Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy for Recording Brain Activity During Social Interactions

Source: Reindl, V., et al. Conducting Hyperscanning Experiments with Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy. J. Vis. Exp. (2019) This video demonstrates the use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to measure brain activity during social interactions. Participants engage in a coordinated task that increases activity in the prefrontal cortex, a region critical for social behavior, while the system detects changes in light absorption due to blood oxygenation. By analyzing the synchrony of brain activity between participants, the study assesses neural dynamics underlying social interaction.