Cortical and Subcortical Alpha-Band Electroencephalographic (EEG) Network Involved in the Interpersonal Space...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Social Cognition
• Human Interaction

Background:

• Human social behavior and survival are critically dependent on the presence and proximity of others.
• Neural oscillations integrate brain functions to generate adaptive behaviors based on interpersonal distance.
• Interpersonal space sensitivity (IPSS) is a key aspect of social cognition, yet its neural underpinnings are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of alpha electroencephalography (EEG) and its neural generators in interpersonal space sensitivity (IPSS).
• To explore how changes in interpersonal distance modulate neural activity, particularly alpha oscillations.

Main Methods:

• Participants stood face-to-face, instructed to alternately close and open their eyes.
• EEG recordings were used to measure neural activity, focusing on alpha and beta oscillations.
• Source modeling techniques identified the cortical and subcortical generators of observed EEG effects.

Main Results:

• Alpha power in the occipito-parietal region increased with decreasing distance (closer proximity) when eyes were closed.
• Conversely, alpha power decreased with decreasing distance when eyes were open, indicating event-related synchronization (ERS) and desynchronization (ERD).
• These alpha oscillation modulations were linked to specific brain regions including the parietal cortex, ACC, premotor cortex, and frontal eye fields, along with thalamus and cerebellum.

Conclusions:

• Alpha oscillations play a significant role in processing interpersonal space sensitivity (IPSS).
• The interplay between eye state (open/closed) and interpersonal distance modulates alpha activity in specific neural networks.
• These findings elucidate the neural basis of how humans perceive and react to the proximity of others.