Joint control of visually guided actions involves concordant increases in behavioural and neural coupling

Commun Biol. 2021 Jun 29;4(1):816. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02319-3.

Abstract

It is often necessary for individuals to coordinate their actions with others. In the real world, joint actions rely on the direct observation of co-actors and rhythmic cues. But how are joint actions coordinated when such cues are unavailable? To address this question, we recorded brain activity while pairs of participants guided a cursor to a target either individually (solo control) or together with a partner (joint control) from whom they were physically and visibly separated. Behavioural patterns revealed that joint action involved real-time coordination between co-actors and improved accuracy for the lower performing co-actor. Concurrent neural recordings and eye tracking revealed that joint control affected cognitive processing across multiple stages. Joint control involved increases in both behavioural and neural coupling - both quantified as interpersonal correlations - peaking at action completion. Correspondingly, a neural offset response acted as a mechanism for and marker of interpersonal neural coupling, underpinning successful joint actions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Cognition / physiology
  • Cooperative Behavior*
  • Cues
  • Evoked Potentials
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychomotor Performance / physiology*
  • Visual Perception / physiology*
  • Young Adult