Abstract
Advances in video conferencing capabilities combined with dramatic socio-dynamic shifts brought about by COVID-19, have redefined the ways in which humans interact in modern society. From business meetings to medical exams, or from classroom instruction to yoga class, virtual interfacing has permeated nearly every aspect of our daily lives. A seemingly endless stream of technological advances combined with our newfound reliance on virtual interfacing makes it likely that humans will continue to use this modern form of social interaction into the future. However, emergent evidence suggests that virtual interfacing may not be equivalent to face-to-face interactions. Ultimately, too little is currently understood about the mechanisms that underlie human interactions over the virtual divide, including how these mechanisms differ from traditional face-to-face interaction. Here, we propose functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning—simultaneous measurement of two or more brains—as an optimal approach to quantify potential neurocognitive differences between virtual and in-person interactions. We argue that increased focus on this understudied domain will help elucidate the reasons why virtual conferencing doesn't always stack up to in-person meetings and will also serve to spur new technologies designed to improve the virtual interaction experience. On the basis of existing fNIRS hyperscanning literature, we highlight the current gaps in research regarding virtual interactions. Furthermore, we provide insight into current hurdles regarding fNIRS hyperscanning hardware and methodology that should be addressed in order to shed light on this newly critical element of everyday life.
Highlights
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically disrupted the daily lives of much, if not all, of the world’s population
Since videoconferencing has been a vital tool for business, medicine, education, and social interactions functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) Hyperscanning in the Virtual Age alike
We propose functional near-infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning as a tool to quantify and understand the potential differences between virtual and in-person interactions
Summary
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically disrupted the daily lives of much, if not all, of the world’s population. A glut of popular press articles lamenting the negative effects of “Zoom fatigue” in its many forms (BBC April 22, 2020; National Geographic, April 24, 2020; New York Times, May 4, 2020; the Wall Street Journal, June 5, 2020) are testimony to the negative impact that this new form of communication may have on human-to-human interaction These reports are concerning given that video conferencing is likely to play a significant role in human’s lives for the foreseeable future (Van Bavel et al, 2020). FNIRS hyperscanning may provide an ideal approach to elucidate the neurocognitive differences between virtual and in-person interactions that may result from changes in social behavior (e.g., eye-to-eye contact), from differences in environmental information (e.g., disparate background/foreground lighting), and/or from technological parameters (e.g., unequal frame rates). We focus on providing a review of methodology used in fNIRS hyperscanning research and provide a novel framework to help guide the development of future studies for advancing the field toward capturing human interaction in the virtual age
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
