What binds us? Inter-brain neural synchronization and its implications for theories of human consciousness

Neural oscillations synchronize across brains during meaningful social interaction, and this inter-brain synchronization correlates with subjective reports of social connectedness, engagement, cooperativeness, social cohesion, and self-other merging. These findings challenge the view of human consciousness as essentially first-person singular and private. The authors argue that evidence of inter-brain synchronization in the fastest frequency bands overcomes the most convincing skeptical position against extended consciousness. If correct, this would profoundly transform understanding of human consciousness. The authors propose a method to test this proposal experimentally.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The association between neural oscillations and functional integration is widely recognized in the study of human cognition. Large-scale synchronization of neural activity has also been proposed as the neural basis of consciousness. Intriguingly, a growing number of studies in social cognitive neuroscience reveal that phase synchronization similarly appears across brains during meaningful social interaction. Moreover, this inter-brain synchronization has been associated with subjective reports of social connectedness, engagement, and cooperativeness, as well as experiences of social cohesion and ‘self-other merging’. These findings challenge the standard view of human consciousness as essentially first-person singular and private. We therefore revisit the recent controversy over the possibility of extended consciousness and argue that evidence of inter-brain synchronization in the fastest frequency bands overcomes the hitherto most convincing sceptical position. If this proposal is on the right track, our understanding of human consciousness would be profoundly transformed, and we propose a method to test this proposal experimentally.