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Wavelet Analysis of Dual-fMRI-Hyperscanning Reveals Cooperation and Communication Dependent Effects on Interbrain Neuronal Coherence

  • 0Brain Imaging Facility, Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
Human Brain Mapping +

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September 25, 2025

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September 25, 2025

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study used dual fMRI-hyperscanning to show that cooperation increases brain-to-brain neuronal coherence in social interaction and theory of mind (ToM) networks. Pre-task communication further enhanced this coherence, revealing flexible ToM network engagement.

Area Of Science

  • Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Social Neuroscience

Background

  • Hyperscanning enables studying brain activity during social interactions.
  • Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is common, but functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-based hyperscanning lacks a clear link to fNIRS foundations.
  • Social cooperation and competition are key areas investigated with hyperscanning.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate neuronal coherence during social cooperative and competitive tasks using dual fMRI-hyperscanning.
  • To establish a link between fNIRS and fMRI-based hyperscanning methodologies.
  • To explore task-specific frequency bands of neuronal activation using wavelet transform coherence (WTC).

Main Methods

  • Dual fMRI-hyperscanning setup with 60 paired participants.
  • Established cooperative and competitive tasks.
  • Wavelet transform coherence (WTC) analysis of nonstationary neuronal activation signals.

Main Results

  • Cooperation significantly increased interbrain neuronal coherence compared to a control task.
  • Coherence increased in brain regions associated with social interaction and the theory of mind (ToM) network.
  • Verbal communication before the task expanded coherence to the middle and superior temporal gyrus, indicating flexible ToM network implementation.

Conclusions

  • Dual fMRI-hyperscanning effectively models neuronal synchronization, bridging fNIRS and fMRI methodologies.
  • Cooperation enhances interbrain coherence within social and ToM networks.
  • Pre-task communication influences the spatial implementation of the ToM network during social interaction.

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