Brain Synchrony in Competition and Collaboration During Multiuser Neurofeedback-Based Gaming

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• EEG hyperscanning enables studying brain activity during social interactions.
• Multiuser neurofeedback (NF) games offer novel paradigms for social neuroscience research.
• Understanding neural correlates of gaming strategies is crucial for developing effective NF interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize neural signatures and functional connectivity during collaborative and competitive alpha neurofeedback gaming.
• To investigate how gaming strategies influence brain synchrony and interbrain connectivity.
• To identify distinct brain patterns associated with winning and losing in NF games.

Main Methods:

• Utilized EEG hyperscanning with twenty pairs of participants playing collaborative and competitive alpha neurofeedback games.
• Employed Relative Alpha (RA) power as the control signal for neurofeedback.
• Analyzed spectral data and interbrain connectivity in theta and alpha bands.

Main Results:

• Interbrain synchrony was observed during gaming, but not during baseline, in both collaborative and competitive conditions.
• Collaborative gaming showed stronger interconnectivity between homologous brain structures in theta and alpha bands.
• Competitive gaming revealed frontal area engagement in losers, suggesting attempts at strategy adaptation.

Conclusions:

• Winning strategies in non-verbalized multiplayer neurofeedback gaming are contingent on game rules and opponent behavior.
• Traditional gaming mental strategies may not be effective in alpha neurofeedback-based games.
• Interbrain connectivity patterns differ significantly between collaborative and competitive NF gaming scenarios.