Maria Elide Vanutelli

Competition in the Brain. The Contribution of EEG and fNIRS Modulation and Personality Effects in Social Ranking.

In the present study, the social ranking perception in competition was explored. Brain response (alpha band oscillations, EEG; hemodynamic activity, O2Hb), as well as self-perception of social ranking, cognitive performance, and personality trait (Behavioral Activation System, BAS) were considered during a competitive joint-action. Subjects were required to develop a strategy to obtain a better outcome than a competitor (C) (in term of error rate, and response time, RT). A pre-feedback (without a specific feedback on the performance) and a post-feedback condition (which reinforced the improved performance) were provided. It was found that higher-BAS participants responded in greater measure to perceived higher cognitive performance (post-feedback condition), with increased left prefrontal activity, higher ranking perception, and a better real performance (reduced RTs). These results were explained in term of increased sense of self-efficacy and social position, probably based on higher-BAS sensitivity to reinforcing conditions. In addition, the hemispheric effect in favor of the left side characterized the competitive behavior, showing an imbalance for high-BAS in comparison to low-BAS in the case of a rewarding (post-feedback) context. Therefore, the present results confirmed the significance of BAS in modulating brain responsiveness, self-perceived social position, and real performance during an interpersonal competitive action which is considered highly relevant for social status.

When cooperation goes wrong: brain and behavioural correlates of ineffective joint strategies in dyads

ABSTRACT Purpose: Human life is connoted by sophisticated interactions that involve not only single individuals, but larger social groups composed by members interacting each other. Cooperation secures a benefit to all the people engaged as well as important behaviors like helping, sharing, and acting prosocially. But what happens when the joint actions are not effective? Materials and method: In the present study, we asked 24 participants paired in 12 dyads to cooperate during an attentional task in a way to synchronize their responses and obtain better outcomes. In addition we tested inter-brain and cognitive strategy similarities between subjects. Then, we frustrated their strategies by providing false feedbacks signalling the incapacity to create a synergy, which was reinforced by a general negative evaluation halfway through the task. The effects of the feedback inmodulating subjects behavioural performance and brain responsiveness were explored by means of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Results: Results showed a worsen performance after the negative feedback in the form of longer reaction times and a specifc pattern of brain activation involving th dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the superior frontal gyrus. The DLPFC showed increased O2Hb (oxy-haemoglobin) level after the feedback, compatible with the need for higher cognitive effort. In addition, fNIRS measures revealed a decreased inter-brain synchronicity in post-feedback condition for the dyad. Also, the representation of negative emotions in response to failing interactions was signalled by a right-lateralized effect. Conclusions: Results were interpreted at light of available knowledge on perceived self-efficacy and the implementation of common goals and strategies.

Brains in Competition: Improved Cognitive Performance and Inter-Brain Coupling by Hyperscanning Paradigm with Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Hyperscanning brain paradigm was applied to competitive task for couples of subjects. Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and cognitive performance were considered to test inter-brain and cognitive strategy similarities between subjects (14 couples) during a joint-action. We supposed increased brain-to-brain coupling and improved cognitive outcomes due to joint-action and the competition. As supposed, the direct interaction between the subjects and the observed external feedback of their performance (an experimentally induced fictitious feedback) affected the cognitive performance with decreased Error Rates (ERs), and Response Times (RTs). In addition, fNIRS measure (oxyhemoglobin, O2Hb) revealed an increased brain activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in post-feedback more than pre-feedback condition. Moreover, a higher inter-brain similarity was found for the couples during the task, with higher matched brain response in post-feedback condition than pre-feedback. Finally, a significant increased prefrontal brain lateralization effect was observed for the right hemisphere. Indeed the right PFC was more responsive with similar modalities within the couple during the post-feedback condition. The joined-task and competitive context was adduced to explain these cognitive performance improving, synergic brain responsiveness within the couples and lateralization effects (negative emotions).

Promoting Creativity Through Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). A Critical Review

Creativity, meant as the ability to produce novel, original and suitable ideas, has received increased attention by research in the last years, especially from neuroaesthetics and social neuroscience. Besides the research conducted on the neural correlates of such capacities, previous work tried to answer the question of whether it is possible to enhance creativity through cognitive and neural stimulation. In particular, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been applied to increase neuronal excitability in those areas related to creativity. However, being a complex construct that applies to a huge variety of situations, available results are often confusing and inconsistent. Thus, in the present critical review, after selecting original research articles investigating creativity with tDCS, results will be reviewed and framed according to the different effects of tDCS and its underlying mechanisms, which can be defined as follows: the promotion of self-focused attention; the disruption of inhibiting mechanisms; the enhancement of creative thinking; the promotion of artistic enactment. Finally, a theoretical perspective, the creative on/off model, will be provided to integrate the reported evidence with respect to both anatomical and functional issues and propose a cognitive explanation of the emergence of creative thinking.

