Dear All,
The CEU Department of Cognitive Science cordially invites you to the following talk:
Speaker: Simone Shamay-Tsoory<https://sans.hevra.haifa.ac.il/home>, Department of
Psychology, University of Haifa
Title: Inter-Brain Plasticity Underlies the Development of Social Connectedness
Abstract:
In recent years, inter-brain synchrony has been increasingly recognized as a fundamental
mechanism underlying various forms of social connectedness during interactions. In a
recent study using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) we demonstrated that
inter-brain synchrony between clients and psychotherapists dynamically changes in the
inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) over the course of psychotherapy. However, it remains unclear
whether inter-brain synchrony can be actively trained and whether such training translates
into increased social connectedness and empathy.
To address this question, we developed a dyadic neurofeedback platform using fNIRS to
provide real-time feedback targeting the IFG. Ninety-two participants were randomly
assigned into dyads and allocated to either an experimental group or a control group. The
training consisted of three sessions over one week.
Results revealed that ratings of social connectedness increased more steeply in the
experimental group compared to the control group. Crucially, a significant
group-by-session interaction was observed in the IFG, such that the experimental group
exhibited a progressive increase in IFG synchrony relative to baseline across sessions,
whereas the control group showed no significant change in inter-brain synchrony. This
evidence advances our understanding of inter-brain plasticity and highlights its potential
applications in fostering socio-emotional well-being.
Time: 16:00, Wednesday, 11 March 2026
Location: online only
Zoom:
https://ceu-edu.zoom.us/j/96695073643?pwd=mYR3gKcoyE4lFo9H5gMipaKkruBJW5.1
Meeting ID: 966 9507 3643
Passcode: 049214
Host: Natalie Sebanz
Best regards,
Andi
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