Neural Representations of Observed Interpersonal Synchrony/Asynchrony in the Social Perception Network

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Social Cognition
• Visual Perception

Background:

• The occipitotemporal cortex network specializes in processing faces, bodies, and actions.
• Neural mechanisms for perceiving multiple individuals and their interactions are less understood.
• Investigating the visual processing of social interactions is crucial for understanding social cognition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify brain regions within the social perception network that represent interpersonal synchrony.
• To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying the perception of social interactions.

Main Methods:

• Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used with 32 participants.
• Multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) decoded synchronous versus asynchronous head movements.
• Activity in face-selective, body-selective, and interaction-sensitive regions was analyzed.

Main Results:

• Several regions, including the extrastriate body area (EBA), right superior temporal sulcus, and occipital face area, decoded synchrony/asynchrony.
• The EBA showed cross-classification, suggesting movement-invariant representations of synchrony.
• A region in the right fusiform cortex responded more to synchronous than asynchronous motion.

Conclusions:

• Perceiving interpersonal synchrony involves dedicated visual processing beyond individual features.
• The social perception network actively represents synchronized actions between individuals.
• These findings advance our understanding of the neural basis of social interaction perception.