<p>Interbrain synchrony (IBS) is thought to reflect the flow of information between individuals and interpersonal mechanisms like empathy and bonding. Previous research suggests that IBS varies according to different factors, including interpersonal bond type, individual characteristics, emotional valence and <i>physical</i> presence/absence. This study investigated how IBS in mother-child dyads varies during <i>imagined</i> emotional situations, focusing on valence and imagined presence/absence of the mother. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning to measure IBS over the right prefrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction in 38 mother-child dyads (child age: 10–14 years). Results showed that IBS differed across valence only when participants imagined the mother being present, with higher IBS in negative situations than in positive ones. Furthermore, in scenarios imagined with the mother present, IBS was associated with the mother’s personal distress —negative correlation in positive scenarios, and positive correlation in negative scenarios—and with children’s secure base support scores—negative association in the frontopolar cortex. These findings suggest that mothers and children perceive being together differently, depending on emotional valence, social context and individual differences. Overall, our results suggest that IBS reflects dyadic emotional processing and highlight associations with individual traits in dyadic neural synchrony.</p>

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Modulation of interbrain synchrony by emotional valence and maternal presence in mother–child dyads: neural links to empathy and attachment

  • Inês Rodrigues,
  • João Pereira,
  • Diana Costa,
  • Rita Correia,
  • Marco Simões,
  • Bruno Direito,
  • Pascal Vrtička,
  • Teresa Sousa,
  • Miguel Castelo-Branco

摘要

Interbrain synchrony (IBS) is thought to reflect the flow of information between individuals and interpersonal mechanisms like empathy and bonding. Previous research suggests that IBS varies according to different factors, including interpersonal bond type, individual characteristics, emotional valence and physical presence/absence. This study investigated how IBS in mother-child dyads varies during imagined emotional situations, focusing on valence and imagined presence/absence of the mother. We used functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning to measure IBS over the right prefrontal cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction in 38 mother-child dyads (child age: 10–14 years). Results showed that IBS differed across valence only when participants imagined the mother being present, with higher IBS in negative situations than in positive ones. Furthermore, in scenarios imagined with the mother present, IBS was associated with the mother’s personal distress —negative correlation in positive scenarios, and positive correlation in negative scenarios—and with children’s secure base support scores—negative association in the frontopolar cortex. These findings suggest that mothers and children perceive being together differently, depending on emotional valence, social context and individual differences. Overall, our results suggest that IBS reflects dyadic emotional processing and highlight associations with individual traits in dyadic neural synchrony.