MARCS Insight Series: Interbrain Synchrony in Hyperscanning Research - Pitfalls and Alternatives

MARCS INSIGHTS SERIES – Tuesdays at 11am

All welcome! To receive the zoom link and be added to the mailing list, please email marcs@westernsydney.edu.au.

Speaker

Associate Professor Manuel Varlet

Interest Group

Cognitive Neuroscience

Abstract

Research into the neural processes underlying social interaction relies increasingly on hyperscanning methods that record the brain activity of multiple individuals at the same time. Combining hyperscanning with a range of neuroimaging techniques, previous research has revealed enhanced interbrain synchrony between individuals coordinating, cooperating, and communicating. However, here we provide new evidence that highlights critical problems with interbrain synchrony in hyperscanning research. We show using systematic environmental and task manipulations that interbrain synchrony is mostly driven by the synchrony of neural activity patterns across individuals rather than their informational content, and therefore, provides poor estimation of shared information processes in interpersonal coordination. We propose an alternative methodological approach to interbrain synchrony for hyperscanning research, which addresses these issues and yields a better understanding of the neural processes underlying social interaction.

Location

Level 4 Seminar Room, Innovation Quarter, 160 Hawkesbury Road, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia

Join Remotely

To receive a link to virtually attend please register by emailing marcs@westernsydney.edu.au