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Updated: May 13, 2026
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Inter-Brain Synchrony in Open-Ended Collaborative Learning: An fNIRS-Hyperscanning Study
Published on: July 21, 2021
4.3K
Non-invasive dual-brain stimulation facilitates social cooperation through enhancing interpersonal neural
1State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, PR China; Civil Aviation Management Institute of China, Beijing 100102, PR China.
Neuroimage
|June 18, 2025
Summary
Interpersonal neural synchronization (INS) between individuals
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Social Psychology
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Cooperation is vital for human survival and evolution.
- Interpersonal neural synchronization (INS) during social interactions is linked to cooperation.
- The causal role of INS in cooperative behavior requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal influence of interpersonal neural synchronization (INS) on cooperative strategic behaviors.
- To explore the impact of modulating INS on cooperation during a social dilemma task.
Main Methods:
- Utilized transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to modulate INS between individuals in 81 dyads during a Prisoner's Dilemma task.
- Targeted the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) for dual-brain stimulation.
- Compared active dual-brain rTPJ tDCS with sham dual-brain, control-region dual-brain, and single-brain stimulation.
Main Results:
- Active dual-brain rTPJ tDCS significantly enhanced INS between participants.
- This enhancement in INS correlated with increased cooperative strategic behaviors and dyadic economic gains.
- Mediation analysis confirmed that strategic behaviors link INS enhancement to economic outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Provides direct evidence for the crucial role of INS in facilitating social cooperation.
- Demonstrates that modulating rTPJ INS can promote cooperative behaviors and outcomes.
- Offers a novel neuromodulation approach for enhancing social cooperation.
Keywords:
Interpersonal neural synchronizationRight temporoparietal junctionSocial cooperationStrategic behaviorTranscranial direct current stimulationMore Related Videos
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