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The relationship between stability of interpersonal coordination and inter-brain EEG synchronization during
Yuto Kurihara1, Toru Takahashi2, Rieko Osu3
1Graduate School of Human Sciences, Waseda University, 2-579-15 Mikajima, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
Scientific Reports
|April 14, 2022
Summary
Inter-brain synchronization, a measure of brain-to-brain coupling, increases during challenging coordination tasks. This neural synchrony is linked to coordination instability, not just task difficulty.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Science
- Social Interaction
Background:
- Inter-brain synchronization enhances during rhythmic interpersonal coordination tasks like ensemble music.
- Previous research links synchronization to joint tapping performance but not coordination stability (SDRP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between inter-brain synchronization and the stability of interpersonal coordination during anti-phase tapping.
- To determine if synchronization is modulated by task difficulty and coordination instability.
Main Methods:
- Simultaneous electroencephalograms (EEG) recorded from paired individuals performing slow, fast, and free anti-phase tapping.
- EEG data analyzed for inter-brain synchronization across six regions of interest (ROI).
- Comparison made between interactive tapping and pseudo-tapping (no interaction) conditions.
Main Results:
- Inter-brain synchronization significantly increased in multiple ROI pairs during fast tapping compared to pseudo-tapping.
- Synchronization between central and left-temporal regions positively correlated with standard deviation of relative phase (SDRP) in the theta band during fast tapping.
- Higher task demands and coordination instability were associated with increased inter-brain synchronization.
Conclusions:
- Inter-brain synchronization is heightened under high task demands and coordination instability.
- Neural synchrony during interpersonal coordination is sensitive to both task difficulty and the stability of the coordinated action.
