[Koglist] [CEU Cogsci Talks] Online Departmental Colloquium: Simone Shamay-Tsoory (University of Haifa), 11 March at 16:00

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 ______________________________________________ Subscribe by sending an empty mail to talks-subscribe(a)cogsci.ceu.edu Unsubscribe by sending an empty mail to talks-unsubscribe(a)cogsci.ceu.edu