Theta and/or alpha? Neural oscillational substrates for dynamic inter-brain synchrony during mother-child cooperation

TL;DR

This study investigates how neural oscillations at theta and alpha frequencies underpin dynamic inter-brain synchrony during mother-child cooperation, revealing frequency shifts as key to interaction transitions and differences based on interaction type and emotional bonds.

Contribution

It uncovers the neural oscillational mechanisms and frequency-shift dynamics that facilitate inter-brain synchrony during mother-child interactions, a novel insight into social neural processes.

Findings

Theta and alpha inter-brain synchrony alternate with interactive behaviors.

EEG frequency-shifts are prerequisites for inter-brain synchrony transitions.

Theta-IBS is more prominent during cooperative, emotionally close interactions.

Abstract

Mother-child interaction is a highly dynamic process neurally characterized by inter-brain synchrony (IBS) at {\theta} and/or {\alpha} rhythms. However, their establishment, dynamic changes, and roles in mother-child interactions remain unknown. Through dynamic analysis of dual-EEG from 40 mother-child dyads during turn-taking cooperation, we uncover that {\theta}-IBS and {\alpha}-IBS alternated with interactive behaviors, with EEG frequency-shift as a prerequisite for IBS transitions. When mothers attempt to track their children's attention and/or predict their intentions, they will adjust their EEG frequencies to align with their children's {\theta} oscillations, leading to a higher occurrence of the {\theta}-IBS state. Conversely, the {\alpha}-IBS state, accompanied by the EEG frequency-shift to the {\alpha} range, is more prominent during mother-led interactions. Further exploratory analysis reveals greater presence and stability of the {\theta}-IBS state during cooperative than non-cooperative conditions, particularly in dyads with stronger emotional attachments and more frequent interactions in their daily lives. Our findings shed light on the neural oscillational substrates underlying the IBS dynamics during mother-child interactions.