title: A new methodical approach in neuroscience: assessing inter-personal brain coupling using functional near-infrared imaging (fNIRI) hyperscanning.
abstract: Since the first demonstration of how to simultaneously measure brain activity using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) on two subjects about 10 years ago, a new paradigm in neuroscience is emerging: measuring brain activity from two or more people simultaneously, termed "hyperscanning". The hyperscanning approach has the potential to reveal inter-personal brain mechanisms underlying interaction-mediated brain-to-brain coupling. These mechanisms are engaged during real social interactions, and cannot be captured using single-subject recordings. In particular, functional near-infrared imaging (fNIRI) hyperscanning is a promising new method, offering a cost-effective, easy to apply and reliable technology to measure inter-personal interactions in a natural context. In this short review we report on fNIRI hyperscanning studies published so far and summarize opportunities and challenges for future studies.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich Zurich, Switzerland ; Institute for Complementary Medicine, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scholkmann
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holper
authors.affiliation: Institute for Complementary Medicine, University of Bern Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Optics Research Laboratory, Division of Neonatology, University Hospital Zurich Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wolf
keywords: brain-to-brain coupling; functional near-infrared imaging; hyperconnectivity; hyperscanning; inter-personal brain activity; social neuroscience