Presenter Name:Thenille Braun Janzen

School/Affiliation:Universidade Federal do ABC (Brazil)

Co-Authors:Joana B. Balardin; João R. Sato; Patrícia Vanzella

Abstract:

Recent advances in neuroimaging techniques have opened a window into better understanding the brain underpinnings of joint music-making within more ecological settings. Techniques such as functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) have allowed the simultaneous measurement of brain activity elicited in two or more freely-moving individuals during a naturalistic ensemble music performance. Yet, one of the challenges in neuroimaging research is capturing brain states during dynamic and uninterrupted real-world experiences. In this proof-of-concept study, we investigated inter-brain connectivity during naturalistic and uninterrupted violin duet performance. Seven violin duos performed the Duo n. 37 (Prelude and Canon) by Béla Bartók while hemodynamic response correlates of functional neural activity were recorded with hyperscanning fNIRS during the performance of the entire music piece. The distance between the hemodynamic distribution of both violinists was calculated for each second of the performance and averaged across participants. Results indicate that the level of brain interconnectivity changed considerably throughout the music performance, possibly modulated by different levels of the interaction required throughout the performance of the entire music piece. This finding suggests that monitoring patterns of brain activity during dynamic tasks and real-world experiences, such as music performance, can reveal important information about the brain mechanisms underlying social interaction and interpersonal coordination in joint action.