Are We on the Same Wavelength? Exploring Inter-Brain Synchrony of Engineering Student Teams When Designing and Building

The collective performance of construction project teams results from individuals sharing ideas and actions, and this collaboration shapes their values toward common goals. Inter-brain synchrony (IBS) is a potential explanation for team performance, which is the coordinated brain activation across individuals. IBS is observed in other disciplines but not adequately studied in engineering and construction project teams. The purpose of the research presented in this paper was to explore the existence of IBS in engineering project teams during design and build activities. The study included 16 undergraduate fourth-year civil engineering students who were paired to form eight dyads. Each team was given the same three tasks varying in time and budget constraints. Team members wore a brain imaging device that measured the change in oxygenated blood in their prefrontal cortex. IBS was observed among all the teams but more prominent in some teams over others. Specific regions of the prefrontal cortex also expressed more IBS than others. The connection between IBS and team cooperation and performance varied. Further exploration is needed to better understand the role of IBS in team dynamics and performance.