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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 30, 2025

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions

Brain Imaging Investigation of the Neural Correlates of Observing Virtual Social Interactions

Published on: July 6, 2011

Precuneus brain response changes differently during human-robot and human-human dyadic social interaction.

Nicolas Spatola¹, Thierry Chaminade²

¹Artimon Perspectives, Paris, France. Nspatola@artimon.fr.

Scientific Reports

|August 30, 2022

Summary

Human-human interactions (HHI) show strengthening social bonding over time, unlike human-robot interactions (HRI). Brain activity in the posterior cingulate cortex increases with repeated human exchanges but not with robots.

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Measuring Neural and Behavioral Activity During Ongoing Computerized Social Interactions: An Examination of Event-Related Brain Potentials

Measuring Neural and Behavioral Activity During Ongoing Computerized Social Interactions: An Examination of Event-Related Brain Potentials

Published on: November 15, 2014

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Human-Robot Interaction

Background:

Social interactions are adaptive, bidirectional processes that evolve over time.
Understanding cognitive processes in human-human interactions (HHI) and human-robot interactions (HRI) is crucial for developing artificial agents capable of social engagement.
The posterior cingulate cortex is a key region implicated in social cognition and bonding.

Purpose of the Study:

To compare cognitive processes underlying social bonding in HHI versus HRI.
To investigate how brain activity changes over time during repeated social interactions with human and robotic agents.
To identify neural correlates of adaptive social interaction dynamics.

Main Methods:

Utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to record brain activity.
Collected neuroimaging data from participants engaging in twelve one-minute conversations, alternating between a human and a robotic interlocutor.
Applied linear statistics to analyze changes in brain activity over time.

Main Results:

Brain activity in the posterior cingulate cortex increased over time during HHI.
This increase in posterior cingulate cortex activity was not observed during HRI.
Activity patterns differed significantly between interactions with human and robotic agents.

Conclusions:

Social bonding strengthens over repeated exchanges with human agents, as indicated by increasing activity in the posterior cingulate cortex.
This strengthening of social bonding does not occur during interactions with robotic agents.
The findings highlight key differences in cognitive processes between HHI and HRI, suggesting distinct neural mechanisms for social adaptation.