Abstract
To investigate whether directionality in hyperbrain networks reflects different roles during interpersonal action coordination (IAC), we recorded EEG data from pairs of guitarists playing together as musical leaders versus followers. We used an asymmetric index of in-phase synchronization to analyze hyperbrain networks of directed functional connectivity in the alpha and beta frequency ranges for time segments around coordinated play onsets. After exploring the small-world characteristics of the networks at different thresholds, we examined the directed connection strengths within and between brains. As predicted, we found evidence suggesting that the musical roles of leader and follower are associated with different patterns of directed between-brain couplings. The functional significance of these differences for IAC requires further study.
Highlights
Social-cognitive neuroscience has begun to investigate interbrain synchronization during interpersonally coordinated actions (Hari and Salmelin, 1997; Sänger et al, 2011; Konvalinka and Roepstorff, 2012)
As predicted, the directionality of the observed couplings varied as a function of the musical roles of leader and follower
We conclude that functional hyperbrain networks, construed by indices of directed connectivity within and between brains, appear to be a promising tool to explore and delineate neural mechanisms of IAC
Summary
Social-cognitive neuroscience has begun to investigate interbrain synchronization during interpersonally coordinated actions (Hari and Salmelin, 1997; Sänger et al, 2011; Konvalinka and Roepstorff, 2012). A clear example is represented by ensemble musicians, who presumably achieve and maintain synchrony by emulating each other’s concurrent and predicting each others’ future actions (Rasch, 1979; Keller et al, 2007) In line with these considerations, our prior research with guitar duets showed that: (1) musical coordination points are accompanied by increased phase locking within and between the guitarists’ brains (Lindenberger et al, 2009; Sänger et al, 2012); (2) hyperbrain networks show small-world properties (Sänger et al, 2012); (3) the musical roles of leader and follower are associated with differences in within- and between-brain synchronization patterns (Sänger et al, 2012). We reanalyze data originally reported in one of these studies (i.e., Sänger et al, 2012) to examine whether leader and follower differ in the directionality of between-brain couplings at musical coordination points
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