Randomized trial shows neural interactions during parent-child games, suggesting distinct leadership roles in synchrony tasks.
Key Points
This research examines the neural and behavioral dynamics of synchrony between parents and children during interactions.
Thirty-three parent-child dyads (children aged 8-15 years) participated in a tablet-based game under conditions of spontaneous and intentional synchrony instructions.
Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) hyperscanning was used to analyze neural connectivity during gameplay.
Behavioral synchrony values were significantly greater than zero across dyads without explicit instruction, indicating a natural tendency towards synchrony.
Parents led more during spontaneous play, while leadership was equalized in intentional conditions.
Inter-brain synchrony was significantly observed in the DLPFC, IFG, and IPL, linking specific neural coupling to behavioral synchrony outcomes.