The Role of Neural Synchronization in Social Interaction: Insights from a Collaborative EEG Study

This study investigates the link between inter-brain synchronization in the Theta band and collaborative task performance using a neurofeedback system. The primary aim was to explore whether synchronized brain activity between participants could enhance collaboration. A neurofeedback platform was developed to reflect Theta band coherence between participants, with a collaborative task measuring teamwork performance. Although no significant differences were observed between real and sham neurofeedback groups, results indicated that greater coherence during neurofeedback correlated with improved task outcomes. However, excessively stable synchronization was linked to lower performance, suggesting that flexible neural synchrony may be essential for effective collaboration. Demographic and contextual factors, such as education level, caffeine and alcohol consumption, and stress, also significantly influenced task performance. These findings underscore the complexity of neural synchronization and its interaction with individual differences, highlighting the need for further research to clarify this relationship.