title: Directionality in hyperbrain networks discriminates between leaders and followers in guitar duets.
abstract: To investigate whether directionality in hyperbrain networks reflects different roles during interpersonal action coordination (IAC), we recorded EEG data from pairs of guitarists playing together as musical leaders versus followers. We used an asymmetric index of in-phase synchronization to analyze hyperbrain networks of directed functional connectivity in the alpha and beta frequency ranges for time segments around coordinated play onsets. After exploring the small-world characteristics of the networks at different thresholds, we examined the directed connection strengths within and between brains. As predicted, we found evidence suggesting that the musical roles of leader and follower are associated with different patterns of directed between-brain couplings. The functional significance of these differences for IAC requires further study.
authors.affiliation: Center for Lifespan Psychology, Max Planck Institute for Human Development Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Johanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sänger
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Ulman
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lindenberger
keywords: EEG hyperscanning; action coordination; graph analysis; interbrain connectivity; music; oscillatory synchronization; social cognition