Inter-Brain Amplitude Correlation Differentiates Cooperation from Competition in a Motion-Sensing Sports Game

Huashuo Liu, Chenying Zhao, Fei Wang, Dan Zhang
2021 Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience  
Cooperation and competition are two basic modes of human interaction. Their underlying neural mechanisms, especially from an inter-personal perspective, have not been fully explored. Using the EEG-based hyperscanning technique, the present study investigated the neural correlates of both cooperation and competition within the same ecological paradigm using a classic motion-sensing tennis game. Both the inter-brain coupling (the inter-brain amplitude correlation and inter-brain phase-locking)
more » ... intra-brain spectral power were analyzed. Only the inter-brain amplitude correlation showed a significant difference between cooperation and competition, with different spatial patterns at the theta, alpha, and beta frequency bands. Further inspection revealed distinct inter-brain coupling patterns for cooperation and competition; cooperation elicited positive inter-brain amplitude correlation at the delta and theta bands in extensive brain regions, while competition was associated with negative occipital inter-brain amplitude correlation at the alpha and beta bands. These findings add to our knowledge of the neural mechanisms of cooperation and competition and suggest the significance of adopting an inter-brain perspective in exploring the neural underpinnings of social interaction in ecological contexts.
doi:10.1093/scan/nsab031 pmid:33693825 pmcid:PMC8138086 fatcat:fzonsielzbduhjnolgbmcofc6q