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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
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Inter-Brain Synchrony in Open-Ended Collaborative Learning: An fNIRS-Hyperscanning Study
Published on: July 21, 2021
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Inter-brain synchrony during collaborative gaming: an investigation using theta-burst stimulation at the right
S H Jessica Tan1, S P Jessie Leuk2, Wei-Peng Teo3
1Science of Learning in Education Centre, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.
Neuroimage
|April 3, 2026
Summary
Inter-brain synchrony (IBS) increases during collaboration, but modulating the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) did not causally affect this link. The study suggests a nuanced role for IBS in social interaction.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Social Cognitive Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
Background:
- Inter-brain synchrony (IBS) is observed during social interactions, but its causal role in collaborative performance is not fully understood.
- The specific contribution of IBS within social-cognitive regions like the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal role of IBS within the rTPJ in collaborative performance.
- To examine the relationship between IBS, rTPJ modulation, and collaborative task outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-three participant dyads played Tetris collaboratively and individually.
- Theta-burst stimulation (TBS) was used to modulate activity in the rTPJ.
- Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) measured IBS in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and rTPJ.
Main Results:
- IBS was higher during collaborative than individual Tetris play, with greater IBS in the PFC than rTPJ.
- Modulating rTPJ activity with TBS did not causally affect the relationship between IBS and collaborative performance.
- A negative correlation was found between collaborative performance and IBS, while partner likability increased post-collaboration.
Conclusions:
- While IBS is reliably present during collaboration, its causal impact, especially involving the rTPJ, appears more complex than previously thought.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the precise functional significance of IBS in social interactions.
