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Dyad sex composition effect on inter-brain synchronization in face-to-face cooperation
Yuhua Li1, Rui Chen1, Ofir Turel2,3
1Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
Brain Imaging and Behavior
|August 8, 2020
Summary
Human cooperation shows stronger inter-brain synchronization (IBS) in male-male dyads, particularly in the BA10 region. This finding highlights how sex composition influences neural synchrony during cooperative tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
- Human Behavior
Background:
- Human cooperation, rooted in reciprocal altruism, is fundamental to societies.
- Previous research suggests inter-brain synchronization (IBS) occurs during cooperation.
- The influence of sex composition on IBS during cooperation remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of sex composition on IBS during face-to-face cooperation.
- To examine brain-to-brain interactions in same-sex and mixed-sex dyads.
- To understand the neural underpinnings of cooperation influenced by sex.
Main Methods:
- Utilized functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) based hyperscanning.
- Employed a block-building task in a naturalistic cooperative setting.
- Analyzed brain-to-brain interactions in 45 same-sex and mixed-sex dyads.
Main Results:
- Significantly stronger IBS was observed in Brodmann area 10 (BA10) during cooperation.
- Male-male dyads exhibited increased IBS in the left inferior frontal region (BA10) specifically during cooperation.
- IBS in male-male dyads was significantly greater compared to male-female and female-female dyads.
Conclusions:
- Sex composition significantly impacts neural synchronization during social cooperation.
- Male-male dyads demonstrate unique patterns of inter-brain synchronization in the BA10 region.
- Findings advance understanding of the neural basis of face-to-face cooperation in naturalistic settings.
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