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Updated: Jan 8, 2026

Inter-Brain Synchrony in Open-Ended Collaborative Learning: An fNIRS-Hyperscanning Study
Published on: July 21, 2021
Cognitive styles diversity and group creativity: Evidence from fNIRS hyperscanning
Liu Ning1, Ou Yang Yan Ping2, Ren Sai Nan2
1School of Psychology, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China; Hainan Provincial Research Base for Psychological Development and Education of Adolescents, Haikou 571158,China; Key Laboratory of Data Science and Smart Education, Ministry of Education, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571127,China.
None:
This study explores how cognitive style diversity (differences in information processing among team members) influences group creativity through interpersonal neural mechanisms. 116 college students were assigned to high-diversity (HD) groups (mix of field-independent and field-dependent individuals) or low-diversity (LD) groups (homogeneous cognitive styles). Both groups completed a creative task (umbrella design) and a routine task (desk purchase) while their prefrontal cortex (PFC) and right temporoparietal junction (r-TPJ) activity was monitored via fNIRS. Results revealed that HD groups produced significantly more novel ideas than LD groups. fNIRS data showed enhanced brain synchronization in HD groups within the frontal pole and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Field-independent individuals dominated neural interactions in HD groups, with delayed inter-brain synchronization positively correlating with creative novelty. Findings suggest cognitive diversity fosters group creativity through complementary neural coordination between field-independent and field-dependent individuals.
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