Intracortical functional connectivity during deep sleep reveals prosocial preferences.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Social Psychology
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Prosociality is vital for societal cohesion.
• Previous research linked increased slow-wave activity in the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ) during sleep to enhanced prosociality.
• The TPJ is a critical hub within the brain's social network.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between functional connectivity of the right TPJ and other social brain regions during deep sleep.
• To determine if inter-individual differences in TPJ connectivity during sleep predict variations in prosocial preferences.

Main Methods:

• Whole-night high-density electroencephalography (EEG) was used to record brain activity in 54 participants during sleep.
• Source localization and functional connectivity analysis were applied to EEG data in the slow-wave frequency range (0.8–4.6 Hz).
• Connectivity between the right TPJ and 23 social brain regions was correlated with prosocial preferences measured via a public goods game.

Main Results:

• A significant negative correlation was observed between prosocial preferences and TPJ connectivity across 22 of 23 analyzed connections.
• Six connections showed a significant negative correlation after multiple testing correction, indicating reduced TPJ connectivity in individuals with higher prosociality.
• Lower functional connectivity of the right TPJ with other social brain regions during deep sleep was associated with stronger prosocial preferences.

Conclusions:

• Reduced functional connectivity of the right TPJ within the social brain network during deep sleep may facilitate prosocial decision-making.
• These findings suggest that the brain's internal network dynamics during sleep play a role in modulating social behavior.
• Optimizing deep sleep's restorative functions may enhance prosocial tendencies by allowing the TPJ to disengage from extensive social network interactions.