title: Studying social cognition using near-infrared spectroscopy: the case of social Simon effect.
abstract: In order to understand the so-called "social brain," we need to monitor social interactions in face-to-face paradigms. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a promising technique to achieve this goal. We investigate the neuronal underpinnings of sharing a task in a proper social context. We record cortical activity by means of NIRS, while participants perform a joint Simon task. Different from other hemodynamic techniques, NIRS allows us to have both participants sit comfortably close to each other in a realistic and ecological environment. We found higher activation in the sensorimotor cortex while processing compatible trials as compared to incompatible ones referring to one's own action alternative. Strikingly, when the participant was not responding because it was the turn of the other member of the pair, the inferior parietal was activated. This study provides twofold findings: first, they suggest that the joint Simon effect relies more on shared attentional mechanisms than a proper mapping of the other's motor response. Second, they highlight the invaluable contribution NIRS can afford to social neuroscience in order to preserve ecological and naturalistic settings.
authors: University G. d'Annunzio, Department of Neuroscience and Imaging, Via dei Vestini, 33, 66013, Chieti, Italy. marcello.costantini@unich.it
authors: Marcello
authors: M
authors: Costantini
authors: Assunta
authors: A
authors: Di Vacri
authors: Antonio Maria
authors: AM
authors: Chiarelli
authors: Francesca
authors: F
authors: Ferri
authors: Gian
authors: G
authors: Luca Romani
authors: Arcangelo
authors: A
authors: Merla
mesh_terms: D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009044:Motor Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D009484:Neuropsychology; D055620:Optical Phenomena; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011593:Psychology, Social; D011930:Reaction Time; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis