Student-teacher inter-brain coupling causally predict academic achievement over semesters

Abstract

Student-teacher interactions are fundamental to educational success. Leveraging advancements in hyperscanning technology, this study employs longitudinal EEG data to examine the causal effects of student-teacher inter-brain coupling on academic achievements. The findings indicate that enhanced coupling in the high-beta frequency band can positively predict improved academic performance in both Chinese and math subjects. Our analysis also suggests that student-teacher coupling has a unique and significant predictive advantage for Chinese achievement compared to inter-brain coupling among students. This study underscores the causal impact of student-teacher inter-brain coupling on learning based on robust evidence from real classroom settings, confirming its ecological validity.