How emotional memory affects face remembering: an ERP investigation

It is known that the longer an information has been memorized, the stronger is its memory trace. At the same time it is known that the emotionally-valenced information has a stronger memory trace than neutral one. Interactive effects between these factors are largely unknown. In this study electrical neuroimaging signals were recorded in healthy controls to explore the neural mechanism of memory for faces of different emotional valence, sex, learning context and temporal recency. In a study phase participants familiarized with the fictional police dossier of 10 victims of dramatic deaths including homicide or earthquake (depicted as attractive and nice persons of about 45 years), twice a day for seven days before EEG recordings. Hundreds of famous movie stars (overlearned), victims (recent) and new faces were presented in an old/new recognition task. ERP responses showed a modulation of anterior N2 and FN400 as a function of face familiarity (with no differences between overlearned and recent faces), while parietal late positivity was sensitive to engram temporal recency (it was much larger to overlearned than recent faces, paralleling behavioral data). However, LP amplitude did not differ to overlearned vs. recent same-sex faces, showing how emotional memory can enhance faces remembering. A late frontal negativity revealed sensitive to source memory.

ID 46 – Human and animal-directed empathy during social interactions: A multi-method approach with hemodynamic (fNIRS), electrocortical (EEG) and autonomic measures

Objective Our relationships are characterized by interactions with other humans, but also with animal companions. Such interactions are mediated by empathic competencies which, however, conventionally refers to emotional concerns for another person. Research revealed that human–animal relationships provide opportunities to increase empathy, but the presence of animal-directed empathy and its neural correlates have still to be explored. The present study aimed to investigate common and specific neural correlates while viewing intra and interspecies interactions, with particular attention to their valence, and to personality components. Methods Participants were submitted to positive, negative and neutral pictures while hemodynamic (NIRS), electrocortical (EEG) and autonomic measures (heart rate, HR; electrodermal activity, EDA) were simultaneously recorded. Results Data showed the presence of common patterns of activation for both interactions (human- and animal-directed), suggesting they are not mutually exclusive, but differentially predominant. Anyway the presence of some differences also emerged, suggesting the way we process different interactions may also be specific. Conclusions Results suggest that empathy is not a response we save for our conspecific, but can also be extended to animals. Key message The presence of homologous but also partially differentiated channels for the development of empathic competencies through types of interactions was underlined.

ID 45 – Central and autonomic activity during emotion processing: A multi-method approach with hemodynamic (fNIRS), electrocortical (EEG) and autonomic measures

Objective Because of its sudden temporal evolution and representation among different levels and complex neural networks, emotion processing should be examined by means of a multi-method approach. The possibility to acquire autonomic (arousal-related) and central (cortical-related) activities allows to better elucidate the reciprocal interplay of the two compartments. Methods 20 subjects were submitted to emotional stimuli while functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), frequency bands (EEG) and skin conductance response (SCR) were simultaneously recorded as biological markers of emotions. Subjective measures were also considered (Self-Assessment Manikin; SAM). Results As shown by oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) increasing within the right hemisphere, the contribution of the prefrontal cortex was elucidated, by pointing out a right-lateralized effect induced by the negative valence of the stimuli. Moreover EEG activity was associated with the cortical hemodynamic responsiveness to negative emotional patterns, within the right side. SCR increased in response to negative patterns and was related to explicit (SAM) and cortical (fNIRS; EEG) measures. Conclusions Cortical, autonomic and subjective measures were intrinsically associated. Specifically, negative valence was more relevant to process emotional cue in relation to the hemispheric lateralization. Key message Results suggest the importance of central and peripheral measures to explore subjects’ response to emotions.

fNIRS measure of transitive and intransitive gesture execution, observation and imagination in ecological setting: A pilot study

To explore the presence of differential cortical hemodynamic activations related to cognitive components of actions, we performed a fNIRS (functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy) study during Observation (O), Execution (E) and Imagination (I) of complex and meaningful (transitive and intransitive) gestures in ecological setting. A pilot sample of 5 healthy adults underwent an event-related study consisting of these 3 different conditions, with O set as first and followed by a randomized presentation of E or I. fNIRS measurements were performed using a 24 channel array of optodes (8 light injectors and 8 detectors) placed over the contralateral central, centro-parietal, parietal and temporal areas. Results showed that the premotor (PMC) and the sensory-motor cortices (SM1) were recruited selectively during E, with levels of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) higher than the other conditions, while the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) showed increased oxy-Hb levels for both E and O. These data suggest that variations in hemodynamic responses can be attributed to different neural processes underpinning these tasks, with PMC and SM1 being more involved in action preparation and performance, and PPC prevalently dedicated to attentive processes related to the execution and observation of limb movements.