Grantee: Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences
Study Type: Correlational Study
Principal Investigator: Jo-Fu Lotus Lin – University of Washington, Kanazawa University, National Tsing Hua University; Toshiaki Imada – University of Washington, Kanazawa University; Andrew N. Meltzoff – University of Washington; Hirotoshi Hiraishi – Hamamatsu University School of Medicine; Takashi Ikeda, Mitsuru Kikuchi, Yuko Yoshimura, & Yoshio Minabe – Kanazawa University; Tetsuya Takahashi – University of Fukui; Chiaki Hasegawa – Kanazawa University; Masayuki Hirata – Osaka University Medical School; Minoru Asada – Osaka University; Patricia K. Kuhl – University of Washington
Project Description: This is a correlational study of brain activity of 23 mother-child pairs as measured by dual MEG (magnetoencephalography) machines during various verbal interactions. The study was designed to understand possible mechanisms of language learning, including ways in which verbal turn-taking influences language development. The study participants were native speakers of Japanese.
Key Findings: Interbrain networks showed increased synchronization during the socially interactive conditions compared to noninteractive conditions in the theta and alpha bands. Enhanced interpersonal brain synchrony was observed in the right angular gyrus, right triangular, and left opercular parts of the inferior frontal gyrus. Moreover, these parietal and frontal regions appear to be the cortical hubs exhibiting a high number of interbrain connections. These cortical areas could serve as a neural marker for the interactive component in verbal social communication.
Study Citation: Jo-Fu Lotus Lin, Toshiaki Imada, Andrew N. Meltzoff, Hirotoshi Hiraishi, Takashi Ikeda, Tetsuya Takahashi, Chiaki Hasegawa, Yuko Yoshimura, Mitsuru Kikuchi, Masayuki Hirata, Yoshio Minabe, Minoru Asada, Patricia K. Kuhl, Dual-MEG interbrain synchronization during turn-taking verbal interactions between mothers and children, Cerebral Cortex, 2022; bhac330, https://doi.org/10.1093/cercor/bhac330.
Full report here.
The Key Findings above were reproduced from the published report and do not necessarily reflect interpretation of Overdeck Family Foundation staff.
