Finding the neural correlates of collaboration using a three-person fMRI hyperscanning paradigm

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917407117
• Publication Date: 2020-08-25T20:15:26Z
• Authors: Hua Xie; Iliana I. Karipidis; Amber Howell; Meredith Schreier; Kristen E. Sheau; Mai K. Manchanda; Rafi Ayub; Gary H. Glover; Malte Jung; Allan L. Reiss; Manish Saggar
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Neurons; 0301 basic medicine; Brain Mapping; Theory of Mind; Brain; Neuroimaging; 16. Peace & justice; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; 03 medical and health sciences; Cognition; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female; Interpersonal Relations; Social Behavior; Intersectoral Collaboration

Significance

It is well-known that the presence of others drastically changes how we behave, yet a majority of social neuroscience studies are limited to single-person neuroimaging experiments. Using simultaneous imaging of multiple interacting brains (also known as hyperscanning), recent studies have started to examine the brain basis underlying social cognition beyond passive observation. Here we performed a three-person functional MRI hyperscanning study to investigate the brain-to-brain coupling using a social game of Pictionary . Our results highlight the importance of the theory-of-mind network, especially a brain region in the right temporo-parietal junction for improved triadic collaboration. Our work lays the foundation for studying the brain basis of complex and truly social group interactions.