Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
05:33
How to Calculate and Validate Inter-brain Synchronization in a fNIRS Hyperscanning Study
Published on: September 8, 2021
6.8K
Integration of social status and trust through interpersonal brain synchronization
Xiaojun Cheng1, Yujiao Zhu2, Yinying Hu2
1School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
Neuroimage
|December 5, 2021
Summary
Social status influences trust dynamics. Investors favored low-status partners initially, but increased investment with high-status partners over time, showing unique brain activity patterns.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
- Behavioral Economics
Background:
- Trust is a fundamental social process influenced by social identity.
- Social status can significantly modulate interpersonal interactions and decision-making.
- Understanding the neural underpinnings of status-influenced trust is crucial for social cognition research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how social status affects trust dynamics and the underlying neural mechanisms.
- To examine the role of interpersonal brain synchronization and activation in status-modulated trust.
- To determine if multi-brain data offers earlier prediction of trust behavior than single-brain data.
Main Methods:
- A 10-round repeated trust game was conducted with participants in investor and trustee roles.
- Social status (high or low) was manipulated using a prior math competition task.
- Simultaneous functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) recorded brain activity from both interacting partners.
Main Results:
- Individuals initially invested more in low-status partners, but investment increased faster with high-status partners over rounds.
- The low-investor/high-trustee group exhibited increased inter-brain synchronization in the right temporoparietal junction and decreased investor right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex activation over time.
- Interpersonal brain synchronization and brain activation predicted early investment performance, with two-brain data providing earlier predictions than single-brain data.
Conclusions:
- Social status significantly modulates trust behavior and neural activity during economic interactions.
- Interpersonal neural synchronization, particularly in the right temporoparietal junction, plays a key role in integrating social status into trust decisions.
- Multi-brain analysis offers a powerful tool for understanding the real-time neural dynamics of social interactions, especially in the context of social hierarchy.
Related Concept Videos
01:14Brain Imaging
382
Brain imaging technologies provide critical insights into both the structure and function of the human brain, enabling medical professionals and researchers to diagnose, study, and treat neurological disorders or psychiatric disorders more effectively.
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic...
These technologies include computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT scans), positron-emission tomography (PET scans), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and Transcranial Magnetic...
382
01:30Scientific Nature of Social Psychology
170
Social psychology is a scientific discipline dedicated to understanding how individuals think, feel, and behave in social contexts. Unlike common sense, which relies on anecdotal experiences and intuition, social psychology employs systematic research and empirical methods to ensure objectivity and reliability. This distinction is fundamental in distinguishing scientifically supported findings from mere speculation.Four fundamental scientific values guide a structured approach to research in...
170
01:30Social Relationships and Well-Being
64
The significance of social relationships in psychological well-being is a well-established area of inquiry within social psychology. Research consistently demonstrates that the presence of meaningful, supportive relationships enhances emotional health, while the absence or deterioration of such connections can contribute to psychological distress. Relationships serve as a foundation for emotional support, identity, and social belonging, all of which are critical to an individual’s overall...
64
02:12Relationship Formation
42.0K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
42.0K
01:15Functional Brain Systems: Limbic System
4.3K
The limbic system, often called the "emotional brain," is a complex set of structures located deep within the brain. The intricate network of the limbic system supports a wide range of psychological functions, from emotional regulation to memory formation and sensory processing. This functional brain region encompasses specific parts of the diencephalon and the cerebrum, integrating the higher mental functions of the cerebral cortex with the primitive emotional responses of the deep brain...
4.3K
01:26Social Exchange Theory
54
As formulated by John Thibaut and Harold Kelley, Social Exchange Theory explains human relationships as economic-like exchanges that maximize rewards and minimize costs. This theory suggests that individuals engage in relationships to gain benefits and reduce burdens, similar to economic transactions. It has been widely applied to various types of relationships, including romantic, professional, and social interactions.Rewards and Costs in RelationshipsRelationship rewards include emotional...
54