Exploring the neural mechanisms underlying cooperation and competition behaviour: Insights from SEEG Hyperscanning

Cooperation and competition are two of the most important social behaviours in human society. Investigating human social behavior in cooperative and competitive contexts, involving the insula and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) related to executive function and mentalizing, is crucial for comprehending our social nature. However, the detailed study of their neural oscillations is limited by the deep location of the insula and the time resolution constraints of existing imaging techniques. This study aims to employ advanced hyperscanning and stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), with high temporal and spatial resolution, to examine intra- and inter-brain dynamics within the insula and IFG during cooperative and competitive tasks. We identified distinct high-gamma responses and observed varying connectivity patterns, with the IFG modulating insula activity during competition, and balanced interactions between the insula and IFG occurring during cooperation. Notably, we observed enhanced inter-brain insula synchronization in competition and greater IFG synchronization in cooperation, elucidating the gamma band's role in social interactions. These results enhance our understanding of the neural bases of cooperation and competition, emphasizing the critical roles of both insula and IFG in social cognition.