Music Performance As an Experimental Approach to Hyperscanning Studies

Abstract

Humans are fundamentally social and tend to create emergent organizations when interacting with each other; from dyads to families, small groups, large groups, societies, and civilizations. The study of the neuronal substrate of human social behavior is currently gaining momentum in the young field of social neuroscience. Hyperscanning is a neuroimaging technique by which we can study two or more brains simultaneously while participants interact with each other. The aim of this article is to discuss several factors that we deem important in designing hyperscanning experiments. We first review hyperscanning studies performed by means of electroencephalography (EEG) that have been relying on a continuous interaction paradigm. Then, we provide arguments for favoring ecological paradigms, for studying the emotional component of social interactions and for performing longitudinal studies, the last two aspects being largely neglected so far in the hyperscanning literature despite their paramount importance in social sciences. Based on these premises, we argue that music performance is a suitable experimental setting for hyperscanning and that for such studies EEG is an appropriate choice as neuroimaging modality.

Brain-to-brain coupling during handholding is associated with pain reduction

“…In addition, findings from different hyperscanning studies have confirmed the robustness of alphaband implication (49,75,76). While most hyperscanning studies focus on the alpha-mu band, several studies reported interbrain coupling in the beta band (77)(78)(79); therefore, this band was analyzed as well. We hypothesized that coupling in the alpha-mu and beta bands in a pain-related interpartner network would increase during touch, compared with either the pain without touch condition or the conditions without pain.…”

Hyperscanning: A Valid Method to Study Neural Inter-brain Underpinnings of Social Interaction

“…View of the dual fMRI facility used to study mutual gaze. (B) From Acquadro et al (2016). EEG measurement of two guitar players.…”

“…Musical performances offer attractive experimental conditions since such performances combine intrapersonal action coordination and interpersonal action synchronization as well as continuous interaction. The advantages of musical settings for hyperscanning experiments are reviewed by Acquadro et al (2016). A variety of experimental paradigms allow for the investigation of different aspects of the interaction.…”

Lost in translation? Neuroscientific research, advocacy, and the claimed transfer benefits of musical practice

“…In a balanced view, Ansari, De Smedt, and Grabner (2011) argue that 'understanding the learning process represents only one aspect of education and there are various other contextual factors that need to be considered' (114). Quite understandably, brain imaging research in music does not address the social or contextual processes, even if there are current developments that attempt to do so (Acquadro, Congedo, and De Riddeer 2016).…”