Developing a Multi-site Hyperscanning Procedure for Investigating Interbrain Synchrony Underlying Remote Social Interaction

EEG hyperscanning provides novel insights into inter-brain connectivity during social interactions by enabling the simultaneous recording of neural activity from multiple individuals. This research aims to develop and validate a new protocol in which dyads engage in a synchronized button-pressing task across both same-location and multi-location setups. Our findings reveal significantly higher interpersonal neural synchronization during the interaction period compared to the baseline. Notably, the increased neural synchronization is comparable across the same- and multi-location setups, spanning frontal, central, and posterior electrodes. Interestingly, the level of synchronization in the multi-location setup is greater than in the same-location setup over electrodes positioned above the right superior temporal gyrus (STG), a region associated with social cognition and the mirror neuron system (MNS). These findings validate our methodology for studies across different locations and open new avenues for research into inter-brain synchronization in remote environments. Our experimental protocol could enhance the design of experiments and applications involving social interaction, particularly in remote settings, which have gained popularity due to COVID-19. It also advances our understanding of the neural mechanisms that support social communication in the new normal era.