrequency (MP) coordination patterns affect performance.
- To examine the influence of coordination patterns on interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS).
- To explore the relationship between coordination patterns, brain-to-brain connectivity, and self-control.
Main Methods:
- A continuous joint drawing task was used.
- Participants coordinated in either IP or MP conditions.
- Simultaneous brain activity was recorded using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning.
Main Results:
- Multifrequency coordination (MP) led to better performance and increased interpersonal brain synchronization (IBS) in the left frontopolar area compared to isofrequency (IP).
- Granger causality analyses revealed enhanced bidirectional brain influences during MP coordination.
- Higher IBS during coordination correlated with greater dyadic self-control.
Conclusions:
- The multifrequency coordination pattern enhances coordination efficiency and brain-to-brain connectivity.
- Interpersonal multifrequency coordination is associated with stronger neural coupling.
- Self-control may play a facilitating role in interpersonal coordination processes.
