Abstract
Although the neural systems that underlie spoken language are well-known, how they adapt to evolving social cues during natural conversations remains an unanswered question. In this work we investigate the neural correlates of face-to-face conversations between two individuals using functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and acoustical analyses of concurrent audio recordings. Nineteen pairs of healthy adults engaged in live discussions on two controversial topics where their opinions were either in agreement or disagreement. Participants were matched according to their a priori opinions on these topics as assessed by questionnaire. Acoustic measures of the recorded speech including the fundamental frequency range, median fundamental frequency, syllable rate, and acoustic energy were elevated during disagreement relative to agreement. Consistent with both the a priori opinion ratings and the acoustic findings, neural activity associated with long-range functional networks, rather than the canonical language areas, was also differentiated by the two conditions. Specifically, the frontoparietal system including bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, left supramarginal gyrus, angular gyrus, and superior temporal gyrus showed increased activity while talking during disagreement. In contrast, talking during agreement was characterized by increased activity in a social and attention network including right supramarginal gyrus, bilateral frontal eye-fields, and left frontopolar regions. Further, these social and visual attention networks were more synchronous across brains during agreement than disagreement. Rather than localized modulation of the canonical language system, these findings are most consistent with a model of distributed and adaptive language-related processes including cross-brain neural coupling that serves dynamic verbal exchanges.
Highlights
Everyday conversations in a social world are made up of situations in which agreement and disagreement are components of transactions and negotiations communicated by language
In this work we investigate the neural correlates of face-to-face conversations between two individuals using functional near infrared spectroscopy and acoustical analyses of concurrent audio recordings
Circled clusters in the upper left panel document observed activity in left hemisphere canonical language production, speaking and articulation, and reception, listening regions. These regions are not seen for the OxyHb signals or raw data shown in the other panels consistent with the established practice of utilizing the deOxyHb functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals following the spatial filtering technique, when functional tasks include live talking
Summary
Everyday conversations in a social world are made up of situations in which agreement and disagreement are components of transactions and negotiations communicated by language. In this study a paradigm of face-to-face verbal “debate” is applied to compare neural systems engaged during expressions of agreement or disagreement. A conventional notion of the functional architecture of the brain is based on the assigned functions of isolated regions. This theoretical framework predicts that neural responses to these two conditions would differ by modulating activity in core languagerelated regions. An alternative approach based on a constructionist model (Lindquist and Barrett, 2012) would predict that multiple functional networks in addition to the language system would dynamically adapt to the emerging social situation. Not necessarily mutually exclusive, these two alternatives encompass a range of the unanswered questions related to dynamic language used in realistic social situations
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: 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.